Opinion ID: 1483627
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: VOP Hearing

Text: On May 20, 2008, Cruz proceeded to trial on, inter alia, Trafficking in MDMA. After a four-day jury trial, Cruz was acquitted of all charges. Seven days later, Cruz appeared before the same judge who had presided over his criminal trial to answer the charges in the VOP report that were based upon the same conduct. The State did not offer any evidence at the VOP hearing. With no objection from the same defense counsel who represented Cruz at the prior criminal trial, the judge found Cruz guilty of violating his probation: [I]t's clear that this probation was violated in many ways that don't involve the commission of new criminal charges. And as far as the new criminal offenses go, he was acquitted of those offenses, but that doesn't acquit him of a probation violation because the burden of proof is different. . . . [I] find him guilty of violating his probation, not only for his absconding and the other technical violations, but because I'm [persuaded], at least by a preponderance of the evidence, that he was trafficking in MDMA and he did possess it with intent to deliver it, and he was obviously maintaining a dwelling, and he had cocaine in his shirt pocket in his closet. So the jury verdict is somewhat inexplicable, but the verdict is what it is; but it doesn't bind me in this place. On June 18, 2008, Cruz filed a motion for reduction of sentence. In denying Cruz's motion, the judge further explained his earlier finding that there had been a probation violation: I heard the evidence at trial and frankly cannot understand how the jury acquitted you. In any event, by a preponderance of the evidence, I found that you committed those offenses and that was one of the bases for the finding of guilt on the probation violation. In addition, you admitted that you violated your probation by leaving the state without permission and not reporting to your probation officer. It is a further violation that you jumped bail when you took off for Texas. There is thus ample grounds for finding you guilty of violating your probation.