Opinion ID: 153893
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Bail and Release

Text: Meyers contends that the district court erred in failing to address his motions for pretrial release, in denying him pretrial release, and in failing to address his motion for post-conviction release pending appeal. On May 19, 1995, and on June 2, 1995, the government filed a Motion for a Detention Hearing and invoked the rebuttable presumption under 18 U.S.C. § 3142(e) that no conditions of release will assure defendant’s appearance and the safety of the community. On July 10, 1995, Meyers was arrested in Colorado apparently on the warrant issued in Wyoming on May 19, 1995. On July 11, 1995, Meyers appeared before Colorado Magistrate Judge O. Edward Schlatter and was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshall. On July 14, 1995, Meyers’ waived his right to an identity hearing with no right to a preliminary hearing. At the 4 Under the measurement conversion table provided, one pound of marijuana equals 0.4536 kilograms. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 Application Note 10. - 24 - same time, Colorado Magistrate Judge Richard M. Borcher found that Meyers was a danger to the community and ordered that he be detained and transferred to the charging district, Wyoming. Meyers was arraigned in the District Court for the District of Wyoming on August 11, 1995. The minutes of the arraignment reflect that a motion for bond was to be filed and heard at a later date; however, no date was set. On August 14, 1995, Meyers filed a Motion for Pretrial Release and on September 12, 1995, Meyers filed a Second Motion for Pretrial Release. Trial commenced October 2, 1995, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty on both counts on October 5, 1995. That afternoon, the district court held a hearing on Meyers’ outstanding motions for pretrial release. The district court denied the motions on the grounds that Meyers’ has a history of failing to appear and that he was a flight risk especially since he had already been convicted. (ROA, Supp. Vol. I at 8 & 12). On December 1, 1995, Meyers was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release. On December 12, 1995, Meyers filed a notice of appeal and, simultaneously, a motion for release pending appeal. There has been no ruling on Meyers’ December 12, 1995, motion for release by either the district court or this court.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3142(f)(1)(C), the judicial officer shall - 25 - hold a detention hearing upon motion by the government in a case that involves an offense for which a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more is prescribed in the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et. seq. “The hearing shall be held immediately upon the person’s first appearance before the judicial officer unless that person, or the attorney for the Government, seeks a continuance.” 21 U.S.C. § 3142(f). The district court failed to hold a pretrial detention hearing in a timely manner.5 While the failure to provide Meyers with the hearing demanded by the statute is unfortunate, it is not a sufficient reason to require mandatory release of the defendant. United States v. Montalvo-Murillo, 495 U.S. 711 (1990). By the same token, it is not a sufficient justification to reverse Meyers’ otherwise valid convictions. See also United States v. Rivera, 837 F.2d 906, 925 (10th Cir. 1988), vacated, 900 F.2d 1462 (10th Cir. 1990) (failure of the district court to comply with statutory requirements is not sufficient reason to dismiss all charges). The district court erred in failing to timely address Meyers’ pretrial release motions. However, because Meyers was convicted on both counts, the error was harmless and the issue is now moot. See 5 The district court was untimely because (1) it did not hold a detention hearing within five days of Meyers’ initial appearance in its court, see 18 U.S.C. § 3142(f), and (2) if Meyers’ motions for a pretrial release are construed as “appeals” of the Colorado magistrate judge’s denial of bond, the motions were not determined promptly as required by 18 U.S.C. § 3145(b). - 26 - Montalvo-Murillo, 495 U.S. at 722 (harmless error analysis applies to § 3142 review).
Since the detention hearing occurred after Meyers was convicted and the district court based its ruling, in part, on the fact that Meyers had already been convicted, we will treat Meyers’ December 12, 1995, motion as an appeal to this court of the district court’s denial of post-conviction release under 18 U.S.C. § 3145(c).6 Our “review of detention or release orders is plenary as to mixed questions of law and fact and independent, with due deference to the district court’s purely factual findings.” United States v. Stricklin, 932 F.2d 1353, 1355 (10th Cir. 1991). In United States v. Affleck, 765 F.2d 944, 952-53 (10th Cir. 1985), we held that in order to grant bail pending appeal, a court must find that (1) the defendant has met his burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that he is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the safety of any other person or to the community if released under § 3143(b)(1), and (2) he has established by a preponderance of the evidence that the appeal is not for purpose of delay, the appeal raises a substantial question of law or fact, and 6 Although the filing of a notice of appeal usually divest the district court of further jurisdiction, the initial determination of whether a convicted defendant is to be released pending appeal is to be made by the district court. United States v. Affleck, 765 F.2d 944, 954 (10th Cir. 1985). See also Fed. R. App. P. 9 Advisory Committee Notes, Subdivision (b). - 27 - if that substantial question is determined favorably to defendant on appeal, the decision is likely to result in reversal or an order for a new trial of all counts on which imprisonment has been imposed. Here, the district court found that Meyers had a history of failing to appear and that he posed a significant flight risk. We conclude that the district court’s findings are amply supported by the record and that Meyers has failed to establish that he has satisfied the criteria required for release stated in § 3143(b). Therefore, the district court’s denial of bail pending appeal is affirmed. AFFIRMED. - 28 - No. 95-8079 -- UNITED STATES v. MEYERS