Opinion ID: 2899256
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Plea Bargaining History

Text: On several occasions, Coriolant was offered - but ultimately refused - plea agreements consisting of various terms. The government and Coriolant’s first appointed counsel initially informed the district court they were considering entering an agreement pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1)(C) during an April 19, 2012 status conference. Later, during a subsequent May 8, 2012 status hearing, the government presented Coriolant with a copy of a plea agreement for his consideration. On September 17, 2012, prior to commencement of trial, the court inquired about the plea bargaining history of the case, so that the information could be part of the record. Coriolant’s newly-appointed counsel, Dwight Doskey, informed the court that in consideration of an offer for a plea to Count II of his indictment in exchange for a proposed range of 20 to 25 years, Coriolant had responded “that he was not interested in pleading to that term of years.” Coriolant agreed with counsel’s representation. Doskey further stated that days before the commencement of trial, the government reiterated its offer to entertain a guilty plea to Count II with an 2 Case: 13-30160 Document: 00513184241 Page: 3 Date Filed: 09/08/2015 No. 13-30160 agreement not to seek an upward departure from the sentencing guideline range. Coriolant rejected that offer as well. The government confirmed this offer, stating that it was tendered at Doskey’s request “to make one last plea.” Doskey also relayed that Coriolant had informed him that the government told his initial counsel that it was still willing to let Coriolant plead guilty to Count II but without making any promises as to sentencing requests. At the end of the discussion, Coriolant conferred with Doskey because, according to Doskey, “[Coriolant] just wanted to make sure that Your Honor understood that he does not wish to avail himself of any plea offer whatsoever.” Coriolant confirmed that to the court.