Opinion ID: 180830
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Preindictment Proceedings

Text: On November 18, 2005, the government filed a one-count complaint charging Beigali with attempted possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). [R. 1] A public defender was appointed for Beigali [R. 2], and, on November 21, 2005, Beigali consented to detention pending trial. [R. 4] On January 30, 2007, Beigali’s public defender moved to withdraw. [R. 7] Counsel stated that, although she had been working with the government to reach a plea agreement, the delay in reaching such an agreement had caused a breakdown in her relationship with Beigali, who had asked that she be removed. [Id.] The District Court granted the motion to withdraw and appointed new counsel on February 12, 2007. [R. 8] On August 8, 2007, Beigali’s second appointed counsel moved to withdraw on the grounds that Beigali was dissatisfied with his representation and wanted to represent himself. [R. 9] The court held a motion hearing on September 27, 2007, during which counsel for the government informed the court of the government’s efforts to negotiate a plea agreement with both of Beigali’s appointed counsel. [R. 33 at 4-5] Beigali’s second counsel likewise told the court of his attempts to negotiate a plea deal on Beigali’s behalf, which he believed to be in his client’s best interest. [Id. at 18] In this regard, the court noted that, while the complaint charged only the drug offense, Beigali was also facing a weapons charge which carried an additional mandatory twenty-five year prison sentence, leading to a potential sentence in excess of forty-five years. [Id. at 9, 19-20] 4 No 09-1588 United States v. Beigali Following this hearing, the District Court granted Beigali’s motion to represent himself and, on October 4, 2007, it granted counsel’s motion to withdraw. [R. 13]