Opinion ID: 216830
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Bench Trial and Sentencing

Text: One week after the plea hearing, the bench trial began. Before proceeding, the court reviewed with Reynolds the waiver of her right to a jury trial to ensure that she understood the waiver and that it was voluntary. Reynolds confirmed that she understood that she was entitled to a jury trial and to participate in jury selection. She also confirmed her understanding that upon acceptance of her jury waiver, the district court would decide her innocence or guilt. The court verified that Reynolds had discussed with counsel her right to a jury trial, along with the advantages and disadvantages of proceeding with one. Reynolds told the court that she had read, understood, and voluntarily signed her waiver of a jury trial. Therefore, the court approved the waiver, finding that Reynolds knowingly and voluntarily waived her right to trial by jury. Officer Harris testified at trial, as did an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Reynolds also testified at trial. With respect to the charges against her, she stated that she did not look[ ] over th[e] firearms to find the serial numbers, nor did she purposefully remove the serial number on one of the guns. Several pieces of evidence and stipulations were entered into evidence without objection, including the transcript from the second competency hearing. The court found Reynolds guilty of the two charges. In doing so, it relied in part on Reynolds' allocution during her second competency hearing, specifically her statements explaining that she had taken the guns from her mother's house because the serial numbers had been removed. Three months later, the court sentenced Reynolds. It first determined that Reynolds was competent to be sentenced, and then it sentenced her to twenty-four months' imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. This appeal followed.