Opinion ID: 163271
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: In April of 2000, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (“ATF”) began investigating Mr. Barbuto, based on reports that he had illegally sold firearms. At a gun show, ATF agents purchased a 50-caliber firearm from Mr. Barbuto. Subsequently, the ATF agents contacted Mr. Barbuto and arranged to purchase two more 50-caliber firearms. Following these transactions, the ATF agents arrested Mr. Barbuto and executed a search warrant for his home. The search uncovered equipment used in the manufacture of firearms. Following his arrest, the government charged Mr. Barbuto with one count of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, one count of possession of ammunition by a restricted person, and one count of dealing in or manufacturing firearms without a license.1 The district court initially appointed Mark Moffat to represent Mr. Barbuto, but Mr. Moffat later filed a motion to withdraw, based on Mr. Barbuto’s desire to represent himself. The district court granted Mr. Barbuto’s request, but assigned Mr. Moffat as standby counsel. Several months later, Mr. Moffat filed a motion to withdraw as standby counsel, based on a conflict that had developed between him and Mr. Barbuto. The district court granted the motion, and then appointed Richard MacDougall as standby 1 Mr. Barbuto did not have a license to manufacture or deal firearms, and he had a prior felony conviction in 1967. -2- counsel. After numerous continuances, the district court set the trial date for December 17, 2001. On the day of trial, the following colloquy occurred between the district court and Mr. Barbuto: Mr. Barbuto: For and on the record, I am not the defendant. I am here by special visitation. I am the secured party in this matter. I have an interest in the debtor. My name is spelled upper-case W, lower-case A, lower-case Y, lower-case N, lower-case E, upper-case B, lower-case A, lower-case R, lower-case B, lower-case U, lower-case T, lower-case O. My name is property. If there is any use of my name, I need to be paid. I do not consent to my all-capital-letter name being used for commercial gain without my consent, which is herewith denied. Court: Thank you, Mr. Barbuto. For the record, you are the criminal defendant in this case, and your name will be used as necessary throughout this trial as it is in every trial in which a person is involved. Now, are you going to represent yourself, or not? Mr. Barbuto: Are we doing business here? Court: We are. We are doing business in the sense that we are going to proceed with the trial. We are certainly not doing business for commercial gain by the use of your name. Now, my question is, are you going to represent yourself and proceed with this trial or not? Mr. Barbuto: I am myself. Court: Are you going to represent yourself in this trial? Mr. Barbuto: I am myself. I am not the defendant. Court: You are the defendant. Are you going to represent yourself? Mr. Barbuto: I have a security interest in the defendant which I can prove from the UCC 1 file. Would you like to see a copy? -3- Court: Actually, I’ve seen a copy of it. All right, Mr. Barbuto, you’re obviously not going [to] follow the rules of this Court. I terminate the right to represent yourself. Mr. MacDougall will represent you, and we’ll proceed with the trial. Does the government have any comment on that? And the Court has the right to terminate the defendant’s right to represent himself when he won’t comply with the rules of court. He won’t sit at counsel table, and he’s apparently not going to proceed. Mr. MacDougall? Mr. MacDougall: Your Honor, I will do my best, but I will indicate for the last month I haven’t had any contact with Mr. Barbuto. Court: I understand. Mr. MacDougall: And I have really not been able to put this case together for trial, but I will simply labor along the best I can.[2]