Court Opinion

ID: 2791468
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-06 16:00:58.057811+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:10:58.190717
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                               United States Court of Appeals
                UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS         Tenth Circuit

                       FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT                        April 6, 2015
                       _________________________________
                                                                 Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                     Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

       Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.                                                 No. 14-8037
                                         (D.C. No. 1:13-CR-00160-NDF-1)
EUGENE VELARDE,                                   (D. Wyoming)

       Defendant-Appellant.
                     _________________________________

                       ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
                       _________________________________

Before LUCERO, BACHARACH, and McHUGH, Circuit Judges.
                  _________________________________

      Mr. Eugene Velarde was charged in federal court with conspiracy to

(1) distribute methamphetamine and (2) possess methamphetamine with the

intent to distribute. See 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 846. Mr.

Velarde’s attorney asked for a continuance. Rather than continue the trial,

the district court selected a jury on October 29, 2013, and deferred opening

statements until January 7, 2014. At the eventual trial, two

methamphetamine distributors testified that they had frequently purchased

their supplies from Mr. Velarde. The jury rendered a guilty verdict and

*
      This order and judgment does not constitute binding precedent except
under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel.
But, the order and judgment may be cited for its persuasive value under
Fed. R. App. P. 32.1(a) and 10th Cir. R. 32.1(A).
found that the conspiracy had involved 500 grams or more of

methamphetamine.

       On appeal, Mr. Velarde asserts statutory and constitutional

challenges to the pretrial delay and argues that there was insufficient

evidence of guilt. We reject these contentions, concluding:

       1.    Statutory Claim of Delay. Mr. Velarde waived his right to
             dismissal under the Speedy Trial Act. The court can dismiss
             under the Act only if the defendant files a pretrial motion to
             dismiss on the basis of pretrial delay, and Mr. Velarde did not
             file a pretrial motion based on this ground.

       2.    Constitutional Claim of Delay. The pretrial delay did not
             violate the U.S. Constitution. The Sixth Amendment’s right to a
             speedy trial is violated only if the defendant asserts a right to a
             speedy trial and suffers prejudice from the delay. These
             requirements are not satisfied here: The delay did not prejudice
             Mr. Velarde, and he did not assert a right to a speedy trial until
             after the jury had found him guilty.

       3.    Claim Involving Insufficiency of Evidence. The evidence was
             sufficient based on the testimony of two methamphetamine
             distributors.

I.     Speedy Trial Act

       By failing to move for dismissal based on delay until after the trial

was over, Mr. Velarde waived his right to dismissal under the Speedy Trial

Act.

       Under the Speedy Trial Act, defendants can obtain dismissal only if

they file a pretrial motion to dismiss based on delay. United States v.

Gomez, 67 F.3d 1515, 1519 (10th Cir. 1995). If a defendant fails to file a

pretrial motion on this ground, the statutory right to a speedy trial is

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waived. 18 U.S.C. § 3162(a)(2) (2012); see Oral Arg. 2:17-2:45

(acknowledgment by defense counsel that the Speedy Trial Act requires a

pretrial motion to avoid waiver).

      Mr. Velarde conceded in oral argument that he had not invoked the

Speedy Trial Act until after he was found guilty. Oral Arg. 5:05-6:21.

Rather than invoke the Speedy Trial Act, defense counsel asked for a

continuance, stating he did not object to a delay until January 2014. By

failing to file a pretrial motion to dismiss based on delay, Mr. Velarde

waived his right to dismissal under the Speedy Trial Act. 1

II.   Sixth Amendment Right to a Speedy Trial

      Mr. Velarde also invokes his right to a speedy trial under the Sixth

Amendment. We reject the Sixth Amendment claim.

      A.    Standard of Review

      On this claim, we engage in de novo review. United States v. Seltzer,

595 F.3d 1170, 1175 (10th Cir. 2010). In conducting this review, we

consider four factors:

      1.    how long the delay lasted,

      2.    what caused the delay,

      3.    whether the defendant asserted his right to a speedy trial, and

1
      Mr. Velarde argues that he did not consent to his attorney’s request
for a continuance. But, the record on appeal does not include any evidence
(or even an allegation) that Mr. Velarde asked his attorney to file a pretrial
motion to dismiss under the Speedy Trial Act.
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      4.    whether the delay was prejudicial to the defendant.

United States v. Batie, 433 F.3d 1287, 1290 (10th Cir. 2006). Though no

single factor is dispositive, the length of the delay is a threshold

requirement; thus, we need not address the second, third, and fourth factors

unless the delay is “‘presumptively prejudicial.’” United States v. Dirden,

38 F.3d 1131, 1137 (10th Cir. 1994) (quoting United States v. Tranakos,

911 F.2d 1422, 1427 (10th Cir. 1990)).

      B.    The Four-Factor Balancing Test

      The delay is not presumptively prejudicial, which forecloses a

constitutional claim even without consideration of the other three factors.

But, even if we were to consider the other three factors, all would weigh

against a constitutional violation.

      1.    Length of Delay

      Even under Mr. Velarde’s version of the facts, the trial was delayed

by less than five months. A five-month delay is not presumptively

prejudicial, for we have declined to presume prejudice for even greater

delays. See, e.g., United States v. Occhipinti, 998 F.2d 791, 798 (10th Cir.

1993) (172 days); United States v. Lugo, 170 F.3d 996, 1002 (10th Cir.

1999) (approximately 7 months); United States v. Dirden, 38 F.3d 1131,

1138 (10th Cir. 1994) (7½ months); United States v. Kalady, 941 F.2d
1090, 1095 (10th Cir. 1991) (8 months). Under these decisions, Mr.

Velarde’s delay was not presumptively prejudicial.

                                          4
      2.    Reason for the Delay

      The reason for the delay also weighs against a constitutional

violation. See United States v. Larson, 627 F.3d 1198, 1208 (10th Cir.

2010) (stating that the reason for the delay weighs against a constitutional

violation when the defendant’s actions constituted the primary cause for

the delay). The district court delayed opening statements so that Mr.

Velarde’s trial attorney could have more time to prepare.

      Mr. Velarde argues that even though it was his attorney who had

asked for a delay, he did not ask to bifurcate jury selection and opening

statements. That is true. But, the court postponed the trial only because

Mr. Velarde’s attorney wanted more time to prepare. See Appellant’s

Opening Br. at 22-23 (stating “that the Court created the bifurcation in

order to appease the Defendants’ request for a continuance”); id. at 29

(conceding that Mr. Velarde’s attorney asked for a trial continuance

because he was unprepared to proceed). As a result, this factor weighs

against a constitutional violation.

      3.    Mr. Velarde’s Assertion of His Right

      Mr. Velarde did not assert his right to a speedy trial until after he

was found guilty. To the contrary, his attorney asked for a continuance and

volunteered that he did not object to a delay of the trial until January 2014.

Thus, this factor weighs against a constitutional violation. See United

States v. Batie, 433 F.3d 1287, 1291 (10th Cir. 2006) (stating that this

                                          5
factor weighs against a constitutional violation when the defendant moves

for dismissal after the trial has already taken place).

      4.    Prejudice to Mr. Velarde

      Finally, the delay did not prejudice Mr. Velarde.

      In assessing prejudice, we examine “the particular evils the speedy

trial is intended to avert: ‘pretrial incarceration; . . . anxiety and concern

of the accused; and . . . the possibility that the defense will be impaired.’”

United States v. Batie, 433 F.3d 1287, 1292 (10th Cir. 2006) (quoting

United States v. Kalady, 941 F.2d 1090, 1095 (10th Cir. 1991)). “The most

serious of these is impairment of the defense ‘because the inability of a

defendant adequately to prepare his case skews the fairness of the entire

system.’” Id. (quoting Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 532 (1972)).

      Mr. Velarde remained on release until shortly before opening

statements. Oral Arg. 10:48-10:54; see also Appellant’s Opening Br. at 31

(concession by Mr. Velarde that he “was not incarcerated and was on

pretrial release” during the delay). And, as noted above, the court

postponed the trial only because Mr. Velarde’s attorney said he needed

more time. The delay did not prejudice Mr. Velarde; it helped him by

giving his attorney the time he said he needed.

      According to Mr. Velarde, the delay was prejudicial because he was

subject to release conditions during the delay and the jury could have

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researched the case on the internet with the additional time. Both

arguments are invalid.

      The conditions of pretrial release are not in our record on appeal.

But, we can take judicial notice of the conditions. See Guttman v. Khalsa,

669 F.3d 1101, 1127 n.5 (10th Cir. 2012) (stating that we can take judicial

notice of district court filings omitted in the record on appeal). These

conditions involved a deposit of $2,500 into the Clerk’s office as security

and a variety of restrictions. See United States v. Velarde, No. 1:13-cr-

00160-NDF-1 (D. Wyo. Aug. 15, 2013) (Appearance Bond); United States

v. Velarde, No. 1:13-cr-00160-NDF-1 (D. Wyo. Aug. 15, 2013) (Order

Setting Conditions of Release). But, prejudice is the most serious when it

impedes the ability of the defendant to prepare his case. See p. 6, above.

As noted above, the district court postponed opening statements only

because Mr. Velarde’s attorney said he was not ready. Mr. Velarde’s

restrictions on his liberty were a substantial, but unavoidable cost of

giving his attorney the time he said he needed.

      Mr. Velarde argues that by selecting the jury two months before

opening statements, the court created an opportunity for the newly selected

jurors to research the case on the internet. This argument rests on

speculation. As Mr. Velarde concedes, the district court told the newly

selected jurors not to read or research anything about the case. Appellant’s

                                         7
Opening Br. at 31. There is nothing to suggest that the jury violated the

court’s instructions in this two-month period.

       The absence of prejudice weighs against a constitutional violation.

       5.   Summary

       Because all four of the factors weigh against a constitutional

violation, we reject Mr. Velarde’s argument for reversal.

III.   Sufficiency of the Evidence

       Mr. Velarde challenges the sufficiency of evidence. But, based on the

trial evidence, the jury could reasonably have found Mr. Velarde guilty of

conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Thus, we

reject this challenge.

       A.   Standard of Review

       In deciding whether the district court should have granted the motion

for judgment of acquittal, we engage in de novo review. United States v.

Ailsworth, 138 F.3d 843, 846 (10th Cir. 1998). For this review, we ask:

Could a reasonable jury have found Mr. Velarde guilty beyond a reasonable

doubt for this crime? See United States v. Jones, 768 F.3d 1096, 1101

(10th Cir. 2014).

       To prove guilt, the prosecution bore the burden of proving that Mr.

Velarde

           had agreed with another person to violate methamphetamine
            trafficking laws,

                                          8
           had acquired knowledge of the essential objectives of the
            conspiracy,

           had knowingly and voluntarily participated in the conspiracy,
            and

           had acted in a manner interdependent with co-conspirators.

United States v. Dozal, 173 F.3d 787, 797 (10th Cir. 1999).

      B.    Conspiracy Charge

      Based on the evidence, the jury could reasonably have found Mr.

Velarde guilty of the conspiracy.

      Ms. Amy Conway and Mr. Ory Johnson testified that they had

frequently bought methamphetamine from Mr. Velarde for resale to others.

Ms. Conway added that after she had introduced Mr. Johnson to Mr.

Velarde, the two men “cut [her] out of the [methamphetamine] deal.”

Appellant’s App., vol. 3, at 257-58. From this testimony, the jury could

rationally have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Velarde was

guilty of conspiracy. 2

2
      The government also presented evidence involving (1) the number of
calls between Mr. Velarde and his codefendants, and (2) a codefendant’s
placement of Mr. Velarde’s address in a GPS system. Mr. Velarde argues
that this evidence does not support guilt. We need not address this
argument because the testimony of Ms. Conway and Mr. Johnson provides
sufficient support for the finding of guilt.
                                        9
     C.      Credibility of the Witnesses

     On appeal, Mr. Velarde argues that the witnesses were not credible.

This argument lacks merit, for assessment of credibility is for the jury, not

our court. United States v. Irvin, 682 F.3d 1254, 1266 (10th Cir. 2012).

     D.      Quantity of Methamphetamine

     Mr. Velarde also challenges the sufficiency of evidence for the

distribution of 500 or more grams of methamphetamine. We reject this

challenge.

     Mr. Johnson testified that except for one week, he had bought one to

two ounces of methamphetamine from Mr. Velarde on a weekly basis from

late June or early July until the first week of December. Even if we were to

assume that Mr. Johnson waited until early July to start buying

methamphetamine from Mr. Velarde, the purchases would have lasted at

least 19 weeks.

     One ounce equals 28.3495 grams. Thus, the jury could infer that Mr.

Velarde sold Mr. Johnson between 28.3495 and 56.699 grams of

methamphetamine on 19 occasions. The total would have involved between

538.6 and 1077.3 grams. As a result, the jury could reasonably find that

Mr. Velarde had conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of

methamphetamine.

                                        10
IV.   Conclusion

      We affirm. Mr. Velarde waived his rights under the Speedy Trial Act,

and the pretrial delay did not violate the Sixth Amendment. At the trial, the

jury could have reasonably found guilt. Thus, we reject Mr. Velarde’s

challenges to the pretrial delay and the sufficiency of the evidence.

                                   Entered for the Court

                                   Robert E. Bacharach
                                   Circuit Judge

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