Court Opinion

ID: 1012595
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-04 20:47:37.905405+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:39:11.011366
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,              
                 Plaintiff-Appellee,
                 v.                                No. 03-4077
DAVID N. JONES,
              Defendant-Appellant.
                                       
           Appeal from the United States District Court
            for the District of Maryland, at Greenbelt.
              Deborah K. Chasanow, District Judge.
                         (CR-02-77-DKC)

                      Submitted: February 2, 2004

                      Decided: February 26, 2004

      Before WIDENER and MICHAEL, Circuit Judges, and
              HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

                             COUNSEL

David P. Olslund, DAVID P. OLSLUND, P.C., Severn, Maryland, for
Appellant. Thomas M. DiBiagio, United States Attorney, Daphene R.
McFerren, Barbara S. Skalla, Assistant United States Attorneys,
Greenbelt, Maryland, for Appellee.
2                       UNITED STATES v. JONES
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
Local Rule 36(c).

                              OPINION

PER CURIAM:

   David N. Jones appeals his conviction and 210-month sentence for
one count of possession with intent to distribute fifty or more grams
of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(iii)
(2000); one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 or more
grams of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(ii)
(2000); and four counts of distribution of five or more grams of
cocaine base, violations of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(iii)
(2000). Finding no error, we affirm.

   First, Jones contends that the district court erred in failing to dis-
miss the charges against him because the delay between indictment
and trial violated his right to a speedy trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161
(2000) (the Speedy Trial Act). This court reviews de novo a district
court’s interpretation of the Speedy Trial Act, while it reviews any
related factual findings for clear error. United States v. Stoudenmire,
74 F.3d 60, 63 (4th Cir. 1996). The relevant provision of the Act
states that: "[i]n any case in which a plea of not guilty is entered, the
trial of a defendant charged in an information or indictment with the
commission of an offense shall commence within seventy days from
the filing date . . . of the information or indictment." 18 U.S.C.
§ 3161(c)(1). Generally, if a defendant is not brought to trial within
seventy days, the court must dismiss the indictment on the defen-
dant’s motion. 18 U.S.C. § 3162(a)(2). "The requirement of dismissal,
however, is not absolute." United States v. Wright, 990 F.2d 147, 148
(4th Cir. 1993) (reaching same conclusion under § 3161(b), where
indictment must be filed within thirty days of arrest).

   Certain delays are excludable when computing the time within
which a defendant’s trial must commence. 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)-
(9); Wright, 990 F.2d at 148. One of the delays excluded from the
Speedy Trial Act "clock" is any delay caused by the filing of a pretrial
                        UNITED STATES v. JONES                        3
motion under 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)(F). "The plain terms of the stat-
ute . . . exclude all time between the filing of and the hearing on a
motion whether that hearing on a motion was prompt or not." Hender-
son v. United States, 476 U.S. 321, 326 (1986). This court has held
that, in a multi-defendant case, a time period excluded for one defen-
dant is excludable for all defendants in the same action. United States
v. Jarrell, 147 F.3d 315, 316 (4th Cir. 1998); United States v. Sarno,
24 F.3d 618, 622 (4th Cir. 1994). We have reviewed the record and
conclude that there was no error.

   Next, Jones argues that the district court erred in not departing
downward from his Sentencing Guideline range for a host of factors
that he claimed took his case outside the "heartland" envisioned by
the Guidelines. Jones further objects to the district court’s assessment
of a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice. The district
court’s decision not to depart is only reviewable on appeal if the dis-
trict court based its decision on a mistaken belief that it lacked legal
authority to depart. United States v. Edwards, 188 F.3d 230, 238-39
(4th Cir. 1999). The district court’s factual findings in applying the
Guidelines are reviewed for clear error. United States v. Daughtrey,
874 F.2d 213, 217 (4th Cir. 1989). Here, the record shows that the
district court understood it had discretion to depart but chose not to
do so. Further, Jones’s testimony at a pre-trial motion hearing and
during trial amply supports the district court’s finding that Jones
obstructed justice. See U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual, § 3C1.1
comment (N.4(b)) (2002).

   Jones also argues that the district court erred in allowing the Gov-
ernment to cross-examine him about prior drug offenses he commit-
ted. The district court’s evidentiary rulings are reviewed for abuse of
discretion. United States v. Carter, 300 F.3d 415, 423 (4th Cir. 2002),
cert. denied, 537 U.S. 1187 (2003). Because Jones chose to testify,
his credibility was at issue, and the Government was entitled to attack
it pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 608(b). See also United States v. Williams,
986 F.2d 86, 89 (4th Cir. 1993). The court did not abuse its discretion
in allowing the cross-examination.

  Finally, Jones contends that the district court erred in allowing the
Government to introduce fingerprint evidence in its rebuttal case. The
admission of rebuttal evidence is within the sound discretion of the
4                       UNITED STATES v. JONES
district court and is not reviewable on appeal absent an abuse of that
discretion. Geders v. United States, 425 U.S. 80, 86-87 (1976); Hospi-
tal Bldg. Co. v. Trustees of Rex Hosp., 791 F.2d 288, 294 (4th Cir.
1986). Again, because Jones chose to testify, he opened the door for
the introduction of the rebuttal evidence, and we find that the district
court did not abuse its discretion in allowing its admission.

  Accordingly, we affirm Jones’s conviction and sentence. We dis-
pense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are
adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument
would not aid the decisional process.

                                                           AFFIRMED