Opinion
CR 10-49-GF-BMM-01
10-13-2017
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. DEVIN HALL, Defendant.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO REVOKE DEFENDANT'S SUPERVISED RELEASE
I. Synopsis
The United States accused Mr. Hall of violating his conditions of supervised release by failing to report to the probation office within seventy-two hours of his release from imprisonment. He admitted to the violation. Mr. Hall's supervised release should be revoked. He should be sentenced to four months of custody and twenty months of supervised release.
II. Status
In October 2010, Mr. Hall pleaded guilty to four counts of Burglary. (Docs. 29-30). United States District Court Judge Sam E. Haddon sentenced Mr. Hall to 60 months of custody on each count, to run concurrently, and 36 months of supervised release on each count, to run concurrently. (Doc. 36). Mr. Hall's term of supervised release began on November 27, 2015. (Doc. 44).
On February 19, 2016, the United States Probation Office filed a Report on Offender under Supervision notifying the Court that Mr. Hall failed to report for substance abuse treatment, used alcohol, failed to notify his probation officer within 72 hours of law enforcement contact, and failed to report for sex offender treatment. (Doc. 43).
On June 6, 2016, the Court revoked Mr. Hall's supervised release because he failed to comply with substance abuse testing and treatment and failed to comply with sex offender treatment. He also consumed alcohol, consumed controlled substances, and failed to report to his probation officer as directed. (Doc. 55). United States District Judge Brian Morris sentenced him to six months in custody and thirty months of supervised release on all counts, to run concurrently. (Id.) Mr. Hall began his term of supervised release on October 19, 2016.
The United States Probation Office filed a petition asking the Court to revoke Mr. Hall's supervised release on January 5, 2017, alleging that he violated the terms of his supervised release by committing another crime, failing to report for substance abuse testing, failing to report for substance abuse treatment, and providing a breath sample that tested positive for alcohol on two occasions. (Doc. 58). He was sentenced to six months custody with twenty-four months of supervised release to follow. (Doc. 67). His current term of supervision began on July 20, 2017.
Petition
On August 3, 2017, the United States Probation Office filed a Petition for Warrant or Summons and Order asking the Court to revoke Mr. Hall's supervised release, alleging he violated the conditions by failing to report to the probation office within seventy-two hours of his release from imprisonment. (Doc. 70). The Petition alleges that Mr. Hall was scheduled to arrive in Billings, Montana, on July 22, 2017, via Greyhound bus following his release from prison, but he never showed and his whereabouts were unknown as of the writing of the Petition. (Id.) Based on the Petition, United States District Court Judge Brian Morris issued a warrant for Mr. Hall's arrest. (Doc. 71).
Initial appearance
Mr. Hall appeared before the undersigned on September 14, 2017, in Great Falls, Montana, for an initial appearance. Federal Defender Evangelo Arvanetes accompanied him at the initial appearance. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Betley represented the United States.
Mr. Hall said he had read the Petition and understood the allegations. Mr. Hall waived the preliminary hearing, and the parties consented to proceed with the revocation hearing before the undersigned.
Revocation hearing
Mr. Hall admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release as alleged in the Petition. The violations are serious and warrant revocation of Mr. Hall's supervised release.
Mr. Hall's violation grade is Grade C, his criminal history category is I, and his underlying offenses are Class C felonies. He could be incarcerated for up to twenty-four months on each count and ordered to remain on supervised release for twenty-four months on each count, less any custody time imposed. The United States Sentencing Guidelines call for three to nine months in custody.
At the September 14, 2017 hearing, the Court ordered the United States Probation Office to obtain a mental health evaluation for Mr. Hall. The Court continued the hearing to October 12, 2017, in Great Falls, Montana, at 10:00am.
On October 12, 2017, the proceedings were resumed before the undersigned. Mr. Arvanetes accompanied Mr. Hall, and Assistant United States Attorney Jared Cobell represented the United States.
Mr. Arvanetes recommended a sentence of four months in custody, with supervised release to follow, noting that there were mitigating factors in this case. Mr. Hall addressed the Court and stated that he missed his bus from Reno, Nevada, to Billings, Montana, because he got lost after his release. However, Mr. Hall informed the Court that he turned himself in to the local police because he knew he was not in compliance with the Court's orders, and asked the Court to consider that as a mitigating factor. Mr. Cobell agreed with the recommended sentence of four months.
III. Analysis
Mr. Hall's supervised release should be revoked because he admitted violating its conditions. After considering the testimony and argument presented at the hearing, the Court recommends Mr. Hall should be sentenced to four months of custody and twenty months of supervised release. This sentence would be sufficient given the serious violation of the Court's trust, but it would not be greater than necessary.
IV. Conclusion
Mr. Hall was advised that the above sentence would be recommended to Judge Morris. The Court reminded him of his right to object to these Findings and Recommendations within 14 days of their issuance. The undersigned explained that Judge Morris would consider Mr. Hall's objection, if it is filed within the allotted time, before making a final determination on whether to revoke Mr. Hall's supervised release and what, if any, sanction to impose.
The undersigned FINDS:
Mr. Hall violated the conditions of his supervised release by failing to report to the probation office within seventy-two hours of his release from imprisonment.
The undersigned RECOMMENDS:
The District Court should enter the attached Judgment, revoking Mr. Hall's supervised release and committing Mr. Hall to the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons for four months custody. He should be sentenced to twenty months of supervised release to follow. The conditions of supervision previously imposed, which are fully set forth in the proposed judgment, should be imposed.
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO OBJECT TO FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO
OBJECT
The parties may serve and file written objections to the Findings and Recommendations within 14 days of their entry, as indicated on the Notice of Electronic Filing. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). A district judge will make a de novo determination regarding any portion of the Findings and Recommendations to which objection is made. The district judge may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the Findings and Recommendations. Failure to timely file written objections may bar a de novo determination by the district judge, and may waive the right to appear and allocute before a district judge.
Dated the 13th day of October, 2017.
/s/_________
John Johnston
United States Magistrate Judge