Opinion
4:18-cr-00031-001-TRM-SKL
01-04-2024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SARAH HAZELWOOD
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
CHRISTOPHER H. STEGER, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
SARAH HAZELWOOD (“Defendant”), came before the Court for an initial appearance on January 3, 2024, in accordance with Rule 32.1 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure on the Petition for Warrant for Offender Under Supervision [Doc. 56] (the "Petition").
After being sworn in due form of law, Defendant was informed of her privilege against self-incrimination under the 5th Amendment and her right to counsel under the 6th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The Court determined Defendant wanted to be represented by an attorney and that she qualified for the appointment of an attorney to represent her at government expense. Consequently, the Court APPOINTED Attorney Myrlene Marsa of Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee, Inc., to represent Defendant.
Defendant was furnished with a copy of the Petition, and had an opportunity to review that document with her attorney. The Court determined that Defendant was able to read and understand the Petition with the assistance of her counsel. In addition, AUSA Frank Clark explained to Defendant the specific charges contained in the Petition. Defendant acknowledged that she understood the charges in the Petition.
The Government moved Defendant be detained pending disposition of the Petition or further Order of this Court. The Court explained Defendant's right to a preliminary hearing and detention hearing and what those hearings entail. Defendant conferred with her counsel and waived the preliminary hearing and detention hearing.
The Court finds that probable cause exists to demonstrate that Defendant has committed violations of her conditions of supervised release and that Defendant has not carried the burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that she will not flee or pose a danger to any other person or to the community. Consequently, the Court GRANTED the Government's oral motion to detain Defendant pending disposition of the Petition or further Order of this Court.
It is, therefore, ORDERED that:
1. Counsel for Defendant and the Government shall confer and make best efforts to submit to the United States District Judge a proposed Agreed
Order with respect to an appropriate disposition of the Petition.
2. In the event counsel are unable to reach agreement with respect to an appropriate disposition of the Petition, they shall request a hearing before the United States District Judge.
3. The Government's motion that Defendant be DETAINED WITHOUT BAIL pending further Order of this Court is GRANTED.