Opinion
HEATHER E. WILLIAMS, #122664, Federal Defender, ANGELES ZARAGOZA, #270198, Assistant Federal Defender, Sacramento, California, Attorney for Defendant, ANGEL PANTOJA-LOPEZ.
BENJAMIN B. WAGNER, United States Attorney, MATTHEW G. MORRIS, Assistant United States Attorney.
STIPULATION AND ORDER CONTINUING STATUS CONFERENCE AND EXCLUDING TIME
TROY L. NUNLEY, District Judge.
ANGEL PANTOJA-LOPEZ by and through his counsel, ANGELES ZARAGOZA, Assistant Federal Defender, SARAVY YEM, by and through his counsel, DINA L. SANTOS and the United States Government, by and through its counsel, MATTHEW G. MORRIS, Assistant United States Attorney, hereby agree that the status conference set for July 11, 2013, be continued to August 22, 2103, at 9:30 a.m.
This continuance is being requested because defense counsel requires additional time to continue to research guideline issues and review discovery, including numerous DVD's which appear to be surveillance videos, discuss the case with the government, and pursue investigation.
Specifically, both defendant's were Indicted on September 22, 2011, with one count of Conspiracy to Steal Mail and 60 counts of Mail Theft by a Postal Service Employee. Additional investigation is required, including the possibility of going to the scene of the alleged thefts with both defendants which requires schedule coordinating and travel for Mr. Pantoja-Lopez who currently resides in San Diego. Furthermore, the guidelines on these types of cases can be very complicated to evaluate, particularly the potential loss amount and the number of victims. These main issues are currently being researched by defense counsel. Counsel for the defendants will communicate with the government before the next status conference to discuss any possible outstanding discovery and to discuss plea negotiations, including guideline calculations. This continuance is necessary for the ongoing preparation of counsel. The parties anticipate that this case will resolve without the need of a trial.
Counsel, along with the defendants, agree that the time from the date of this order through August 22, 2013, should be excluded in computing the time within which trial must commence under the Speedy Trial Act, §§ 3161(h)(7)(A) and (B)(iv) and Local Code T4, [reasonable time to prepare] and that the ends of justice served by this continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendants in a speedy trial.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this matter is continued to Thursday, August 22, 2013, at 9:30 a.m., for further Status Conference.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161 (h)(7)(B)(iv) and Local Code T4, the period from the date of this stipulation up to and including August 22, 2013, is excluded from the time computations required by the Speedy Trial Act due to ongoing preparation of counsel, and that the ends of justice served by this continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendants in a speedy trial.