Opinion
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 1:17-cr-00046-MR-WCM-5
10-09-2020
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. RICHARD ARLEE CHAMPION, Defendant.
ORDER
THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Defendant's "Motion for Copies at Cost of the Court" [Doc. 224].
The Defendant was found guilty by a jury of one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846, and one count of possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine, and aiding and abetting the same, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. [Doc. 161]. The Defendant was sentenced to a term of 262 months' imprisonment. [Doc. 180]. The Defendant appealed, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction and sentence on June 11, 2019. [Doc. 199].
The Defendant now moves the Court to allow him "to receive copies at the cost of the Court." [Doc. 224 at 1]. The Defendant's motion must be denied. The Defendant has failed to demonstrate a particularized need for the requested documents. See United States v. MacCollom, 426 U.S. 317, 326-27 (1976) (holding that federal inmates are not entitled to transcripts at Government expense absent some showing of a particularized need); Jones v. Superintendent, Va. State Farm, 460 F.2d 150, 152 (4th Cir. 1972) ("[A]n indigent is not entitled to a transcript at government expense without a showing of the need, merely to comb the record in the hope of discovering some flaw.") (citation omitted).
Accordingly, IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the Defendant's "Motion for Copies at Cost of the Court" [Doc. 224] is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Signed: October 9, 2020
/s/_________
Martin Reidinger
Chief United States District Judge