Opinion
Crim. Action No.: 1:21CR07
04-09-2021
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. TERRANCE CECIL CLARK, Defendant.
( ) ORDER ADOPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING PLEA OF GUILTY IN FELONY CASE [DKT. NO. 35] , ACCEPTING GUILTY PLEA, AND SCHEDULING SENTENCING HEARING
On March 9, 2021, the Defendant, Terrance Cecil Clark ("Clark"), appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Aloi and moved for permission to enter a plea of GUILTY to Count One of the Indictment, without a plea agreement, charging him with Unlawful Possession of Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). Clark stated that he understood that the magistrate judge is not a United States District Judge, and Clark consented to pleading before the magistrate judge. This Court referred Clark's plea of guilty to the magistrate judge for the purpose of administering the allocution, pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, making a finding as to whether the plea was knowingly and voluntarily entered, and recommending to this Court whether the plea should be accepted.
Based upon Clark's statements during the plea hearing, and the Government's proffer establishing that an independent factual basis for the plea existed, the magistrate judge found that Clark was competent to enter a plea, that the plea was freely and voluntarily given, that Clark was aware of the nature of the charges against him and the consequences of his plea, and that a factual basis existed for the tendered plea. The magistrate judge issued a Report and Recommendation Concerning Plea of Guilty in Felony Case ("R&R") [Dkt. No. 35] finding a factual basis for the plea and recommending that this Court accept Clark's plea of guilty to Count One of the Indictment.
The magistrate judge also directed the parties to file any written objections to the R&R within fourteen (14) days after service of the R&R. He further advised that failure to file objections would result in a waiver of the right to appeal from a judgment of this Court based on the R&R. Neither Clark nor the Government filed objections to the R&R.
Accordingly, this Court ADOPTS the magistrate judge's R&R [Dkt. No. 35], provisionally ACCEPTS Clark's guilty plea, and ADJUDGES him GUILTY of the crime charged in Count One of the Indictment.
Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(3) and U.S.S.G. § 6B1.1(c), the Court DEFERS acceptance of the proposed plea until it has received and reviewed the presentence investigation report prepared in this matter.
Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 6A1 et seq., the Court ORDERS the following:
1. The Probation Officer shall undertake a presentence investigation of Clark, and prepare a presentence investigation report for the Court;
2. The Government and Clark shall each provide their narrative descriptions of the offense to the Probation Officer by April 19, 2021;
3. The presentence investigation report shall be disclosed to Clark, his counsel, and the Government on or before June 18, 2021; however, the Probation Officer shall not disclose any sentencing recommendations made pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(e)(3);
4. Counsel may file written objections to the presentence investigation report on or before July 2, 2021;
5. The Office of Probation shall submit the presentence investigation report with addendum to the Court on or before July 16, 2021; and
6. Counsel may file any written sentencing memorandum or statements and motions for departure from the Sentencing Guidelines, including the factual basis for the same, on or before July 26, 2021.
The magistrate judge remanded Defendant to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
The Court will conduct the Sentencing Hearing for Clark on August 9, 2021, at 1:30 p.m., at the Clarksburg, West Virginia point of holding court. If counsel anticipates having multiple witnesses or an otherwise lengthy sentencing hearing, please notify the Judge's chamber staff so that an adequate amount of time can be scheduled.
It is so ORDERED.
The Clerk is directed to transmit copies of this Order to counsel of record and all appropriate agencies. DATED: April 9, 2021.
/s/ Thomas S. Kleeh
THOMAS S. KLEEH
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE