Opinion
CRIMINAL NO. 1:15CR111
12-04-2015
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. WILLIAM DENNISON, Defendant.
( ) ORDER ACCEPTING AND ADOPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING PLEA OF GUILTY IN FELONY CASE (DKT. NO. 16) AND SCHEDULING SENTENCING HEARING
On November 20, 2015, the defendant, William Dennison ("Dennison"), appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Aloi and moved for permission to enter a plea of GUILTY to the one Count Information. After Dennison stated that he understood that the magistrate judge is not a United States District Judge, he consented to tendering his plea before the magistrate judge. Previously, this Court had referred the guilty plea to the magistrate judge for the purposes 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.
At the outset of the hearing, the magistrate judge accepted Dennison's waiver of indictment pursuant to Rule 7(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Since the offense charged in the Information naming Dennison is punishable by a term of imprisonment of greater than one year, the Court questioned him to determine if his waiver of prosecution by indictment was being freely given in a sober and knowledgeable fashion.
The magistrate judge then advised Dennison of the nature of the charge in the Information, and confirmed that he had read and reviewed it with counsel.
Next, the magistrate judge explained Dennison's constitutional right to proceed by a grand jury indictment, and that the United States is able to charge him by Information only if he waives this right. The magistrate judge explained the Grand Jury process to Dennison, following which he confirmed his understanding of this right, and that, by waiving it, the United States could proceed to charge him with the Information as though he had been indicted. Dennison then signed a Waiver of Indictment in open court, which the Court ordered to be filed.
Based upon Dennison's statements during the plea hearing and testimony of Special Agent Kenneth Peck, the magistrate judge found that Dennison was competent to enter a plea, that the plea was freely and voluntarily given, that he 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. On November 23, 2015, the magistrate judge entered a Report and Recommendation Concerning Plea of Guilty in Felony Case ("R&R") (dkt. no. 16) finding a factual basis for the plea and recommending that this Court accept Dennison's plea of guilty to the one count Information.
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. The magistrate judge further directed 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. The parties did not file any objections to the R&R.
Accordingly, this Court ADOPTS the magistrate judge's R&R, ACCEPTS Dennison's guilty plea, and ADJUGES him GUILTY of the crime charged in the one count Information.
Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(e)(2) and U.S.S.G. § 6B1.1(c), the Court DEFERS acceptance of the proposed plea agreement until it has received and reviewed the presentence report prepared in this matter.
Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 6A1 et seq., the Court ORDERS as follows:
1. The Probation Officer shall undertake a presentence investigation of WILLIAM DENNISON, and prepare a presentence report for the Court;
2. The Government and Dennison are to provide their versions of the offense to the probation officer by December 18, 2015;
3. The presentence report is to be disclosed to Dennison, defense counsel, and the United States on or before February 2, 2016; however, the Probation Officer is not to disclose the sentencing recommendations made pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(e)(3);
4. Counsel may file written objections to the presentence report on or before February 16, 2016;
5. The Office of Probation shall submit the presentence report with addendum to the Court on or before March 1, 2016; and
6. Counsel may file any written sentencing statements and motions for departure from the Sentencing Guidelines, including the factual basis from the statements or motions, on or before March 15, 2016.
The magistrate judge placed Dennison on bond pursuant to an Order Setting Conditions of Release (dkt. no. 15) entered on November 20, 2015.
The Court will conduct the sentencing hearing for the defendant on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 1:30 P.M. at the Clarksburg, West Virginia point of holding court.
It is so ORDERED.
The Clerk is directed to transmit copies of this Order to counsel of record, the defendant and all appropriate agencies. DATED: December 4, 2015
/s/ Irene M. Keeley
IRENE M. KEELEY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE