Opinion
CRIMINAL NO. 1:12-00123-001
06-12-2017
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BENJAMIN JAMALLE LANE
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
In Charleston, on June 8, 2017, came the defendant, Benjamin Jamalle Lane, in person and by counsel, Debra A. Kilgore; came the United States by John L. File, Assistant United States Attorney; and came United States Probation Officer Justin Gibson, for a hearing on the petition to revoke the defendant's term of supervised release.
By Memorandum Opinion and Order entered on March 2, 2017, the court held the petition in abeyance in order to allow defendant to receive treatment for his substance abuse problem while residing at Dismas Charities for a period of six months. On May 23, 2017, an amendment to the petition was filed alleging further violations of the terms of defendant's supervised release and an arrest warrant was issued.
The court informed the defendant of the alleged violations contained in the amendment to the petition to revoke the term of supervised release. The court advised the defendant that, pursuant to Rule 32.1(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, he has the right to a hearing and assistance of counsel before his term of supervised release could be revoked. Whereupon the defendant did not contest the conduct as alleged in the amendment to the petition. Accordingly, based on defendant's admissions, the court found the charges were established by a preponderance of the evidence.
At the earlier hearing, the court found that the Guideline imprisonment range for the revocation of supervised release upon such grounds was eight to fourteen months. The court further found that the Guideline ranges issued by the Sentencing Commission with respect to revocation of probation and supervised release are policy statements only and are not binding on the court. Thus, the court stated that the relevant statutory provision is 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3), which provides a maximum term of imprisonment of two years. Neither party objected to the Guideline range and statutory penalty as determined by the court.
The court found that there was sufficient information before the court on which to sentence defendant without updating the presentence investigation report.
After giving counsel for both parties and the defendant an opportunity to speak regarding the matter of disposition, the court ORDERED, pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, that the defendant's term of supervised release be revoked, and that he be incarcerated for a period of thirteen (13) months. The court recommended that defendant be incarcerated at the nearest suitable facility to Charleston, West Virginia. Upon completion of his term of incarceration, the defendant will not be subject to any further supervision by the United States Probation Office.
In considering the proper term of imprisonment to be imposed, the court considered the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), (a)(2)(B), (a)(2)(C), (a)(2)(D), (a)(4), (a)(5), (a)(6), and (a)(7), as well as the Chapter 7 policy statements and concluded that the sentence imposed is an appropriate sanction for the defendant's breach of trust, taking into account the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant. The court further concluded that the sentence imposed will provide adequate deterrence to criminal conduct and protect the public from further crimes of the defendant.
The defendant was informed of his right to appeal. The defendant was further informed that in order to initiate such an appeal, a Notice of Appeal must be filed in this court within fourteen (14) days. The defendant was advised that if he wishes to appeal and cannot afford to hire counsel to represent him on appeal, the court will appoint counsel for him. The defendant was further advised that if he so requests, the Clerk of Court will prepare and file a Notice of Appeal on his behalf.
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
The Clerk is directed to forward a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and Order to counsel of record, the United States Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia, and the Probation Department of this court.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 12th day of June, 2017.
ENTER:
/s/_________
David A. Faber
Senior United States District Judge