Opinion
Crim. Action 1:21-CR-3
02-28-2023
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. AUSTIN LODGE, Defendant.
ORDER ADOPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING PLEA OF GUILTY IN FELONY CASE [ECF NO. 76], ACCEPTING GUILTY PLEA, AND SCHEDULING SENTENCING HEARING
THOMAS S. KLEEH, CHIEF JUDGE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA
On February 9, 2023, the Defendant, Austin Lodge (“Lodge”), 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, charging him with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Lodge stated that he understood that the magistrate judge is not a United States District Judge, and Lodge consented to pleading before the magistrate judge.
This Court referred Lodge'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 Lodge'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 Lodge was competent to enter a plea, that the plea was freely and voluntarily given, that Lodge understood 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”) [ECF No. 76] finding a factual basis for the plea and recommending that this Court accept Lodge's plea of guilty to Count One of the Indictment.
The magistrate judge remanded Lodge to the custody of the United States Marshals Service, to be returned to the custody of the State of West Virginia.
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 Lodge nor the Government filed objections to the R&R. 2
Accordingly, this Court ADOPTS the magistrate judge's R&R [ECF No. 76], provisionally ACCEPTS Lodge'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 agreement 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 Lodge, and prepare a presentence investigation report for the Court;
2. The Government and Lodge shall each provide their narrative descriptions of the offense to the Probation Officer by March 6, 2023;
3. The presentence investigation report shall be disclosed to Lodge, his counsel, and the Government on or before April 20, 2023; however, the Probation Officer shall not disclose any sentencing recommendations made pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(e)(3);
4. Written objections to the presentence investigation report, if any, shall be submitted to the opposing party and to the probation officer on or before May 4, 2023;
5. Responses to objections to the presentence investigation report, if any, shall be submitted to the opposing party and to the probation officer on or before May 11, 2023;
6. The Office of Probation shall submit the presentence investigation report with addendum to the Court on or before June 1, 2023; and
7. Counsel may file any written sentencing memoranda or statements and motions for departure from the Sentencing Guidelines, including the factual basis for the same, on or before June 28, 2023.
The Court further ORDERS that prior to sentencing, Lodge's counsel shall review with him the revised Standard Probation and Supervised Release Conditions adopted by this Court on November 29, 2016, pursuant to the standing order entered by Chief Judge Groh, In Re: Revised Standard Probation and Supervised Release Conditions, 3:16-MC-56.
The Court will conduct the Sentencing Hearing for Lodge on July 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.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.