Opinion
5:21-CR-059-H(01)
10-25-2021
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. DANNY JOE MCCLELLAN, Defendant.
ORDER ACCEPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION AND ORDER REFERRING THE ISSUE OF DETENTION TO THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
JAMES WESLEY HENDRIX, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Before the Court are the Notice Regarding Entry of a Plea of Guilty, the Consent of the Defendant, and the Report and Recommendation Concerning Plea of Guilty of the United States Magistrate Judge. As no objections to the Report and Recommendation have been filed within fourteen days of service in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), the Court accepts and adopts the Report and Recommendation. Accordingly, the Court accepts the plea of guilty, and Danny Joe McClellan is hereby adjudged guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C). Sentence will be imposed in accordance with the Court's scheduling order. The Court now refers the issue of mandatory detention pending sentencing to the Honorable Magistrate Judge Bryant.
1. Background
The Superseding Information charges a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), that is Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. On September 29, 2021, McClellan pled guilty to the charge. The Honorable Magistrate Judge Bryant recommended that the plea be accepted. Having accepted that recommendation, McClellan has now been adjudged guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
2. Legal Standard Governing Mandatory Detention
Title 18 United States Code, Section 3143(a)(2) mandates detention after a guilty plea if the offense of conviction is among those listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3142(f)(1)(A)-(C). Section 3142(f)(1)(C) requires detention for a defendant adjudged guilty of an offense for which a maximum term of imprisonment often years or more is prescribed in the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801, et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. § 951, et seq.), or chapter 705 of tide 46.
The offense here, a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), carries a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years and is an offense that subjects the defendant to mandatory detention under Section 3143(a)(2). See United States v. Wright, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66142, at *6 (N.D. Tex. Apr. 19, 2018).
Section 3143(a)(2) details two exceptions to mandatory detention for defendants awaiting imposition or execution of a sentence. The defendant must be detained unless "(A)(i) the judicial officer finds there is a substantial likelihood that a motion for acquittal or new trial will be granted; or (ii) an attorney for the Government has recommended that no sentence of imprisonment be imposed on the person; and (B) the judicial officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to any other person or the community." Id. Additionally, a person otherwise "subject to detention under Section 3143(a)(2), and who meets the conditions of release set forth in Section 3143(a)(1) or (b)(1), may be ordered released, under appropriate conditions, by the judicial officer, if it is clearly shown that there are exceptional reasons why such person's detention would not be appropriate." 18 U.S.C. § 3145(c).
The Court thus refers this matter to the Honorable Magistrate Judge Bryant to determine whether Section 3143(a)(2)'s or Section 3145(c)'s exceptions are satisfied.
3. Conclusion
The issue of mandatory detention for this offense is referred to Magistrate Judge Bryant for resolution.
So ordered.