Opinion
1:17-CR-00313-ELR-AJB
11-01-2018
ORDER
This matter is before the Court for consideration of Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman's Report and Recommendation ("R&R") [Doc. 73] to deny Defendant's Motion to Suppress Statements [Doc. 37]. In the time period allotted for the parties to object to the R&R, Defendant, by and through counsel, filed objections [Doc 77]. For the following reasons, the Court ADOPTS the R&R and OVERRULES Defendant's objections.
I. Standard of Review
The district court reviewing an R&R "shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed finings or recommendations to which objection is made." 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). If neither party objects, the district judge need only review the R&R for clear error and "may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge." Id. A party objecting to an R&R "must specifically identify those findings objected to. Frivolous, conclusive, or general objections need not be considered by the district court." United States v. Schultz, 565 F.3d 1353, 1361 (11th Cir. 2009) (quoting Marsden v. Moore, 847 F.2d 1536, 1548 (11th Cir. 1988)) (internal quotation marks omitted.). If there are no specific objections made to factual findings made by the magistrate judge, there is no requirement that those findings be reviewed de novo. Garvey v. Vaughn, 993 F.2d 776, 779 n. 9 (11th Cir. 1993). Absent objection, the district court judge "may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate [judge]," 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C), and may accept the recommendation if it is not clearly erroneous or contrary to the law. Fed. R. Crim. P. 59. In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C), and Rule 59 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Court has conducted a de novo review of those portions of the R&R to which Defendant objects and has reviewed the remainder of the R&R for plain error. See United States v. Slay, 714 F.2d 1093, 1095 (11th Cir. 1983).
II. Discussion
Defendant's objections to the R&R are based on his contentions that: (1) he was in custody when he made statements; and (2) his statements were not made voluntarily.
III. Conclusion
After conducting a de novo review of those portions of the R&R to which Defendant objects and reviewing the remainder of the R&R for plain error, this Court finds that the Magistrate Judge's factual and legal conclusions are correct. Accordingly, the Court OVERRULES Defendant's Objections and ADOPTS the R&R as the Opinion and Order of this Court. The Court DENIES Defendant's Motion to Suppress Statements [Doc. 37].
Defendant previously was directed to announce by November 13, 2018, whether he intends to enter a plea or wishes to proceed to trial in this case.
SO ORDERED, this 1st day of November, 2018.
/s/_________
Eleanor L. Ross
United States District Judge
Northern District of Georgia