United States v. Roger Hamelin , 243 F. App'x 529 ( 2007 )

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FILED
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
AUG 9, 2007
No. 07-11080 THOMAS K. KAHN
Non-Argument Calendar CLERK
________________________
D. C. Docket No. 06-00013-CR-5
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
ROGER HAMELIN,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Georgia
_________________________
(August 9, 2007)
Before DUBINA, CARNES and KRAVITCH, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Roger Hamelin appeals his conviction for possessing a firearm and
ammunition as a convicted felon on the grounds that the Government violated the
Speedy Trial Act. For the reasons that follow, we vacate the conviction and
remand to the district court to dismiss the indictment and determine whether the
dismissal is with or without prejudice.
I. BACKGROUND
On July 14, 2005, a grand jury indicted Hamelin on one count of possession
of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 922(g). Hamelin appeared at his arraignment before the magistrate judge on
August 23, 2005, and he entered a plea of not guilty. On May 9, 2006, Hamelin
moved to dismiss the indictment with prejudice based on violation of the Speedy
Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 3161-3174. On May 13, 2006, the district court dismissed
the indictment without prejudice.
On August 10, 2006, a grand jury returned a second indictment against
Hamelin for the same offense—one count of possession of a firearm and
ammunition by a convicted felon, in violation of § 922(g). On August 26, 2006,
Hamelin again appeared before the magistrate judge and pleaded not guilty.
On November 27, 2006, Hamelin and the Government filed proposed voir
dire questions and requests to charge. On November 30th, Hamelin filed a motion
to dismiss the indictment for violation of the Speedy Trial Act. In its written
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response to Hamelin’s motion, the Government admitted that “[t]he technical
requirements of [the Speedy Trial Act] have not been met, in that it appears that the
70th non-excludable day under the Act was November 29, 2006.” But the
Government argued “that the delay resulted because the Court’s staff slightly
miscalculated the date upon which the time would expire.” The Government also
argued that even if dismissal were warranted, such dismissal should be without
prejudice because the charged offense was serious, the Government acted in good
faith without delay or neglect, and the Government had an interest in the efficient
administration of justice.
On the day Hamelin’s trial commenced, December 4, 2006, the district court
summarily denied Hamelin’s motion to dismiss. At the conclusion of trial, the jury
convicted Hamelin, and the district court sentenced him to a term of 98 months’
imprisonment, which he is currently serving. This appeal followed.
II. DISCUSSION
On appeal, Hamelin argues that his indictment should be dismissed with
prejudice because he was not brought to trial within the 70-day period prescribed
by the Speedy Trial Act. We review a claim under the Speedy Trial Act de novo.
United States v. Miles, 290 F.3d 1341, 1348 (11th Cir. 2002).
The Speedy Trial Act provides that a defendant who has entered a plea of
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not guilty must be tried within 70 days from the filing of his indictment or
information, or from the date on which he made his first appearance before the
court, whichever date last occurs. 18 U.S.C. § 3161(c)(1). If the defendant is not
tried within the 70-day time limit, the court must dismiss the indictment. Id.§ 3162(a)(2). The district court must then determine whether the dismissal is with
or without prejudice by considering, “among others, each of the following factors:
the seriousness of the offense; the facts and circumstances of the case which led to
the dismissal; and the impact of a reprosecution on the administration of this
chapter and on the administration of justice.” Id. “[I]n order to prevent abuse of
the [Act’s] deadlines, we require a showing of some affirmative justification by the
government to warrant a dismissal without prejudice.” United States v. Godoy,
821 F.2d 1498, 1505 (11th Cir. 1987) (internal quotation marks omitted). But
“[a]side from this limitation, the choice of sanction is left to the sound discretion of
the district court after consideration of the statutory factors.” Id. Thus, “[t]the
district court’s decision that the dismissal should have been without prejudice will
stand, unless that court has abused its discretion.” Id. The defendant must request
the relief of dismissal, and the defendant’s failure to move for dismissal before trial
shall constitute a waiver of the right to dismissal under the Act. 18 U.S.C.
§ 3162(a)(2); United States v. Register, 182 F.3d 820, 828 (11th Cir. 1999).
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Here, as the Government concedes, Hamelin was not brought to trial within
the 70-day time limit prescribed by the Speedy Trial Act. Hamelin’s motion to
dismiss the indictment for violation of the Act was filed on November 30,
2006—one day after the expiration of the 70-day time limit and four days before
his trial was to commence. As such, the district court erred in failing to dismiss the
indictment as required by the Act. Because the district court made no factual
findings in denying Hamelin’s motion (stating only that Hamelin should have
raised the issue “long before this point today”) we remand to the district court to
dismiss the indictment and determine whether the dismissal is with or without
prejudice. See Godoy, 821 F.2d at 1505 (holding that whether a dismissal for
violation of the Speedy Trial Act is with or without prejudice is within the district
court’s “sound discretion” based on consideration of the statutory factors).
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we VACATE Hamelin’s conviction, and
REMAND to the district court with instructions to dismiss the indictment and
determine whether the dismissal is with or without prejudice.
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