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UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Steven Paul VALOT, Appellant

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit1973-01-03No. No. 425, Docket 72-2025
473 F.2d 667

Summary

Holding. The appellate court remanded the case to the district court for a new hearing on the motion to dismiss the indictment, directing the trial court to make findings of fact regarding any delays in prosecution and whether they were occasioned by exceptional circumstances, with instructions that the court either enter a new judgment with supplemented findings if denying the motion or dismiss the indictment if granting it.

Steven Paul Valot was convicted after a bench trial in the Eastern District of New York of importing and possessing hashish with intent to distribute. He received consecutive four-year sentences on each of three counts, plus a two-year special parole term and a $2,500 fine. On appeal, Valot raised two challenges: whether the district court properly imposed consecutive sentences under federal drug law, and whether the court erred in denying his motion to dismiss based on alleged violations of Second Circuit rules requiring prompt disposition of criminal cases.

The appellate court found the record inadequate to review the denial of the dismissal motion because the trial judge failed to make findings of fact regarding the reasons for delays in the case or whether any delays resulted from exceptional circumstances. Relying on a contemporaneous precedent, the court determined that proper appellate review was impossible without a developed factual record. Consequently, the court remanded the case for further proceedings on the motion to dismiss, directing the district court to make specific factual findings and to either deny the motion with a supplemented record or grant it and dismiss the indictment.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether the district court properly denied a motion to dismiss for failure to comply with Second Circuit rules on prompt disposition of criminal cases
  • Adequacy of the record for appellate review of a dismissal motion denied without factual findings
  • Whether consecutive sentences were properly imposed under federal drug law

Procedural posture

Valot appealed his conviction on drug importation and distribution charges following a bench trial in the Eastern District of New York, challenging both the denial of a motion to dismiss and the imposition of consecutive sentences.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

PER CURIAM:

Appellant Steven Paul Valot appeals from a judgment of conviction after a one day nonjury trial on June 29, 1972 in the Eastern District of New York, before Mark A. Costantino, District Judge, finding appellant guilty on one count of importing 7.1 kilograms of hashish into the United States on November 21, 1971, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 952(a) (1970); on a second count of possessing and bringing the same hashish on the same date into the United States on board an aircraft, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 955 (1970); and on a third count of possessing the same hashish on the same date with intent to distribute it, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) (1970). On August 15, 1972, appellant was sentenced by Judge Costantino on each count to a consecutive term of four years imprisonment. He was also sentenced to a special parole term of two years and was fined $2500.

On appeal Valot claims (1) that the district court erred in imposing consecutive sentences upon the multiple counts under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970; and (2) that the district court erred in denying appellant’s motion to dismiss the indictment on the ground that the government was not ready for trial within the time prescribed by the Second Circuit Rules Regarding Prompt Disposition of Criminal Cases. 28 U.S. C.A. (Supp.1972).

As in United States v. Scafo, 470 F.2d 748 (2 Cir.1972) (a decision rendered on the date the instant case was argued), we find the record in the instant case inadequate for us to review the propriety of Judge Rosling’s denial on June 16, 1972 of appellant’s motion to dismiss the indictment pursuant to Rule 4 of the Second Circuit Rules, supra. The skeleton sequence of events was as follows:

November 21, 1971 — Arrested.

November 22, 1971 — Arraigned.

May 9, 1972 -Indicted.

May 11, 1972 —Government mailed notice advising Valot to appear before Judge Rosling for plea on May 26, 1972.

May 15, 1972 —Government mailed notice of readiness for trial to Valot and Judge Rosling.

May 26, 1972 ■ — Valot pleaded not guilty before Judge Rosling and moved to dismiss indictment pursuant to Rule 4 of Second Circuit Rules, supra, on the ground the six month period had expired on May 21, 1972.

June 16, 1972 —Judge Rosling heard argument on the motion to dismiss and denied it in an endorsement.

Here, as in Scafo, no findings of fact were made as to what actually occurred, including the reasons for the delay or delays and whether they were “occasioned by exceptional circumstances”. Rule 5(h) of the Second Circuit Rules, supra.

Upon the authority of Scafo, we therefore remand this case to the district court for a further hearing on the motion to dismiss the indictment for failure to comply with the Second Circuit Rules, supra, and we direct the district court, as we did in Scafo, 470 F.2d at 751, as follows:

“The district court should make findings of fact on the issues. If the district court finds, after taking such additional evidence as may be relevant, that the motion should be denied, it shall enter new final judgment based upon the record as supplemented by further testimony and findings, thereby preserving to the appellant his right to further appellate review.

On the other hand, if the motion is granted, the indictment should be dismissed.”

In view of our remand on the issue of the motion to dismiss, of course we do not at this time reach the issue of the propriety of the consecutive sentences and we imply no opinion thereon.

This panel retains jurisdiction over this case. Depending upon the outcome of the hearing on the issue for which the ease is remanded, any further or supplemental appeal will be referred to this panel which will then determine all issues, including that involving the propriety of the consecutive sentences. On that issue, if it becomes ripe for us to rule upon it, no further briefs need be filed.

Remanded.