Moreno v. Commonwealth
Moreno v. Commonwealth
Opinion of the Court
The petitioner, Jedediah Moreno, appeals from a judgment of a single justice of this court denying his petition pursuant to G. L. c. 211, § 3. We affirm.
Moreno was indicted in December, 2007, on charges of cocaine trafficking in violation of G. L. c. 94C, § 32E (b), and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute within a school zone in violation of G. L. c. 94C, § 32J. He filed, in the Superior Court, several motions for a hearing pursuant to Commonwealth v. Amral, 407 Mass. 511 (1990), and Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154 (1978). Although his initial motions were denied, a judge eventually held a Franks hearing in January, 2010, in connection with Moreno’s motion to suppress evidence.
The case is now before us pursuant to S.J.C. Rule 2:21, as amended, 434 Mass. 1301 (2001). Moreno had the burden to create a record before the single justice “showing both a substantial claim of violation of a substantive right and that the violation could not have been remedied in the normal course of a trial and appeal or by other available means." Gorod v. Tabachnick, 428 Mass. 1001, 1001, cert, denied, 525 U.S. 1003 (1998). He has not met this burden. In his memorandum filed pursuant to rule 2:21, Moreno argues that review of the trial court’s denial of his request for a Franks hearing cannot adequately be obtained on appeal because, if he “wait[s] until this is litigated on appeal and remanded for a Franks hearing,” he may not be able to locate certain witnesses. Moreno did not raise the claim of the potential unavailability of witnesses in his G. L. c. 211, § 3, petition, and there was virtually nothing in the record before the single justice relevant to the claim.
The single justice did not err or abuse his discretion in denying relief pursuant to G. L. c. 211, § 3.
Judgment affirmed.
Ht does not appear, from the record, that the judge held a separate, preliminary hearing pursuant to Commonwealth v. Amral, 407 Mass. 511 (1990).
In the papers filed in the county court, Moreno stated that he was seeking leave pursuant to G. L. c. 211, § 3, and Mass. R. Crim. P. 15 (a) (2), as appearing in 422 Mass. 1501 (1996), to appeal from the denial of his request for a hearing pursuant to Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154 (1978). In this court he presses only so much of the single justice’s denial that relates to the G. L. c. 211, § 3, petition.
Moreno stated in his response to the Commonwealth’s opposition to his G. L. c. 211, § 3, petition that if he had to “wait years before [his] case is reviewed and [he is] incarcerated” he “will almost certainly be unable to find these witnesses again.” His burden to create a record was not met by this statement.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jedediah Moreno v. Commonwealth
- Status
- Published