United States v. Fritzsching
United States v. Fritzsching
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING PART DENYING IN PART MOTION TO DISMISS
Defendant Travis Fritzsching moves
FACTS
1.The United States filed a complaint against Mr. Fritzsching on November 24, 2015. On the same day, he appeared for arraignment before Magistrate Judge Furse. On December 2, 2015, a federal grand jury indicted Mr. Fritzsching in a two-count indictment charging receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Mr. Fritzching was arraigned on the charges on December 3, 2015 and a trial was scheduled for February 8, 2016.
2. On January 4, 2016, Mr. Fritzsching filed a motion to continue the trial,
3. On April 12, 2016, Mr. Fritzsching filed a second motion to continue the trial.
4. On June 25, 2016, Mr. Fritzsching filed a third motion to continue the trial.
5. Mr. Fritzsching, through new counsel, filed a motion to suppress on September 30, 2016.
6. On January 26, 2017, the court also scheduled trial for March 6, 2017.
7. Mr. Fritzsching filed a motion to continue the trial on February 13, 2017,
8. On February 15, 2017, Mr. Fritzsch-ing filed an amended motion to continue trial
9. The time between the entry of the order denying the motion to dismiss on January 26, 2017 and filing of the motion to continue on February 15, 2017 was not excluded from the Speedy Trial Act calculations resulting in a violation of 18 days.
10. The amended motion to continue trial was granted on February 16, 2017.
11. Mr. Fritzsching’s current motion to dismiss
DISCUSSION
The parties do not dispute that a Speedy Trial Act violation has occurred which requires the case to be dismissed.
In determining whether to dismiss the case with or without prejudice, the court*1273 shall consider, 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.20
“The Supreme Court has indicated that prejudice to the defendant occasioned by the delay should also be considered in determining whether to dismiss an indictment with or without prejudice.”
1. Seriousness of the Offense
“If the court determines the offense committed by the defendant is serious, this factor weighs in favor of dismissing without prejudice.”
2. Facts and Circumstances Leading to Dismissal
“In determining whether the facts and circumstances warrant dismissal with prejudice [courts] focus on the culpability of the conduct that led to the delay. If the violation is the result of intentional dilatory conduct, or a pattern of neglect on the part of the Government, dismissal with prejudice is the appropriate remedy.”
3. Impact of Reprosecution on the Administration of the Speedy Trial Act and on the Administration of Justice
“For this last enumerated factor, ‘a court should consider, [among other things], whether the delay caused by the government was intentional and the prejudice suffered by the defendant from the Act’s violation. The length of delay is also relevant.’”
The statement that the court is “well aware” that Mr. Fritzsching “suffers from retardation and mental and emotional instability” is incorrect and misleading. Mr. Fritzsching’s defense counsel has never provided the court with any medical records containing a diagnosis or documentary evidence of these claims. The court has reviewed and' accepted defense counsels’ representations contained in the motions that Mr. Fritzsching suffers from unspecified mental health issues. But findings as to these mental health claims have not been made. Defense counsels’ request for a hearing on this issue to determine prejudice to Mr. Fritzsching is not warranted at this time. Every delay in this case, except for the 18 days of time inadvertently not excluded, was at the request of, and with the agreement of Mr, Fritzsching while he was incarcerated. Mr. Fritzsching has not been prejudiced by any unnecessary or lengthy delay due to any action by the United States.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3299, “an indictment may be found or an information instituted at any time without limitation” for the felony charges of receiving and possession of child pornography Mr. Fritzsching faces. Consequently, the administration of
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Motion to Dismiss
1. The Motion is GRANTED and the case is DISMISSED due to a violation of the Speedy Trial Act.
2. The Motion to dismiss with prejudice is DENIED.
3. This case is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
4. The clerk is directed to close this case.
. Motion to Dismiss; Speedy Trial Act; Memorandum in Support (Motion), docket no. 53, filed February 15, 2017.
. 18 U.S.C. §§ 3161-3174,
. Motion to Continue Jury Trial & Reset Motion Cut-off, docket no. 18, filed January 4, 2016.
. Order Resetting Motion Cut-Off and Continuing Jury Trial, docket no. 20, filed January 6, 2016.
. Motion to Continue Jury Trial, docket no. 22, filed April 12, 2016.
. Order Granting Motion to Continue Jury Trial, docket no. 23, filed April 15, 2016,
. Motion to Continue Jury Trial, docket no. 24, filed June 25, 2016.
. Order to Continue Jury Trial, docket no. 25, filed June 30, 2016.
. Motion to Suppress Evidence; Evidentiary Hearing Requested, docket no, 29, filed September 30, 2016.
. Memorandum Decision and Order Denying Defendant’s Motion to Suppress Statements, docket no. 45, filed January 26, 2017.
. Notice of Hearing, docket no. 47, filed January 26, 2017.
. Motion to Continue Jury Trial; Memorandum in Support, docket no. 50, filed February 13, 2017.
. Docket Text Order, docket no. 51, filed February 14, 2017.
. Amended Motion to Continue Jury Trial, docket no. 52, filed February 15, 2017.
. Motion to Dismiss; Speedy Trial Act; Memorandum in Support (Motion), docket no. 53, filed February 15, 2017.
. Order Granting Motion to Continue Jury Trial, docket no. 54, filed February 16, 2017.
. Motion to Dismiss; Speedy Trial Act; Memorandum in Support (Motion), docket no. 53, filed February 15, 2017.
. Seel8U.S.C. § 3162(a)(2).
. United States v. Cano-Silva, 402 F.3d 1031, 1034 (10th Cir. 2005).
. 18 U.S.C. § 3162(a)(2).
. Cano-Silva, 402 F.3d at 1034-35.
. Id. at 1035.
. United States v. Saltzman, 984 F.2d 1087, 1092-93 (10th Cir. 1993).
. United States v. Koerber, 813 F.3d 1262, 1276-77 (10th Cir. 2016).
. Cano-Silva, 402 F.3d at 1036 (internal quotations and citation omitted).
. Government’s Memorandum in Response to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Speedy Trial Act (Response) at 8, docket no. 58, filed February 15, 2017.
. Motion to Continue Juty Trial; Memorandum in Support, docket no. 50, filed February 13, 2017; Docket Text Order, docket no. 51, filed February 14, 2017.
. Amended Motion to Continue Jury Trial, docket no. 52, filed February 15, 2017,
. Motion to Dismiss; Speedy Trial Act; Memorandum in Support (Motion), docket no. 53, filed February 15, 2017.
. Cano-Silva, 402 F.3d at 1036 (internal quotations and citation omitted).
. Koerber, 813 F.3d at 1285 (quoting United States v. Toombs, 713 F.3d 1273, 1281 (10th Cir. 2013).
. Motion at 7.
. Reply Memorandum in Support of Defendant's Motion to Dismiss; Speedy Trial Act Request for Hearing (Reply) at 2, docket no. 59, filed March 21, 2017.
. Docket no, 53.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Travis FRITZSCHING
- Status
- Published