United States v. MarzulloUnited States v. Marzullo
Dеfendants in the above-styled matter have, by separate filings,
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challenged a pri- or finding by the Magistrate that defendants are ineligible to be released on bond pending sentencing. Both Defendants raise precisely the same question: Whether “arson” is a “crime of violence” under
CONCLUDES that the crime of “arson,” as set forth in
BACKGROUND
On November 1, 1991, a jury found defendants Marzullo and Sollars guilty,
inter alia,
of one count of unlawfully destroying by fire a building used in an activity affecting interstate commerce in violation of
The applicable statute, and the one applied by the Magistrate, is
(2) The judicial officer shall order that a person who has been found guilty оf an offense in a case described in subpara-graph (A), (B), or (C) of subsection (f)(1) ofsection 3142 and is awaiting imposition or execution of sentence be detained unless—
(A)(i) the judicial officer finds that there is a substantial likelihood that a motion for acquittal or new trial will be granted; or
(ii) an attorney for the Government has recommended that no sentence of imprisonment be imposed on the person; and
(B)the judicial officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to any other person or community.
(A) a crime of violence;
(B) an offense for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment or death; [or]
(C) an offense for which a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more is prescribed in the Controlled Substances Act, ... the Controlled Import and Export Act, ... or the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act.
Both defendants challenge the Magistrate’s findings on the ground that, under
ANALYSIS
A. Standard of Review
Section 3145 provides that when detention is ordered “by a magistrate, or by a person other than a judge of a court having original jurisdiction over the offense ..., the person may file, with the court having original jurisdiction over the offеnse, a motion for revocation or amendment of the order.”
B. The Magistrate’s Order
Defendant Marzullo argues that the Magistrate’s determination that arson amounted to a crime of violence under
(a) As used in sections 3141-3150 of this chapter—
(4) the term “crime of violence” means—
(A) an offense that has as an element of the offense the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or
(B) any other offense that is a felon and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.
Defendant Marzullo, without the benefit of authority,
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asserts that the legislative intent of
Defendant Sollars argues that the Magistrate erred in relying upon the definition of “crime of violence” contained in the sentencing guidelines, because § 3156 specifically sets forth the definition for “crime of violence” to be used in applying §§ 3142 and 3143 to determine if a particular defendant should be released on bond pending sentencing.
Implicitly, this argument requires the Court to find that the two definitions — the guidelines’ definition and the definition in § 3156 — are inconsistent. Quite to the contrary, careful examination indicates that the guidelines’ definition of “crime of violence” and § 3156’s definition of “crime of violence” are joined at the root. In earlier incantations, the sentencing guidelines stated: “ ‘crime of violence’ as used in this provision is defined under
Subsequent amendments to thе guidelines do nothing to undo the above reasoning. Effective November 1, 1989, § 4B1.2(1), and its Commentary, were amended for the purpose of further clarification. U.S.S.G.App.C. at 110-11 (Nov. 1991) (emphasis added). The amendments deleted the reference to
(1) The term “crime of violence” means any offense under federal or state law punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year that—
(i) has an element, the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another, or
(ii) is burglary of a dwelling, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.
U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(1) and App.C. at 110-11 (Nov. 1991) (emphasis added). The Commentary indicates that this definition of “crime of violence” derives from
As noted above, Defendants argue that the Court should look to the definition at
1. Statutory Language
Resolving this issue is a matter of statutory construction. The appropriate place to begin our inquiry is with the language of the statute. Under the statute, a judicial officer is obligated to order a person convicted of a “crime of violence,” who is awaiting imposition of sentence, to be detained.
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(A) an offense that has as an element of the offense the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or
(B) any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.
We read sub-section (B) to require the Court to first determine if the offense in question is a felony; and if it is, to determine whether the nature of the crime — as elucidated by the generic elements of the offense — is such that its commission would ordinarily present a risk that physical force would be used against the person or property of another.
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Concededly, this offense
It seems beyond question that the application of fire or explosives to a building in an attempt to destroy or damage it is tantamount to applying physical force against that property. Defendants argue that since the building in question was “owned” by Defendant Marzullo it was not “property of another” as required by the statute. Looking to the “nature” of the crime of arson, however, it seems clear that the offense ordinarily carries with it a substantial risk to the “property of another.” The usual fact is that arson for profit committed by the “owner” risks more than his or her own property. First, to the degree that lenders or vendors of the “owner” have security interest in the building or its contents, their property must be at risk. Additionally, any items left in the store on a consignment basis amount to “property of another” that is put at risk. Finally, with an arson fire, there is always the risk that it will spread beyond the intended target and involve surrounding property or properties.
It is also the case, that arson routinely involves a substantial risk to the “person of another.” As noted above, the risk that the fire will impinge upon other structures may include thе spread to occupied structures, putting the “person of another” at risk. There is also the risk that firefighting personnel or investigative personnel will be injured by physical force while extinguishing the fire or investigating the fire scene. Accordingly, after examination of the statutory language, this Court concludes that arson is a “crime of violence” as defined by
In addition, the Court has found one reported case close to point. In
United States v. Shaker,
a federal district court in Indiana held that the crime of “arson” as set out in
2. Analogous Authority
While the Court believes it need not go further in its analysis to decide this matter, it may prove instructive for the Court to examine other evidence the Court finds persuasive as to the meaning of “crime of violence” as defined in
3. Legislative History
Finally, the Court finds that foraging around in the statute’s legislative history yields the same conclusion. Section 3143 requires pre-sentence detention of persons convicted of an offense described in sub-paragraph (A), (B), or (C) of
Both Senate and House reports instruct that the term “crime of violence” should be construed consistent with the same category of offense as described in the District of Columbia Criminal Code (D.C.Code). S.Rep. No. 225, 98th Cong., 1st Sess. 20-21 (1983), reprinted in 1984 U.S.Code.Cong. & Admin.News 3182, 3203-04; 9 H.R.Rep. No. 1121, 98th Cong., 2d Sess. at 27-28 (1984) (emphasis added). 10 Section 23-1331(4) of the D.C.Code defines “crime of violence” and states, in pertinent part:
The term “crime of violence” means murder, forcible rape, carnal knowledge of a female under the age of sixteen, taking or attempting to take immoral, improper, or indecent liberties with a child under the age of sixteen years, mayhem, kidnaping, robbery, burglary, voluntary manslaughter, extortion or blackmail accompanied by threats of violence, arson, assault with intent to commit any offense, assault with a dangerous weapon, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the foregoing offenses ....
Much of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, Pub.L. 98-473, derives from Senate Bill 1762 passed by the Senate on February 2, 1984. S. 1762, reported in 1984 U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News at 3182. This bill enacted all of the provisions referred to above and relevant to our inquiry. The purpose of the bill was to “make comprehensive reforms and im-
The Senate Report sets out a table of contents identifying and cataloguing the various provisions it contained.
Id.
at III,
reprinted in
1984 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 3183. As noted above, this bill amended certain statutes under the federal criminal code. The table of contents separated these various amendments into “Miscellaneous
violent crime
amendments” and “Serious nonviolent offenses.”
Id.
(emphasis added). Significantly, the amendments to
Finally, Congressional discussion of its own view of the crime of arson, as set forth in
For example, included in the reasonably foreseeable consequences of the burning or destruction by an explosive of a building affecting interstate commerce in violation of subsection 844(i) would be a response by firemen and others (including high speed driving of fire equipment and ambulances), crowd control by policemen, and the examination of the remains of the building and undetonated explosives by any one of a number of law enforcement officers and technicians.-
Id.
at 359,
reprinted in
1984 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 3508 (emphasis added). These slices of legislative history lend considerable support to the conclusion that the crime of “arson” presents a substantial risk that physical force will be brought to bear against the person or property of another.
Cf.
CONCLUSION
After conducting its own independent analysis, and for the reasons discussed above, this Court
CONCLUDES that the crime of “arson,” as set forth in
ORDERED that Defendants remain in the custody of the Attorney General or his authorized representative for detention pending completion of Defendants’ sentencing. It is further
ORDERED that Defendants be confined in a corrections facility separate, to the extent practicable, from persons serving sentences or being held in custody pending appeal. It is further
ORDERED that the Attorney General or his authorized representative ensure that each Defendant is afforded reasonable opportunity for private consultation with counsel. It is further
ORDERED that, on ORDER of a court of the United States or on request of an attorney of the Government, the person in charge of the corrections facility in which each Defendant is confined deliver the Defendant to a United States Marshal for the purpose of an appearance in connection with a court proceeding.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Notes
. Defendant Marzullo filed a Motion for Review, arguing that the Magistrate’s finding was inconsistent with the legislative intent of the statute applied, Def.Mot.Rev. (Doc. # 115), Nov. 13, 1991 at 2; Defendant Sollars filed Objections to Magistrate’s Detention Order, arguing that "arson” is not a "crime of violence” under
. Counsel for both Defendants, and for the government, stated, on the record at the December 6th hearing, that they were unable to find a single reported case on point. Tr.Hrg. at-.
. In the present case, the Court not only scoured the record before the Magistrate, it held its own hearing on December 6, 1991, at which both defendants, and the government, were allowed to presеnt, on the record, arguments and authority in support of their respective positions.
. The Court does not intend its reference to the lack of authority as a criticism. As noted above, at the December 6th hearing, counsel for both defendants, as well as the government’s attorney Mr. Newton, indicated that they were unable to find a single reported case on point.
.
. As noted above, this presumption in favor of detention may be overcome if the specified additional findings are made.
See
. The Court finds that arson is a "crime of violence” under either sub-section (A) or subsection (B). However, since Defendant Sollars focuses the issue under sub-section (B) our analysis will primаrily do the same.
. Defendants argue that the Court should look at the specific manner in which they carried out the crime of "arson" to determine if it amounts to a "crime of violence.” The Court also acknowledges that a recent panel of the Eighth Circuit stated the view that courts "should look beyond the mere statutory elements of a crime when determining whether an offense is a crime of violence.”
United States v. Cornelius,
In the event the Eighth Circuit chooses to extend its analysis in
Cornelius, supra,
to the interpretation of
. The Senate Report provides that:
The offenses set forth in subsection (f)(1)(A) through (C) [in18 U.S.C. § 3142 ] are crimes of violence, offenses punishable by life imprisonment or death, or offenses for which a maximum 10-year imposition is prescribed. ... These offenses are essentially the same categories of offenses described in the District of Columbia Code by the terms "dangerous crime” and “crime of violence" for which a detention hearing may be held under the statute. [The report goes on to cite D.C.Code, secs. 23-1322(a), 23-1331(3) and 23-1331(4) ].
S.Rep. No. 225, 98th Cong., 1st Sess. at 20-21 (1983), reprinted in 1984 U.S.C.C.A.N. 3203, 3204 (emphasis added).
. The House Report states, in pertinent part:
Subsection (f) ofsection 3142 describes in paragraphs (1) through (6), the circumstances under which a detention hearing may be held. Under paragraphs (1) through (3), a detеntion hearing may be held if the defendant is charged with (1) a crime of violence; (2) an offense punishable by death or life imprisonment; or (3) a major drug trafficking offense. These offenses are essentially the same categories of offenses for which a pretrial detention hearing may be held under the D.C.Code.
The procedural requirements for the pretrial detention are set forth in 3142(f) and track those of the analogous provision set forth in the D.C.Code....
H.R.Rep. No. 1121, 98th Cong., 2d Sess. 27-28 (1984) (emphasis added).