United States v. Maldonado, No. 12-1012 (1st Cir. 2013)
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Pursuant to a warrant, federal agents searched Defendant, a suspected drug dealer, in his apartment in Warwick, Rhode Island, where the agents found drugs and drug paraphernalia. After Defendant consented to a search of his home in nearby Cranston, the agents found more drugs, drug paraphernalia, and firearms. After searching Defendant's car the next day, agents found even more drugs. Defendant was charged in a multicount indictment with drug and weapons defenses. Defendant unsuccessfully moved to suppress the evidence seized at the Warwick and Cranston locales. A jury subsequently convicted Defendant of all counts. The First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed, holding (1) the district judge did not deprive Defendant of his right to choose his own counsel; (2) the judge did not abuse his discretion in finding Defendant competent for trial without first ordering a psychiatric exam; (3) Defendant's ineffective assistance of counsel claims were not appropriate for appellate review; and (4) the judge did not err in denying Defendant's motion for a new trial.
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