Belcher v. Commonwealth of Virginia, No. 7:2013cv00517 - Document 9 (W.D. Va. 2014)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge James C. Turk on 2/11/2014. (kab)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
k* F*Š: OFFI ,S. SX M I e o CEU DI r ' AT BOANOKE, VA F!Fr ' 7 ' I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI CO URT CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI NI CT RGI A ROANOKE DI I O N V SI A N TH O N Y LEE BELCH ER, FEB 1 2 1 24 Z A C. ' 'rf CLE ULI , RK A gy; ' . DEP CLERK CA SE N O .7: V0051 13C 7 Pe ii ner tt o , V. M EM O M N D UM O PI I N N O COM M ONW EALTH OF VI NI RGI A, By: Jam e C .Tur s k Se orUnied St e Dit itJudge ni t at s s rc R e pondent s . A nt hony Le Bel he ,a f de ali a e pr e ng pr K ,br ngs tts ac i as a petton e c r e r nm t oc edi o i li ton ii f r a wrto ha e s c mu u d r 2 U.S.C.j2 5 . Th c u tc nsr e h sp tto a o i f ba o s n e 8 24 e o r o tu s i eiin s c le ng t vai t of hi 1 hal ngi he ldiy s 993 Vigi a co c i f a s ba e o a lga i ns t t r ni nviton or ron, s d n le to ha Vigi a a horte br c t pl a a e m e by f ii t e tr c ure cr di agans r ni ut iis ea hed he e gr e nt a lng o nsle onc r nt e t i t n e e he e r he our lmm rl s s e he tton s hi f de als ntnc 1 U po r vi w oft r co d, t c tsz a iy di mis st pe ii a s e r e e e. Intm ey fl d. l i l ie I Belhe saest thewasco c e i t W a hi on Co y Cicui Cour,pur ua t c r t t ha nvit d n he s ngt unt r t t s nt o a wrte pl ag e nt on a c r ofa s n. Re r as i c t t tBelhe pl de g ly itn ea r eme , ha ge r o co ds lo ndi ae ha c r ea d uit i t sc ton Jme 29,1 n hi our t 993,t pos e son ofa fr a m asa c c e f l n,i vi a i of 1 o ss i ie r onvit d e o n olton 8 U. C.j922( . SeeUnie Stt v.Belhe ,Cas No.1: S. g) td aes c r e 92CR00051 Bec rcamst ton . lhe li ha Augus 11 1 t , 993,a c di t t t r ofhi sa epla a e nt t CicltCo ts nt nc c or ng o he e ms s t t e p eme , he r ti ur e e ed hi t a t r of 20 ye r i prs wih 1 ye r s pe m o em a s n ion, t 5 a s us nded,wih t sae s nt nc t nm t he tt e e e o 1 Bec alo a s rs i t speii t the s d r c ve cedi agans hi f er s t e f tme lher s s e t n hi tton ha houl e ei r t i t s ed al enenc or i s r edi s ec t e v n ot usody.He sa e ,howeve ,t theha ptrueds h cr ti apeii f am i ofha asco pus tt s r ha s ls uc edi n tton or t be r u e 28U. C.j2 41i a oh rfd rl o r.Mo e v r bea s Bec e i n tc n ie i Vigna t sc u t nd r S. 2 n n te e ea c ut ro e, c ue lh r s o o fn d n r ii,hi o r c udno a d esa ycam u e j2 41rg r igfd rlsne c ce i.S el r J n s2 F.d3 8 3 2(t o l t d rs n li nd r 2 e adn e ea e tn e rdt e n e o e, 26 3 2 , 3 4h Ci. 00 ) r2 0. c ur e t t notye i pos d f der l s nt nce Be c r di not a al t s s a e c t onc r nt o he - t m e e a e e . l he d ppe hi t t our j d me t OnAu u t2 ,1 9 ti c u t n ee j g n , e tn i Bec e t 1 0mo t s u g n. g s 3 9 3,h s o r e tr d ud me t s n e cng lh r o 8 n h i prs f hi f der lco c i n ion or s e a nviton. The f de a s t nc ng or r i sl nt as t is r a i hi t Be c r s s a e s nt nc e r l en e i de s ie o t el tons p o l he ' t t e e e. Afe t sco ti tr hi ur mpos d s nt nce f de ala hortesr tm l Bec rt sae ofk i l,a he e e e , e r ut ii el ed lhe o t t t a s nd was uli t l ta po td t a sa e prs n f iiy t s r hi sae s nt nc Fe r lc u' tma ey r ns re o t t io aclt o e ve s t t e e e. de a ot t r c dsa lbl onlne i c t t tBelhe wasr l a e on pa ol fom hi sa e s ntnc on e or vaia e i ndi a e ha c r ee s d r e r s tt e e e 2 dr t al he ook usody m nd Augus 1 2005. Fe e a1ofk i s t n t c t ofhi , a he be n s vi li f de al t , ga er ng ls e r s ne c . Th F d rlBu e u o Prs n (t ' c luae Bec e ' fd r ls ne e a e tn e e e ea r a f io s û BOP' ac ltd lh rs e ea e tnc s ) c omm e i on t dae ofhi sa epa ol r l a e o Augus 1 2005, di no c edi t tm e ncng he t s tt r e ee s n t, and d t r t he i s ve i s a e pr s aga ns hi f r ls nt nc er d n t t i on i t s ede a e e e. Beche t n bega a c l r he n ampa gn t o an c e ta i thi f r ls nt nce f hi sae i o bt i r di gans s ede a e e or s t t prs tm e Hi s ion i . s ubmisons i c e t ton Fe ua y 8,2008,a t ce snc t n,t BOP s i ndiat ha br r nd wi i e he he ha de ed hi ad i sr tve r ques f a t mc pr tmc de i na i 's ast alow hi t s ni s m nitai e t or G nt o t sg ton' o o l m he de ie ce tagans hi fdea s ntnc I De e rof 201 Bec rfld hi j2241 srd rdi i t s e rl e e e. n c mbe 0, lhe ie s pe ii i f r lc ti Te s e s e ng s nt nc c edi. Tha pe ii wasde e on M a tton n ede a our n nne s e, e ki e e e r t t tton ni d y 23,2011 a hi 201 moton f r co i r ton wa de ed on J nua y 28,201 Belhe a s , nd s 3 i or e nsde a i s ni a r 4. c r lo tl d motonsi t scour,t uc es f l s ki f de a s nt nc c e t ie i n hi t ms c s uly ee ng e r l e e e r di. On Fe u r 1 201 Belhe r t m e t t W a hi o Cot y Cic tCour. l hi br a y 4, 3, c r e u d o he s ngtn mt r ui t n s orgi l c i i c s , N o.92- 93, he fld a t oton t Corec t I im e of t i na rm nal a e 1 ie t i o M r t he mpar nt he Conka t lO blga i Pl A g e m e ,'de a ng s c fc pe f m anc oft pl agr e e c ua i ton ea r e nt' m ndi pe ii r or e he ea e m nt t obt i conc e c e ton l ssa eand f der ls n e s Afert Cic tCo tdenid t o an = nt r di l tt i e a e t nce . t he r ui ur e he 2 Se Bel e cher v. Ca t l Ca e 2:0 si o, s 1 CV02 -PM -mp ( . Te n.M a 23 201 )( i o l 885J t W D. n y , 1 opnin d n ngrle und rj2 ) e yi e if e 241 . 2 moton,Be c r appe e t t Supr me Cotr of Vigi a whih de e r i on J i l he ald o he e zt r ni , c nid elef une 5, 201 .3 3 Bec rsg e a d d td h sj2 5 peiin o Oco e 2 ,2 3. Th c u tfld te lhe in d n ae i 2 4 tto n tb r 8 01 e o r ie h peii on t co to t the pa orco e t pa m e oft $5. flng f e a pr de tton he ndii n ha y ns nt o y nt he 00 ii e nd ovi if r to c n e n tetmei e so hi p tt n u e 2 U. C. 2 4 ( W h nt c u t n o main o c mi g h i ln s f s eii nd r 8 S. j 2 4 *. e he o r o di no r c ve a r pons fom Belhe wihi t alote tme,by or e e e N o mbe d t e ei ny es e r ç r t n he l td i der ntr d ve r 2 , 3,hec u t imis dt peiin wih u p eu ie On No e r2 ,2 3 tec u t 5 201 t o r d s se he t o t o t rj d c . t v mbe 7 01 , h o r r c ve Belhe ' r po e a c e t t flng f e,sg d a daed on Nove e ei d c r s es ns nd ons nt o he ii e i ne nd t mber 8, 201 St 3. nmps on t e l i caed t tBelhe tm ey ma ld li co e a r s he nveope ndi t ha c ri l ie ls ns nt nd e pons , e bu us t c ts f m e ,pos ofi e box a es ,whi h delyed t c ts r cept oft t ed he our' or r t fc ddr s c a he our' e i he m a lng. ii By or re ee De embe 1 201 t co trope t j2254 c e. Beche ' de ntrd c r 0, 3, he ur e ned he as l rs o i na r pons c rgi l es e once ni t tm ei s ofhi pe ii f ied t pr de s c t i or ai r ng he i lne s s tton al o ovi pe ik nf m ton a boutwhe he l r d t f t ne s a y t brng hi c r ntha s cai . Ac or ngl t n en ne he acs ce s r o i s ure bea l m c di y, he c tdie t d hi t pr de wihi t n da a a tona i onna i c e ni t w and our r c e m o ovi t n e ys ny ddii l nf ton onc r ng û ho wh n (e ln n dta h ha n trc ie a yce ia an t i fd rls n e c f rtmesr e e h ) e r e h t e d o e ev d n r dt g is h s e ea e tn e o i e v d on hi c ure sa e s ntnc whe a how he ti t ve iy t the woul r ei c e t s onc r nt t t e e e; n nd red o rf ha d ec ve r di; a whyhe c d nothavedic r dt s ntnc cedi pr e e le . ( de 2,Dec.1 nd oul s ove e he e e e r t oblm arir' Or r ' 0, 2 3) Bec e t e fld a dto a if r to o tmeie s d tiig hs ef rst o ti 01 . lh r h n ie d iin l n o main n i ln s , eal i fo t o b an n c ur ents nt nce c e t onc r e e r di. 3 Tot e en t tBec eri as ng t sc tt pe f m a lat r viw oft sa e c t'denilof he xt t ha lh s ki hi our o ror ppel e e e he tt ours a r i on t s m o i t enf c t pl a ee e ,hi cam hasno m e i. Low e f r c t do no have elef hi ton o or e he ea p m nt s li rt r edeal ours t j rs ito t rve tej d me t o saec rso a p a.Pl e v M o r ,1 9F.d7 , 31(t Ci.1 9 ) uidcin o e iw h u g n s f tt out n p e l vlr . oe 2 3 28 7 4h r 9 7. Se as Ditito Cou aCtAp . . lma 4 0U. 46 48 8 ( 9 3; o e v. i. utCo.2 3U. e lo src f lmbi . p v Fed n, 6 S. 2, 2-6 1 8 )Ro k r Fd Tr s , 6 S. 4l 41 -6 (9 3 . Jrs it n fra p l t rve o saec u t u g nsle e cu ieywi speirsae 3, 5 1 1 2 ) u idci o p el e e iw f tt o r j d me t is x lsv l t u ro tt o a h c u t a d, li tl, t teUntdS e S j e Co r.28U. C. 1 5 ; ve,1 9F.da 7 1 o rs n utmaey wi h ie tts u rme ut h S. j 2 7 Pllr 2 3 t 3 . l hi j2254 peii Bec r a s rs t t sae ot al brac d hi 1 pl n s tton, lhe s et ha tt fki s e he s 993 ea a ee ntby f lng t e ur t thi sa e s nt e a t ly di r n c ur e wih hi f de al gr me aii o ns e ha s t t e enc cual d u onc r nt t s e r s nt nc As a r s t of t s f ii Beche di not r ceve a c e t ag ns hi f der l e e e. e ul hi a lng, l r d e i ny r di ai t s e a s ntncef tm e s r ed on t sa es nt nc Heas e t t ther mai i c t on hi sa e e e or i e v he t t e e e. s rs ha e ns n usody s tt cour s nt nc f whi h hi pa ol wa r voke a henow s ksha sc pusr le fom hi t e e e, or c s r e s e d, nd ee bea or ei f r s sa ec ci n on t gr md t thi guit pl wa no va i t t onvi to he ot ha s ly ea s t ld. 11 A pe s s e ng t brng a ha ascor c le t t vai t ofhi c i m e r on e ki o i be pus ha lnge o he ldiy s onfne nt u d ra sae c u t u g n h so ey a t fl s c apeiin,sat fo t lt s o t e n e tt o r j d me t a n e r o ie u h t o tri r m he ae t f h t ng f l ng daes olowi t : ( t e d t o whc t ej g n b c me fna b te c n lso o A) h ae n ih h ud me t e n i l y h o cu in f diec r viw ort e r ton oft tm ef s e ng s h r vi r te e he xpia i he i or e ki uc e ew; ( te d t o whih t i dme tt fln a a piain ce td b B) h ae n c he mpe i n o iig n p l to r ae y c St t a i i W olton of t Consiu i n o lws of t Unied St t s i a e cton n ai he tt to r a he t ae s r m o d,i t a ia wa pr ve ed fom flng by s h Stt aci n; e ve f he pplc nt s e nt r ii uc a e to ( te d t o whih t e c nsi ina rg t a s re wa iiily C) h ae n c h o t o l ih se td s ntal mt r cog z by t Supr m e Cour i t rghtha be n newl r c z d by t e nied he e q f he i s e y e ogni e he Supr m eCo ta m a r toa tvel a i a et c s so c l t r lr viw ;o e ur nd de e r c i y pplc bl o a e n ola e a e e r ( t dae on whih t fcua pr di t of t cli or cams D) he t c he a t l e cae he am li pr e e c d ha bee di c es nt d oul ve n s over d tlough t e r s ofdue dii nc e lr he xe ci e lge e. 28 U. C.j2 4 d ()A) Un e 2 U. C.j2 4 ( )2 ,te o ey a fl g p ro i t l d S. 2 4()1( . d r 8 S. 2 4 d ( ) h n -e r ii ei d s ol n e whiea i t st ope l fl d a ia i f St t pos- onviton oro he c l t a r viw' l n nma e' t pr ry ie pplc ton or ae tc c i t r olaer l e e ' i pendi I t diti tco tgi t de e s ng. f he src ur ves he f ndantnotc t tt i ton appe r t bet i e y ie ha he no i a s o mtm l and al wj hi a oppo tmiy t pr de a a glm e ta e de e r ga di tm ei s ,a lo m n rt t o ovi ny r l n nd vi nc e r ng i lne s nd t def nda f ist m a t r quiie s he e nt al o ke he e st howi t dititcour m a sl rl dim ist ng, he src t y 'mma iy s s he peii Se Hilv. a on, F. 701 707(t Ci. tton. e l Brxt 277 3d , 4h r 2002) . 4 Bec e ' peiin i ce dy t i l fld t e j2 4 ( )1( . Be a e h dd n t lh rs t o s la mtmey ie md r 2 4 d ()A) c us e i o t a alt 1 W a li on Count c ci n f a s t tc c i bec m e fnal30 da ppe he 993 slngt y onvito or r on, ha onviton a i ys ltr o S p e e 1 , 1 9 . Hi o ey a p ro u d r j2 4 ( ) 1( t fl a j2 5 ae, n e tmb r 0 9 3 s n -e r ei d n e 2 4 d ( )A) o ie 24 pe ii be nl ng on t tda ea e r d on Se e be 1 1 tton gan nni ha t nd xpie ptm r 2, 994. Be c rdi notfl hi l he d ie s j2 5 p tto b fr t a d t a d d e no ie tf a y p o el fld a piain f rsae 2 4 eiin e o e h t ae n o s t d n iy n r p ry ie p lc to o tt pos- onvi to r e fld orpe ng durng t ttme s ast t lt flngpe i The ef e tc ci n eviw ie ndi i ha i o o ol he ii rod. r or , hi pe ii i un i ey unde Subs c i A. s tton s tm l r e ton Bec r a lhe pprenty ar s t t hi sa uor tlng pe i f r t s pe ii n s d be l gue ha s tt t y ii rod o hi tto houl c kuae u d rj2 4 ( )1( - fo te d t o whc h ds o ee t ef dsn c sry t a ltd n e 2 4 d ( )D) r m h ae n ih e ic v r d h a e e s o li habe scli a tt br a h ofhi pl ag e m e t Forpur e oft spe ii t co t ls a am bou he e c s ea r e n . pos s hi tton, he ur wilm s l s ume t tBe c rcoul notha cli e a br a ofhi sa e pl a a e ntuntlt ha l he d ve am d e ch s tt e gr eme i he BOP is isi talde ii on Febr r 8,2008,de ng f de als e e c e tf hi sa e s ued t nii c son ua y nyi e r entnc r di or s t t p io tme Eve s ,fBec e ' o - e rfln p ro t e j2 4 d ( )D)sa td fo t e rs n i . n o i lh rs ney a ii g ei d md r 2 4() 1( tre r m h da e oft sBOP de son,hi flng pe i d t t hi cii s ii ro mdert ts eci n e r d o Fe ua y 9,2009. ha ubs to xpie n br r Be c rdoe noti e iy a sa epos- nvi ton r viw fld orpendi bewe n Fe u r of l he s d ntf ny t t tco ci e e ie ng t e br a y 2 08a d Fe r ay o 2 0 t a t ld t fl p ro t e j2 4 ( )2 . Ceti y h s2 3 0 n b u r f 0 9 h t ol he ii ei d md r 2 4 d () ranl, i 01 e ng moton i t Cic tCour,ll d ye sa trt s flng pe i expie ca i n he r ui t ie ar fe hi ii rod r d, nnotpr de g' mds ovi r ot f t lngund j2244( ( .Thus a l i ofBelhe ' cli unde j2244( ( )D)doe not or oli er d)2) , nayss c rs am r d)1( s rndertmeyhi c rntj225 peii e i l s ure 4 tton. Bec e as d e n td mo taet t i peiini tmeyu d rj2 4 ( )1( , a e lh r lo o s o e nsrt ha h s t o s i l n e 2 4 d ( )B) b s d t o rmo a o a Co si ina i e i n ,o t e j2 4 d ( )C) b s d o arg tn wl n e vl f n tmto l mp dme t r md r 2 4() 1( , a e n ih e y r ogni d by U nied St t s Supr m e Cou t Fi ly,Bel he does no de o t a e gr m ds f ec ze t ae e r . na l c r t m ns r t ot or e tbl t lng.Towarnte tbl t lng,hedeenda mus û tbls 1t ee nt:( ) quia e oli ra quia e oli t f nt t é a ihl wo lme s 1 es t a h h sb e p run hsrg t d lg n l a d ( )t a s me e ta r i ay crmnsa c s h t e a e n u s ig i ih s iie ty, n 2 h t o x ro d n r ic tn e soodi hi wa ' Lawr ev.Fl i 549U. 327,336 ( )(ntr lquottonmaksa t n s y. ' enc orda, S. 2007 i ena ai r nd chtonomit .W hieBelhe hasbee dii nti seki t desr ds ntnc cedit ough i i ted) l c r n lge n e ng he ie e e e r t hr a nita i r m e esa sae c tm o i ,he f ist de ons t t tt e efo t ora dmi sr tve e di nd tt our tons a l o m ka e ha hes f rs ny oh re ta r iay cr u tnc p e e tdh m fo fl g atmey j2 5 p tto c aln i g t e xr o dn r ic msn e r v n e i r m ii i l 2 4 eiin h le g n n t va i t ofhi sae guit pla. Thus t c rtc nno fnd g ot on whi h hi lmi i he ldiy s tt ly e , he ou n t i r mds c s i Gton pe i s d be e t bl t l rod houl quia y oled. Fort r as sa e t c tdim is sBec ' peii ast i ey fld. TheCl k he e ons t t d, he our s s e lhers tton mtm l ie er i die t d t s nd c pi oft sm e o andlm opi on a a companyi or rt pe ii ne . s r c e o e o es hi m r l ni nd c ng de o tto r EN TER ' QJ :Th s # i d yo Fe r a y 2 a f b u r ,y . / 1 & S 'rUnie Stt DitltJ t d aes sr udge
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
