On Wednesday, October 13, 2010, after two days of testimony by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the United States District Court in Detroit granted the defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment, and immediately released Jesus Manuel Caro-Villalobos of Silt, Colorado, from custody. The Court ruled that the government clearly violated Mr. Caro's constitutional right to a speedy-trial. See U.S. v. Caro-Villalobos, EDMI, # 00-80572
Sentence First - Verdict Afterwards
A recent criminal case in Metro Detroit reminds me of the wonderful children's book Alice in Wonderland. In one of my favorite parts in the book, the Knave of Hearts is put on trial for stealing the Queen's tarts. In the midst of the trial, the Queen emphatically shouts out, "No, no! Sentence first - verdict afterwards."
