U.S. v. Rifen, 80-1227

Decision Date03 December 1980
Docket NumberNo. 80-1227,80-1227
Citation634 F.2d 1142
PartiesUNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Jack C. RIFEN, Appellant.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

Ronald L. Hall, Asst. Federal Public Defender, Western District of Missouri, argued, Kansas City, Mo., for appellant.

Ronald S. Reed, Jr., U. S. Atty., Kenneth Josephson, Asst. U. S. Atty., argued, Kansas City, Mo., for appellee.

Before LAY, Chief Judge, and BRIGHT and McMILLIAN, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

In 1977 Jack C. Rifen was convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 287 and 26 U.S.C. §§ 7203 and 7205. United States v. Rifen, 577 F.2d 1111 (8th Cir. 1978). Rifen was sentenced to a one year prison term and two years probation subsequent to his release from confinement. In March 1980 the district court found him in violation of his terms of probation and ordered his probation revoked. This appeal followed. We affirm.

In February, 1980 Rifen's probation officer filed a report alleging that Rifen violated the terms of his probation 1 by submitting an amended United States Tax Return 1040X, for 1977 in which he claimed no tax liability on an income of $20,150.72 and requested a refund of $3,770.83, the amount of federal income tax withheld. Rifen's return indicated only these amounts. All other blanks contained only the word "object." Rifen was also alleged to have filed no income tax return for 1978 despite his having earned a level of income requiring such a filing.

At a revocation hearing the district court judge found Rifen had violated the terms of his probation and ordered probation revoked.

Rifen complains, first, that he received inadequate notice of the reasons for seeking revocation of probation. This contention is unsupported by the record. A probationer accused of violating the terms of probation is entitled to a prompt preliminary hearing on arrest to determine whether there is probable cause to believe a violation of probation has occurred. Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778, 93 S.Ct. 1756, 36 L.Ed.2d 656 (1973); cf. Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972). Rifen received a preliminary hearing and signed a waiver of counsel form at that time, stipulating that he had been fully informed of the charges.

Rifen also contends that the evidence did not support the district court's finding that he had violated the terms of his probation. 2 The evidence presented here amply supports the district court's finding. It is clear that Rifen failed to file a 1978 tax return or provide information to the Internal Revenue Service. The evidence showed that he filed a patently false 1977 return as well. This evidence overwhelmingly provided sufficient probable cause for the district court to find that Rifen violated federal tax laws in contravention of...

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12 cases
  • Occhino v. U.S.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit
    • August 25, 1982
    ...probation was revoked without due process. Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778, 93 S.Ct. 1756, 36 L.Ed.2d 656 (1973); United States v. Rifen, 634 F.2d 1142 (8th Cir. 1980); United States v. Reed, 573 F.2d 1020, 1023 (8th Cir. Officers Cich and Valure were implicated in alleged malicious prose......
  • U.S. v. Wickenhauser
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit
    • June 30, 1983
    ...are within the discretion of the trial court and are reviewable only upon a showing of abuse of discretion." United States v. Rifen, 634 F.2d 1142, 1144 (8th Cir.1980). While probation may be revoked before the term of probation has commenced based upon new information or a change of circum......
  • Romano v. Black, s. 83-2000
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit
    • June 28, 1984
    ...revocation of probation for violation of a condition of probation is within the discretion of the sentencing judge. United States v. Rifen, 634 F.2d 1142, 1144 (8th Cir.1980). If the sentencing judge determines that the probationer has "abused the opportunity granted him not to be incarcera......
  • Romano v. Black, 82-1803C(4).
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Missouri
    • June 20, 1983
    ...because that party violated a condition of his probation is left to the sound discretion of the sentencing judge. United States v. Rifen, 634 F.2d 1142, 1144 (8th Cir.1980); United States v. Alarik, 439 F.2d 1349, 1351 (8th Cir.1971). The sentencing judge need only satisfy himself that the ......
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