United States v. Wilson

Decision Date15 March 1965
Docket NumberNo. 346,Docket 29094.,346
Citation342 F.2d 782
PartiesUNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Percy WILSON, Appellant.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit

Robert L. Latchford, Asst. U. S. Atty. (Robert M. Morgenthau, U. S. Atty., Southern District of New York, John E. Sprizzo, Asst. U. S. Atty., on the brief), for appellee.

Anthony F. Marra, New York City, (George Peter Gross, New York City, of counsel), for appellant.

Before LUMBARD, Chief Judge, and MOORE and HAYS, Circuit Judges.

MOORE, Circuit Judge:

Defendant Wilson appeals from a judgment of conviction for violation of the narcotics laws (21 U.S.C.A. §§ 173-174). His grounds for appeal are (1) prejudicial and unnecessary delay in issuing an arrest warrant after the commission of the offense; (2) an unreasonable delay between issuance and execution of the warrant; and (3) the delay between arrest and the filing of the indictment. An analysis of the facts as to each of these periods discloses that the periods of time which elapsed between each event were neither prejudicial nor unreasonable. Defendant's jury conviction is, therefore, affirmed. A brief outline of the facts relating to each period suffices to establish this conclusion.

1. Between offense and issuance of the warrant.

The narcotics transaction occurred on January 3, 1961. On April 18, 1962, an arrest warrant was issued, on which Wilson was arrested in Washington, D. C., on September 6, 1962. At the time of his arrest, narcotics were found in his possession. He was indicted, tried, convicted for this offense in the District of Columbia, and sentenced on March 29, 1963. On September 18, 1963, Wilson was brought to New York (Southern District) to answer to the charges here.

There was no showing that the delay in obtaining the arrest warrant was prejudicial or part of a deliberate, purposeful and oppressive design for delay.

2. Between the issuance of the warrant and the arrest.

During this period (some four and one-half months), Wilson was a fugitive and using a different name. There was "no reason to suppose that the arrest could have been made sooner than it was made." Carlo v. United States, 2 Cir., 286 F.2d 841, 846 (2 Cir., 1961), cert. denied, 366 U.S. 944, 81 S.Ct. 1672, 6 L.Ed.2d 855 (1961).1 "Delay by law enforcement officers in arresting a suspect does not ordinarily affect the legality of the arrest." Carlo v. United States, supra. See also United States v. Simmons, 338 F.2d 804 (2 Cir., 1964).

3. Between arrest and trial.

Wilson made no attempt to seek an early New York trial. To the contrary, he seemed content to exhaust all procedures available as a result of his Washington conviction.

As to prejudice upon the...

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23 cases
  • United States v. Marion 8212 19
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • December 20, 1971
    ...402 U.S. 944, 91 S.Ct. 1618, 29 L.Ed.2d 112 (1971); United States v. Grayson, 416 F.2d 1073, 1076 1077 (CA5 1969); United States v. Wilson, 342 F.2d 782, 783 (CA5), cert. denied, 382 U.S. 860, 86 S.Ct. 119, 15 L.Ed.2d 98 (1965); Donnell v. United States, 229 F.2d 560, 567 (CA5 1956); Harlow......
  • United States v. Watson
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • January 26, 1976
    ...117 U.S.App.D.C. 28, 325 F.2d 224 (1963), cert. denied, 377 U.S. 1005, 84 S.Ct. 1941, 12 L.Ed.2d 1053 (1964), and United States v. Wilson, 342 F.2d 782 (CA2 1965) (both upholding delay of 16 months between formation of probable cause and issuance of arrest warrant). Cf. Hoffa v. United Stat......
  • Benson v. United States
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit
    • October 21, 1968
    ...United States v. Holliday, 2 Cir., 1963, 319 F.2d 775; United States v. Simmons, 2 Cir., 1964, 338 F. 2d 804, 806; United States v. Wilson, 2 Cir., 1965, 342 F.2d 782, cert. denied, 382 U.S. 860, 86 S.Ct. 119, 15 L.Ed.2d 98; United States v. Hammond, 2 Cir., 1966, 360 F.2d 688, 689. 9 Colli......
  • Halquist v. State
    • United States
    • Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
    • October 4, 1972
    ...den. 393 U.S. 1024, 89 S.Ct. 634, 21 L.Ed.2d 568, pet. to rehear den. 393 U.S. 1112, 89 S.Ct. 858, 21 L.Ed.2d 813; United States v. Wilson, 342 F.2d 782 (2nd Cir.1965), cert. den. 382 U.S. 860, 86 S.Ct. 119, 15 L.Ed.2d 98; United States v. Rivera, 346 F.2d 942 (2nd Cir.1965); Powell v. Unit......
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