Adam Martin appealed the detention order of a magistrate judge, arguing that the COVID pandemic constituted material information not known by him at the time of his detention hearing. Martin suffered from underlying health risks such as asthma, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Citing his criminal history, the fact that there were no known cases of COVID at Chesapeake Detention Center at the time, and the precautionary health and safety measures being taken by the Detention Center, the judge held that Martin had failed to rebut the presumption of detention under the Bail Reform Act and denied Martin's appeal.
United States v. Martin, No. 19-cr-00140, 2020 WL 1274857 (D. Md. Mar. 17, 2020)
DETAILS
Decision
Date
3/17/2020
Practice Area
Criminal (Federal Charges)
Relief Requested
Release
Type of Court
Federal District Court
Location
Maryland
Type of Case
Individual
Case Characteristics
Parole or Probation Violations, Pre-Existing Health Conditions, Pretrial Detention [jail], Significant Criminal History
Release Granted
No
Compassionate Release Case
No
Case Tracking Number
19-cr-00140
MORE CASE INFORMATION
Court Name
D. Md.
Decision
Motion Denied
Place of Incarceration
State Prison
Name of Facility
Chesapeake Detention Facility
Legal Authority
Procedural Due Process (both 14th and 5th Amendments)
The individual has 17 criminal history points, putting him in category VI under the sentencing guidelines. The decision does not describe them all, but refers to a history of drug and firearm offenses.
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (heroin, cocaine) in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846
COVID-19 in Jail Prison or Detention Center
No
Attorney Email Posted on Site
No
Potential Research
If a judge explicitly cites the fact that a detention center does not currently have any known cases of COVID, and there is subsequently an outbreak, is a person entitled to a new bond hearing?
Litigation Database
Crowdsourced legal documents from around the country related to COVID-19 and incarceration, organized, collected, and summarized for public defenders, litigators, and other advocates. Created and managed by Bronx Defenders, Columbia Law School’s Center for Institutional and Social Change, UCLA Law COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project, and Zealous. Mostly federal court opinions, but now expanding to states and legal filings, declarations, and exhibits.
This resource is designed to help lawyers, advocates, researchers, journalists, and others interested in challenging, remedying, or drawing attention to the grave risk that Covid-19 poses to individuals who are detained.