No. 18-5464

Jose Benitez, Jr. v. United States

Lower Court: Eleventh Circuit
Docketed: 2018-08-03
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)IFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: armed-bank-robbery closing-argument constructive-amendment criminal-procedure due-process firearm firearm-specification indictment indictment-variance jury-instructions prosecutorial-discretion variance
Key Terms:
FifthAmendment
Latest Conference: 2019-01-04 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Does a constructive amendment occur where the jury instructions relieve
the Government of proving, as alleged in the indictment, that a defendant committed
a crime by using a "firearm," and where the Government argues that the defendant
could be found guilty of that crime even if he used a toy gun?

2. Does a material variance arise where a court declines to instruct the jury
that the Government has to prove, as alleged in the indictment, that a defendant
committed a crime by using a "firearm," where the Government argued prior to trial
that the use of a firearm was an element of the offense and stated that it would not
argue that the object used was anything other than a firearm, and where the
defendant's sole theory of defense depended on disproving that he used a firearm?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a constructive amendment occurred when the jury instructions and government's closing argument allowed conviction for armed bank robbery without proof of a firearm as alleged in the indictment

Docket Entries

2019-01-07
Petition DENIED.
2018-12-20
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/4/2019.
2018-12-19
Reply of petitioner Jose Benitez, Jr. filed. (Distributed)
2018-11-30
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
2018-10-22
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including November 30, 2018.
2018-10-19
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 31, 2018 to November 30, 2018, submitted to The Clerk.
2018-09-27
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 31, 2018.
2018-09-26
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 1, 2018 to October 31, 2018, submitted to The Clerk.
2018-08-30
Response Requested. (Due October 1, 2018)
2018-08-16
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/24/2018.
2018-08-08
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2018-07-26
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due September 4, 2018)

Attorneys

Jose Benitez, Jr.
Andrew Brooks Greenlee — Petitioner
United States
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Respondent