Prince Bixler v. United States
DueProcess FifthAmendment
1. Whether Bixler's rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution were violated by a pretrial ruling that he could not cross-examine the alleged victims regarding their prior involvement in prostitution based on the trial court's interpretation of Federal Rule of Evidence 412 as a result of this ruling?
2. Whether the element of force in 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1) can be satisfied based on providing controlled substances to previously addicted individuals already engaged in prostitution?
3. Whether increase of Bixler's base offense level by four levels for use of force constituted impermissible double counting since one of the essential elements of 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1) is force and whether imposition of a vulnerable victim enhancement also constituted impermissible double counting because each of the alleged sex trafficking victims was already addicted to heroin when they met Bixler?
Whether Bixler's rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments were violated