Opinion

United States v. Jeffrey Brown

Court
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
Filed
Nov 17, 2021
Status
Unpublished
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 21.9%

The opinion

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT

____________

No. 21-3063 September Term, 2021

1:21-mj-00565-ZMF-1

Filed On: November 17, 2021

United States of America,

Appellee

v.

Jeffrey Scott Brown,

Appellant

BEFORE: Millett, Wilkins, and Jackson, Circuit Judges

JUDGMENT

This appeal was considered on the record from the United States District Court

for the District of Columbia and on the memoranda of law and facts filed by the parties.

The court has determined that the issues presented occasion no need for an opinion.

See D.C. Cir. Rule 36. It is

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the district court’s pretrial detention order

entered on September 3, 2021, be affirmed. Appellant has not demonstrated that the

district court clearly erred in finding that no condition or combination of conditions of

release would reasonably assure the safety of the community. See United States v.

Munchel, 991 F.3d 1273, 1282 (D.C. Cir. 2021).

As we explained in Munchel, “those who actually assaulted police officers and

broke through windows, doors, and barricades, and those who aided, conspired with,

planned, or coordinated such actions, are in a different category of dangerousness than

those who cheered on the violence or entered the Capitol after others cleared the way.”

Id. at 1284. During the January 6, 2021 incident, as shown in video recordings

submitted by the government, appellant worked his way to the front of a group of

individuals attempting to violently force their way inside the U.S. Capitol by physically

overcoming a defensive line of police officers. The recordings also show that, during

this confrontation, appellant received a spray can from another participant, pointed the

can at police officers, and at least attempted to discharge its contents.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT

____________

No. 21-3063 September Term, 2021

The district court did not clearly err in weighing appellant’s conduct, the weight of

the evidence against him, the nature of the charges, his previous public disruption, his

possession of dangerous items, and his evidence with respect to his positive character

and community ties. Nor did the district court clearly err in finding, based on all of the

evidence, that appellant would pose a danger to the community if released. See 18

U.S.C. § 3142(g).

The district court found, based on appellant’s actions on January 6, 2021, and

during a separate incident in December 2020, that releasing appellant “would risk

additional inappropriate and disruptive outbursts, combative standoffs, and even

violence.” A. 107. Appellant has not shown that this finding was clear error. Given that

finding, the district court was not required to make further specific findings on the record

with respect to the likely effectiveness of the release conditions deemed sufficient by

the magistrate judge, or other potential release conditions. See 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g)(4);

United States v. Quaglin, 851 F. App’x 218, 219 (D.C. Cir. 2021) (per curiam).

Pursuant to D.C. Circuit Rule 36, this disposition will not be published. The Clerk

is directed to withhold issuance of the mandate herein until seven days after resolution

of any timely petition for rehearing or petition for rehearing en banc. See Fed. R. App.

P. 41(b); D.C. Cir. Rule 41.

Per Curiam

FOR THE COURT:

Mark J. Langer, Clerk

BY: /s/

Daniel J. Reidy

Deputy Clerk

Page 2

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