SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 31 – While many even most cases in the Magistrates Court of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York are sealed or have no case number given, on July 29 before Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang, things got even murkier or some might say arbitrary. A defendant referred to as Mister Wilson, until now free on bond, had his bail revoked - and then almost unrevoked. Judge Wang returned to the bench and said Wilson had violated the terms of his release multiple times and that "bail is revoked."
Then Wilson's lawyer Mr. Taylor asked if reverting to home confinement with GPS monitoring might work. Judge Wang said, "I am not inclined to go back on my decision." Then pre-trial services said Mister Wilson works but off the books.
His lawyer said he has worked the same place for four years, now trying to support his baby. Is it was OK before, why not now? Finally Judge Wang said she will still be on duty (in the Mag court) on Friday and to make a new argument at noon. Taylor asked, Can he stay out until then? No, said Judge Wang.
Two days can be a long time. And what will be the impact on his job, off the books or not? Inner City Press will continue to follow this case, even with no New Presentments or information about the Magistrates Court provided in days. Watch this site.
On July 29 a man just released from a mental hospital who had called and emailed in threats to President Trump, his former spokesperson Sarah Sanders, Trump Tower and the SDNY courthouse, even GMHC where he was living, was brought into Mag Court in shackles, saying he wanted bail. The government said his threats waste resources and cause danger. His Federal Defender said he is now on medication, and that his phone could be looked at after the fact.
After a five minute break that turned into 15 minutes, Judge Wang agreed he can be released on bail: a $25,000 signature bond, a visit by pre-trial services to GMHC, and the promise to threaten no more. Meanwhile a defendant who made a single online threat to DC's Mayor is still detained. We'll have more on this. The case, hours after the presentation, is stilled as under seal. The defendant's name, as pronounced - no New Presentments list has been provided - is Mr De Luca a/k/a Clark. Murky, indeed. Inner City Press was the only media in the Mag Court, then returned to the PACER terminal it has worked at for months, only to find the case still sealed.
Earlier on July 29 defendant who was referred to as "Mister Ochoa Alvarez," names too common to usefully search in PACER, pled guilty to 100 grams of heroin. It was a lesser included offense to the original charge, one kilo. And it took place in Colombia, with the prepondrance of evidence for venue being a phone call made from the SDNY. Twice Judge Wang asked, Was an promise made beyond the plea letter? And twice Mister Ochoa Alvarez said, Yes. Until he we convinced or cajoled on the third time to say, No. He will be sentenced in October. Inner City Press will continue to try to find the case on the PACER terminal it has worked perched over for months.
