United States v. Starr Renee Harris

Starr Renee Harris was convicted after a bench trial on two counts of possession of property known to be stolen from a bank in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113 (c). Harris appeals her conviction on the grounds that she was tried in violation of the Speedy Trial Act’s 30-day minimum trial provision, 18 U.S.C. § 3161 (c)(2), that she was denied her fifth and sixth amendment rights to due process and effective assistance of counsel, and that the evidence at trial was insufficient to support her conviction. We find that Harris was tried in violation of the Speedy Trial Act, and therefore reverse her conviction.

The evidence introduced at trial established that Harris’ co-defendant, Linda Kemp, was employed by Union Bank, a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, until she was discharged on April 7, 1982. Sometime while Kemp was still employed at the bank, a customer delivered two bearer bonds in the amounts of $5,000 and $10,000 for deposit. After she was discharged from the bank, Kemp delivered the two bonds to Harris. On April 28, 1982, an employee of the Federal Reserve Bank redeemed two bearer bonds brought in by Harris and issued her a check in the amount of…