United States v. Timothy Paden

United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
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No. 07-3871
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United States of America, *
*
Appellee, *
* Appeal from the United States
v. * District Court for the
* Western District of Missouri.
Timothy Paden, *
* [UNPUBLISHED]
Appellant. *
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Submitted: February 5, 2009
Filed: March 2, 2009
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Before WOLLMAN, MURPHY, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.
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PER CURIAM.
Federal inmate Timothy Paden appeals the district court’s1 order committing
him under 18 U.S.C. § 4245, which provides for the hospitalization of an imprisoned
person suffering from a mental disease or defect, until he no longer needs treatment
or his prison sentence expires, whichever occurs first. Following careful review, we
conclude that the district court’s section 4245 finding was supported by the unrefuted
1
The Honorable Richard E. Dorr, United States District Judge for the Western
District of Missouri, adopting the report and recommendations of the Honorable
James C. England, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of
Missouri.
opinions of the mental health professionals at the United States Medical Center for
Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, and defense counsel’s separate examiner,
and that the finding was not clearly erroneous, notwithstanding Paden’s statement at
his hearing that he was fine. See 18 U.S.C. § 4245(d) (determination of mental illness
and treatment need, and burden of proof); United States v. Bean, 373 F.3d 877, 879
(8th Cir. 2004) (standard of review); United States v. Eckerson, 299 F.3d 913, 914-15
(8th Cir. 2002) (per curiam) (upholding commitment order based on opinion of prison
hospital staff, despite inmate’s denial of mental illness).
Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court and grant counsel’s
motion to withdraw on condition that counsel inform appellant about the procedures
for filing petitions for rehearing and for certiorari. We also deny appellant’s motion
for appointment of new counsel.
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