Criminal Law keyed to Dripps
Ricketts v. Adamson
Facts
Adamson (Defendant) was charged with first-degree murder in the car bombing of Donald Bolles. Defendant entered into a plea agreement to plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for his agreement to testify against Max Dunlap and James Robinson. Defendant agreed to testify against anyone involved in the murder upon request. The agreement stated that if Defendant refused or lied, the original charge of first-degree murder would be reinstated. Defendant testified, Dunlap and Robinson were convicted, and Defendant was sentenced pursuant to the agreement. Later, Dunlap and Robinson’s convictions were reversed, and the prosecution asked Defendant to testify at the new trial. Defendant refused on the grounds that the duty to testify ended at sentencing. After Defendant pled the Fifth at a pretrial hearing, the prosecution filed new first-degree murder charges. Defendant moved to quash on the basis of double jeopardy. The court denied the motion. Defendant then offered to testify, but the state refused. Defendant was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus on double jeopardy grounds.
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