IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

v. WDQ 09-183

DIETRA DAVENPORT

MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF DETENTION STATUS

Dietra Davenport, by her attorney, Thomas J. Saunders, requests a hearing to

reconsider this Court’s decision to detain Ms. Davenport:

1. Ms. Davenport is scheduled to come to the courthouse to be released to VOA on

Tuesday, May 12. Counsel has been informed by Pretrial that VOA will not ac-

cept her.

2. Subsequent to the initial hearing on detention counsel has spoken to her employer

of 20 years who can and will provide the highest recommendation of her charac-

ter.

3. Counsel has obtained a copy of the “Black Book” and reviewed it. The book pro-

fesses repeatedly that the Black Family is not a gang, but rather a liberation

movement which emphasizes self-improvement, respect and a move away from

drugs, violence and a life of crime. Despite the naive Marxism of its content there

is nothing on the surface of the document that would lead a reader to conclude

this was a book about running a gang on the streets (the role the Government

contends it was used for).

4. The back of the book contains endorsements by, among others, at least two

academicians from local colleges, praising the book for helping to direct the black

community towards self-improvement.

5. The portrayal by the Government of Ms. Davenport as a dangerous and active

member of the Black Guerrilla Family requiring her pretrial detention is not borne

out by the facts.

Wherefore we request this Honorable Court to rehear the detention issue on

Tuesday afternoon.1

s/
Thomas J. Saunders
Federal Bar # 25084
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 201
Baltimore, MD
410-662-5586
thomas.j.saunders@gmail.com

cc: Pretrial Services

Counsel will submit sections of the book for the Court’s review prior to the hearing and bring a
copy for the court’s consideration as needed.