Criminal Legal Process

Criminal Legal Process

Please read the following case scenario below. You will be using these facts over the next 7 weeks. The case heading and type of case is listed below.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, Plaintiff

          VS.

Scott Mayo, Defendant

TYPE OF CASE-Criminal

SUMMARY OF FACTS

Scott Mayo worked as a bartender at The Local Watering Hole. One night at work, Scott got into an argument with Basil Scowen. Mayo owed Scowen $1500.00. The argument heated up and, after Scowen picked up a beer bottle threateningly and appeared to be intoxicated, Mayo grabbed a pistol kept behind the bar and fired at Scowen, killing him. Mayo says Scowen told him, “I am going to kill you,” and what he believed was imminent danger from Scowen. Mayo was placed under arrest. He was not read his rights. He was transported to the local county jail. The prosecution witnesses are the police officer, who came to the scene and took statements from Mayo, and a frequent bar customer, Dawn Dietz, who witnessed some of what happened. The defense witnesses are the defendant, Mayo, and Joe, “the fireman”, who was outside and saw some of the action through the window while sitting on the patio.

Using the facts provided to you in the sscenario above, answer the following questions :

1) Was the arrest of Mayo a legal arrest? Discuss why. Please include the components of a reasonable arrest and whether or not they were met with Mayo.

2) Did law enforcement need an arrest warrant prior to arresting Mayo? Discuss why. Make sure to support your thoughts.

3) Can law enforcement seize the broken beer bottle and the gun without a search warrant?