United States v. John Larry Ray

PELL, Circuit Judge.

The appellant, John Larry Ray, was charged in a four count indictment with two counts of bank robbery and with receipt and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 1 In preparing for trial, the Government had filed a motion to compel the appellant to provide handwriting samples, which motion was granted by the court in an order dated February 27, 1981. On March 16, 1981, the court commenced a jury trial on the issue of whether the appellant should be found in contempt under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 42(b) and 18 U.S.C. § 401 (1976) for having refused to…