United States v. Sullivan

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON GOVERNMENT’S REQUEST FOR LEAVE TO FILE A DISMISSAL OF VIOLATION NOTICE

COLLINGS, United States Magistrate Judge.

I. Introduction

It sometimes happens that small cases raise issues of fundamental importance in our system of justice; this case happens to be an example.

II. Facts

The facts are straightforward. The defendant, Andrew M. Sullivan, who resides in Washington, D.C. but, according to his attorney, owns a home in Provineetown, Massachusetts, was in an area of the Cape Cod National Seashore on July 13, 2009 when he was charged by a National Park Service Ranger with a…