Case ID: f-appx_97/html/0382-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "BECKER, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, v. Christopher DODD, Appellant.
    No. 03-2062.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) May 4, 2004.
    Decided May 12, 2004.
    Floyd J. Miller, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellee.
    David S. Rudenstein, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellant.
    Before SLOVITER, FUENTES and BECKER, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

BECKER, Circuit Judge.

Christopher Dodd appeals from a judgment in a criminal case following his bargained-for pleas of guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Defendant’s sole challenge is to the imposition of a two point upward adjustment for reckless endangerment during flight pursuant to § 3C1.2 of the Sentencing Guidelines. We will affirm.

First, in his guilty plea agreement, Dodd stipulated to the enhancement, i.e., that he had recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person on two occasions, while fleeing from police officers. We have held that a defendant who has entered into a guilty plea agreement may not object to his stipulations on appeal. United States v. Cianci, 154 F.3d 106 (3d Cir.1998). The fact that the District Court resolved this aspect of the matter by reference to the oft-quoted Canadian culinary rule — “what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander” — was obviously a shorthand manner of expression and does not undermine the District Court’s determination.

Second, even if Dodd had not so stipulated, the record fully supports the enhancement. His attempt, on November 15, 1998, to retrieve a gun from his waistband while wrestling with the officers was conduct which could have resulted in the death of one or both officers, or an innocent bystander. Additionally, Dodd’s conduct on April 29, 1999, when, while running from the officers, he threw a 9 millimeter Intratec semiautomatic pistol on the pavement loaded with seven rounds of ammunition, creating the risk that the gun could have accidentally fired thereby severely wounding or killing the officers or an innocent bystander, was also reckless and dangerous. Under these circumstances, the District Court clearly did not err in applying the two-level enhancement for reckless endangerment in computing Dodd’s sentencing guidelines range.

The judgment of the District Court will be affirmed.