Case ID: f-appx_500/html/0632-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Julius HOLLEY, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 12-10089.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted Dec. 4, 2012.
    
    Filed Dec. 10, 2012.
    Robert Lawrence Ellman, Esquire, Assistant U.S., Office of the U.S. Attorney, Las Vegas, NV, Elizabeth Olson White, Esquire, Assistant U.S., USRE-Office of the U.S. Attorney, Reno, NV, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Cynthia Salisbury Hahn, Esquire, Assistant Federal Public Defender, FPDNV-Federal Public Defender’s Office, Reno, NV, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before: D.W. NELSON, TASHIMA, and MURGUIA, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Julius Holley pled guilty to felony destruction of property within the special jurisdiction of the United States without a plea agreement. 18 U.S.C. § 1363. The district court awarded a total of $9,178.92 in restitution for a house and ear, owned by the victim Edith Tybo, damaged by Holley. Holley appeals, arguing that the award was not based on substantial evidence and that portions of the award were improperly allocated to Edith Tybo, despite her receipt of compensation from third parties.

The restitution order is reviewed for abuse of discretion. United States v. Lazarenko, 624 F.3d 1247, 1249 (9th Cir.2010). Factual findings supporting a determination of restitution are reviewed for clear error, while the legality of such an order, including whether the recipient of restitution is a victim, is reviewed de novo. Id.

Substantial evidence supported the restitution award — a detailed affidavit from the victim and an evidentiary hearing that included testimony from four witnesses. See United States v. Waknine, 543 F.3d 546, 557 (9th Cir.2008) (“[V]ictim affidavits will generally provide sufficient, reliable evidence to support a restitution order.”).

Holley’s second argument is incorrect because “[i]n no case shall the fact that a victim has received or is entitled to receive compensation with respect to a loss from insurance or any other source be considered in determining the amount of restitution.” 18 U.S.C. § 3664(f)(1)(B). However, the award of $342.63 “jointly to Tybo and the Victims of Violence Fund” does not comply with 18 U.S.C. § 3664(j)(1). First, the amount should have been awarded solely to the Fund because it “provided ... the compensation.” 18 U.S.C. § 3664(j)(1). Second, the order should have indicated that “all restitution of victims required by the order be paid to the victims before any restitution is paid to such a provider of compensation.” Id.; see United States v. Stephens, 374 F.3d 867, 872 (9th Cir.2004) (remanding to district court to clarify priority of payment under 18 U.S.C. § 3664(j)(1)).

The Restitution Order is vacated in part and affirmed in part:

Part I — Damage to Residence with respect to the $342.63 awarded jointly to Tybo and the Victims of Violence Fund is VACATED.

Part I — Damage to Residence with respect to the $1,039.29 awarded jointly to Tybo and the Housing Authority is AFFIRMED.

Part II — Damage to Personal Property is AFFIRMED.

The case is REMANDED for the limited purpose of modifying the restitution order with respect to the $342.63 payment to comply with 18 U.S.C. § 3664(j)(1).

VACATED in part, AFFIRMED in part, and REMANDED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.