FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC U IT JULY 28, 2005 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 03- 16282

________________________ D . C . D o c k e tN o . 0 3 - 1 4 0 2 8 - C R - K MM U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A , P la in tif f - A p p e lle e , v ersu s E D G A R J O E S E A R C Y , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe S outhe rn D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( Ju l y 28, 2005) B ef ore D U B IN A and W IL S O N , C i rc ui tJudg es , and L A W S O N *, D i stri ctJudg e. W IL S O N , C i rc ui tJudg e: E dga rJ oe S e a r c y appe a l s hi s c onvi c t i on a nd s e nt e nc e f orus i ng

_________________________ *Honora ble Hugh L awson, United States District Judgefor the Middle D istrict of Georg ia, sitting by

designation.Searcy also raise d the followingissues on appeal: (1) his conduct a s charg ed in the 1 indictment did not viol ate 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b); (2)the district court erre d in upwardly depar ting under U .S.S.G. § 4A1.3; and (3) his sentenc e is unconstitutional in li ght of Blakely v. W ashington , 542 U.S. 296, 124 S. C t. 2531 (2004), now United States v. Book er , 543 U.S. __, 125 S. Ct . 738 (2005). We find theseclaims to be without merit and not war rantingfurther discussion. 2 a f ac i l i ty a nd m ea ns of i nt er st at e c om m er ce , the i nt ernetse rvi ce prov i der A m er i ca O n lin e ( “A O L ” ) , to k n o w in g ly p e r s u a d e , in d u c e , e n tic e o rc o e r c e am in o rto e nga ge i n unl a w f

ul s e xua l a c t i vi ty , a nd a tt e m pt i ng t o do s o, i n vi ol a t i on of 18 U .S .C . § 2 4 2 2 ( b ) . A t is s u e o n ap p e a l is w h e th e rth e d is tr ic t c o u r t e rr e d in c onc l udi ng tha tavi ol a t i on of 18 U . S . C . § 2422( b) i s ac r i m e of vi ol e nc e f

orthe purpos e of

c l a s s i f y i ng S e a r c y a s ac a r e e rof f e nde runde rU . S . S . G . § 4B 1. 1. 1 I . B AC KG RO UN D P o s i n g u n d e r c o v e ra s th e f a th e ro f ath i r t e e n - y e a r - o l d g i r l i n a n AO L chatroom , a l aw enforce m entoffi ce r r ec ei ved an i nst antm es sa ge fr om S ea rc y usi ng the sc re en nam e “ O B B E S S E D D A D 11 . ” D uri ng thi s e xchang e, S ea rc y in f o rm e d th e d e te c tiv e th a t h e w a s am e m b e ro f af a th e r - d a u g h te rs w ap c lu b . S ea rc y a nd the det ec t i ve com m un i ca t ed nextvi a t el epho ne and S ea rc y r ei t er at ed tha the w a s am e m be rof af a the r - da ught e rs w ap c l ub a nd a s ke d t o s e tup af a c e - t of a c e m e e t i ng w i th the de t e c t i ve . A tthe f a c e - t o- f a c e m e e t i ng, S e a r c y a s ke d the d e te c tiv e if

h e a n d h is d a u g h te rw o u ld a c c o m p a n y S e a r c y o n atr ip . S e a r c y s a id tha the w a nt e d t o ha ve s e x w i th the de t e c t i ve ’ s da ught e ra nd w oul d a rr a nge f ortheAl l Guide line s c itatio nsareto t he20 02 e dition

of theSentenc ingGuide lin e s Ma nu al. 2 3 d e te c tiv e to h a v e s e x w ith h is c h ild r e n . S e a r c y w a s th e n a rr e s te d . A f t e rthe gove rnm e ntnot i f i e d S e a r c y of

i t s i nt e ntt o i ntr oduc e e vi de nc e of tw o o f S earcy’s prior stat e co n v i ct i o n s, S earcy ag reed t o p l ead g u i l ty. A tth e fi rst c ha nge - of

- pl e ahe a r i ng, S e a r c y c ont e s t e d the gove rnm e nt ’ s f a c tua l pr of

f e r , a nd the di stri ctcourtsc hedu l ed S ea rc y’ s c as e f or tri al . A ta s ub se qu entchange-of-pl ea hear i ng , S ea rc y di d n otdi sput e the go vernm ent ’ s f ac tual proffe r, and the di stri ct c o u r t a c c e p te d h is g u ilty p le am a d e p u r s u a n t to ap le aa g r e e m e n t. A t h is s e nt e nc i ng he a r i ng, the c our the a r d t e s t i m ony tha tw he n S e a r c y w a s a rr e s t e d the i nve s t i ga t or s f

ound pi c tur e s on hi s c om put e r , a nd i n hi s e m a i l a c c ount , of m i nor f e m a le s in s e x u a l p o s itio n s . A ls o f o u n d w e r e tw o f

lo p p y d is c s w ith o v e rth ir ty im a g e s o f

c h ild p o rn o g r ap h y . In the pre-s ent ence i nv es t i gat i on re po rt(“ P S R ”) , the prob at i on offi ce r assi g n ed S earcy a b ase o ffen se l ev el o f 2 1 u n d er U . S . S . G . § 2 G 1 . 1 (c)(3 ) cro ss- 2 r e f e r e n c e d to U .S .S .G . § 2 A 3 .2 ( a ) ( 2 ) p lu s atw o - le v e l in c r e a s e p u r s u a n t to U . S . S . G . § 2A 3. 2( b) ( 3) f orus e of ac om put e rf

ora n a dj us t e d ba s e of

f e ns e l e ve l of 23 . T he prob at i on offi ce r then recom m ended thatS ea rc y be c l as si fi ed as a c ar ee r of f e nde runde rU . S . S . G . § 4B 1. 1( a ) be c aus e he ha d tw o pr i orc onvi c t i ons f or c r im e s o f v io le n c e –h is 1 9 8 8 F lo r id ac o n v ic tio n f o rs e x u a l a c tiv ity w ith ac h ild4

and l ew d, l as ci vi ou s or i nd ec entas saul tup on a c hi l d, and h i s 199 7 K ansa s c onvi c t i on f

ors e xua l e xpl oi t a t i on of ac hi l d. T hi s c a r e e rof

f e nde re nha nc e m e nt i ncre as ed S ea rc y’ s a dj ust ed base offe nse l evel t o a 29 , bu tthe prob at i on offi ce r r e c o m m e n d e d ath r e e - le v e l d o w n w a r d a d ju s tm e n t f

o ra c c e p ta n c e o f

r e s p o n s ib ility p u r s u a n t to U .S .S .G . § 3 E 1 .1 , r e s u ltin g in ato ta l a d ju s te d o f f e n s e le v e l o f

2 6 . B ecau se S earcy co m m i tt ed th e i n st an to ffen se w i th i n tw o years o f h i s rel ease f r o m c u s t o d y f

o ra1 9 9 7 Ka n s a s c o n v i c t i o n , h i s c r i m i n a l h i s t o ry c a t e g o ry wa s I V, b u th i s career o ffen d er st atu s b u m p ed th atcat eg o ry t o V I. W i th an ad j u st ed b ase of f e ns e l e ve l of

26 a nd ac r i m i na l hi s t ory c a t e gory of V I , S e a r c y ’ s gui de l i ne r a nge w a s 1 2 0 to 1 5 0 m o n th s o f im p r is o n m e n t. T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t th e n u p w a r d ly de pa r t e d pur s ua ntt o U . S . S . G . § 4A 1. 3 due t o the s i m i l a r i ty of the pr i orc onvi c t i ons t o the i ns t a ntof

f e ns e a nd S e a r c y ’ s r e c i di vi s tt e nde nc i e s , a nd s e nt e nc e d hi m t o the s ta tu to ry m a x im u m o f

1 8 0 m o n th s . T he i s s ue de c i de d t oda y , w he the ravi ol a t i on of § 2422( b) s houl d be c la s s if ie d a s ac r im e o f

v io le n c e f

o rth e p u rp o s e o f

c a r e e ro f

f e n d e rc la s s if

ic a tio n , is a n is s u e o f

f ir s t im p r e s s io n in th is C ir c u it.

I I . STA N D A R D O F R EVI EW T he i nt e rpr e t a t i on of

as t a tut e i s aque s t i on of l a w s ubj e c tt o de nov o r e v ie w . U n ite d S ta te s v . Mu r r e ll , 3 6 8 F .3 d 1 2 8 3 , 1 2 8 5 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 4 ) , ce rt. deni ed , 1255

S . C t . 43 9 (20 04 ). I I I . DI S CUS S I ON A de f e nda ntqua l i f

i e s a s a“ c a r e e rof

f e nde r ” unde rthe G ui de l i ne s i f “ ( 1) the de f e nda ntw a s a tl e a s te i ght e e n y e a r s ol d a tthe t i m e the de f e nda ntc om m i tt e d the in s ta n t o f

f e n s e o f c o n v ic tio n ; ( 2 ) th e in s ta n t o f f e n s e o f c o n v ic tio n is af

e lo n y th a t is e i the rac r i m e of

vi ol e nc e orac ontr ol l e d s ubs t a nc e of f e ns e ; a nd ( 3) the de f

e nda nt has a tl ea sttw o p ri or fe l on y c on vi ct i on s of e i ther acr i m e of vi ol ence or a control l ed subst ance offe nse. ” U . S . S . G . § 4 B 1. 1. S ea rc y a rgues thatthe court im p r o p e r ly d e te rm in e d th a t h e w a s ac a r e e ro f f e n d e ru n d e rU .S .S .G . § 4 B 1 .1 b e c a u s e h is in s ta n t o f

f e n s e is n o t ac r im e o f

v io le n c e . T he G ui del i nes def

i ne a “ cr i m e of vi ol ence ” a s: “ any off ense un der f

eder al ors t a t e l a w , puni s habl e by i m pr i s onm e ntf orat e rm e xc e e di ng one y e a r , tha t( 1) has a s a n el em entthe use, att em pt ed use, or threa t ened use of physi ca l forc e ag ai n stth e p erso n o f an o th er, o r (2 ) . . . o th erw i se i n v o l v es co n d u ctth atp resen t s a seri o u s pote nt i al

r is k o f p h y s ic a l in

ju ry to a n o th e r .” U .S .S .G . § 4 B 1 .2 ( e m p h a s is a dde d) . A s the f

i r s tappl i c a t i on not e t o U . S . S . G . § 4B 1. 2 e xpl a i ns , “ ‘ [ c ] r i m e of v io le n c e ’ in c lu d e s m u r d e r , m a n s lau g h te r , k id n ap p in g , a g g r a v a te d a s s a u lt, f o r c ib le s e x of f e ns e s , r obbe ry , a r s on, e xt or t i on, e xt or t i ona t e e xt e ns i on of c r e di t , a ndWe treat the c ommentary in the SentencingGuidelines Manual as authoritative. See 3 Un ited S tates v. S pe ll , 44 F.3d 936, 938 ( 11th Cir. 1995). 6 bu rgl ary of adw el l i ng . ” U . S . S . G . § 4 B 1. 2, cm t . n. 1. T hatappl i ca t i on no t e f urther 3 expl ai ns that : “ [o] ther off ense s a re i ncl ud ed as ‘ cr i m es of vi ol ence ’ i f ( A ) that offe nse has as an el em entthe use, att em pt ed use, or threa t ened use of physi ca l f o r c e a g a i n s tth e p e r s o n o f a n o th e r , o r( B) t he c o nduc t s e t f o r t h ( i . e. e x p r e s s ly ch arged ) i n th e c ou n t of w h i ch th e d ef en d an t w as con vi ct ed . . . , b y i ts n atu re , p re se n te d a ser i ou s p oten ti al ri skof p h y si cali n ju ry to an oth er .” U .S .S .G . § 4B 1. 2, cm t . n. 1 (em ph as i s a dd ed). T he se cond appl i ca t i on no t e i nstruct s thatw hen de c i di ng w he the ra n of

f e ns e i s ac r i m e of

vi ol e nc e , “ the of

f e ns e of c onvi c t i on ( i . e. , the cond uctof w hi ch the defendantw as conv i ct ed) i s the focus of the i nq ui ry . ” U .S .S .G . § 4 B 1 .2 , c m t. n .2 . A t th e tim e o f

th e o f f e n s e , § 2 4 2 2 ( b ) p r o v id e d : W hoe ve r , us i ng the m a i l ora ny f a c i l i ty orm e a ns of

i nt e r s t a t e orf

or e i gn c om m e r c e . . . know i ngl y pe r s ua de s , i nduc e s , e nt i c e s , orc oe r c e s a ny i ndi vi dua l w ho ha s nota tt a i ne d the a ge of 18 y e a r s , t o e nga ge i n pr os t i tut i on or any s exual ac t i vi ty f

or w hi ch any pers on ca n b e c harged w i th a cr i m i nal of f e ns e , ora tt e m pt s t o do s o, s ha l l be f i ne d unde rthi s t i t l e , i m pr i s one d not m o r e th a n 1 5 y e a r s , o rb o th . 18 U . S . C . § 2422( b) ( 1998) . S e a r c y c l a i m s tha tbe c a us e § 2422( b) doe s not i n c l u d e a n e l e me n to f

f o r c e o rv i o l e n c e , h i s n o n - p h y s i c a l o f f e n s e w a s n o tac r i me o f v io le n c e . S e a r c y f

u r th e rp o s its th a t th e le a s t c u lp ab le c o n d u c t n e c e s s a ry to7

c ons t i tut e a l l of

the e s s e nt i a l e l e m e nt s of a§ 2422( b) vi ol a t i on doe s notr e qui r e a ny behavi or thatw ou l d, by i t s nature, po se a s er i ou s r i sk of ph ys i ca l i nj ury t o ano ther i ndi vi dua l . R a the r , he a s s e r t s tha tthe unde r l y i ng c r i m i na l c onduc ti s the pe r s ua s i on, i nduc e m e ntore nt i c e m e nta nd notthe phy s i c a l s e xua l a c ti t s e l f . T he gove rnm e ntr e s ponds tha tthe c our tc orr e c t l y appl i e d the c a r e e rof f e nde rgui de l i ne a nd pr ope r l y c onc l ude d tha t§ 2422( b) , by i t s na tur e , c ons t i tut e s ac r i m e of v io le n c e b a s e d o n th e in h e r e n t p o te n tia l r is k o f p h y s ic a l in

ju ry to th e m in o r . A s s t a t e d above , unde rU . S . S . G . § 4B 1. 2, the r e a r e tw o appr oa c he s f or c l a s s i f y i ng a n of

f e ns e a s ac r i m e of

vi ol e nc e . T he f

i r s tappr oa c h i s t o de t e rm i ne w hether the use, att em pt ed use or threa t ened use of physi ca l forc e a gai nstanother is a n e le m e n t o f

§ 2 4 2 2 ( b ) . See U . S . S . G . § 4B 1. 2( a ) ( 1) . B e c a us e the a c tof p e r s u a s io n , in d u c e m e n t, c o e r c io n o re n tic e m e n t n e e d n o t in v o lv e p h y s ic a l f o r c e , § 2422( b) doe s notha ve , a s a n e l e m e nt , the us e , a tt e m pt e d us e , orthr e a t e ne d us e of p h ysi cal fo rce ag ai n stan o th er. A l t ern at i v el y, u n d er th e seco n d ap p ro ach , w e m u st d et erm i n e w h eth er § 2 4 2 2 (b ) i n v o l v es co n d u ctth at , b y i t s n atu re, p resen t s a s e r io u s p o te n tia l r is k o f p h y s ic a l in

ju ry to a n o th e r . See U .S .S .G . § 4 B 1 .2 ( a ) ( 2 ) . B y appl y i ng thi s s e c ond appr oa c h, the di s tr i c tc our tc onc l ude d tha t§ 2422( b) qu al i fi es as a c ri m e of vi ol ence for the pu rpose of c l as si fy i ng S ea rc y a s aca re er offe nd er .8

I n c onc l udi ng tha t§ 2422( b) i s ac r i m e of vi ol e nc e , the c our tr e l i e d upon S i xth and T enth C i rc ui tdeci si on s a dd re ss i ng si m i l arst atut es . In an un pu bl i shed op i ni on , the S i xth C i rc ui tdet erm i ned thata vi ol at i on of § 2 42 2(a) , w hi ch c r im in a liz e s th e u s e o f

ac o m p u te rto e n tic e am in o rto tr a v e l in te r s ta te to e n g a g e in u n la w f u l s e x , q u a lif

ie d a s ac r im e o f

v io le n c e f

o rc a r e e ro f

f e n d e rp u rp o s e s . See U n ite d S ta te s v . Sm ith , 2 0 0 1 W L 1 1 7 6 4 2 2 , * 5 ( 6 th C ir . S e p t. 2 5 , 2 0 0 1 ) , c e r t. deni ed , 53 5 U . S . 10 70 (200 2). In thatca se , the S i xth C i rc ui tbroadl y s t at ed that

“ an y fel o n y i n v o l v i n g th e sex u al ex p l o i t at i o n o f a j u v en i l e i n h eren t l y p o ses a seri o u s p o t en t i al ri sko f p h ysi cal i n j u ry t o th e v i ct i m an d h en ce co n st i tu t es a ca t egori ca l ‘ cr i m e of vi ol ence . ’ ” I d. I n the i ns t a ntc a s e , the di s tr i c tc our tc i t e d the s i m i l a r i ty i n the tw o s ub- s e c t i ons a nd r e l i e d on Sm ith ’ s broad ca t egori ca l approach tha ts e xua l of

f e ns e s a ga i ns tm i nor s i nhe r e nt l y pos e ar i s k of phy s i c a l i nj ury t o the m in o rv ic tim s . T h e S ix th C ir c u it h a s a ls o h e ld th a t § 2 2 5 1 ( a ) , a n o th e rs ta tu te s u f f ic ie n tly s im ila rto § 2 4 2 2 ( b ) , is ac r im e o f v io le n c e . Se e U

ni te d State s v . Cham

pi on , 248 F .3 d 5 0 2 , 5 0 5 ( 6 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) . U n d e r§ 2 2 5 1 ( a ) , it is ac r im e to e n tic e am in o rto engage i n any se xu al l y e xp l i ci tcond uctfor the pu rposes of prod uci ng a vi sual d e p ic tio n . See 1 8 U .S .C . § 2 2 5 1 ( a ) . U n d e r§ 2 4 2 2 ( b ) , it is ac r im e to u s e af a c ility of i nt er st at e c om m er ce t o ent i ce a m i no r t o eng age i n any se xu al ac t i vi ty f or w hi ch9

ap e r s o n c o u ld b e c h a r g e d w ith ac r im e . See 18 U . S . C . § 2 42 2(b). B oth st atut es a i m t o c r i m i na l i z e the e nt i c e m e ntof am i nort o e nga ge i n s e xua l a c t i vi ty . T hus , the S i x th C i rcu i t ’ s reaso n i n g w i th resp ectt o i t s i n t erp ret at i o n o f § 2 2 5 1 (a) i s al so re l evantt o o ur i nt erpret at i on of § 2 42 2(b). T h e T e n th C ir c u it h a s h e ld th a t it w a s n o t p la in e rr o rf o rth e d is tr ic t c o u r t to c onc l ude tha t§ 2422( b) i s ac r i m e of vi ol e nc e f

orthe purpos e of

vi c t i m r e s t i tut i on u n d e r1 8 U .S .C . § 1 6 . Se e U ni te d State s v . J

ohns on , 1 8 3 F .3 d 1 1 7 5 , 1 1 7 9 ( 1 0 th C i r . 1999) . N ot abl y , w e ha ve he l d tha tac r i m e of vi ol e nc e de t e rm i na t i on f orthe purpos e s of

18 U . S . C . § 16 i s i ndi s t i ngui s habl e f r om ade t e rm i na t i on m a de p u r s u a n t to U .S .S .G . § 4 B 1 .1 . See U n i ted S ta tes v. R u th erf

o rd , 175 F . 3d 899, 905 (11th C i r. 19 99 ). M oreover, ea rl i erthi s y ea r, the T enth C i rc ui tal so concl ud ed that § 2 4 2 2 ( b ) is ac r im e o f

v io le n c e f

o rth e p u rp o s e o f

av io la tio n o f

1 8 U .S .C . § 9 2 4 ( c ) , w h i c h c r i mi n a l i z e s th e u s e o f af i r e a rm d u r i n g th e c o mmi s s i o n o f a n y c r i me o f v io le n c e o rd ru g tr a f

f ic k in g c r im e . See U

n i ted S ta tes v. Mu n ro , 394 F . 3d 865, 871 ( 10th C i r . 2005) . L i ke the S i xth C i r c ui ti n Sm ith , the T e nth C i r c ui ti n Mu n ro broadl y s t at ed: “ In ca se s i nv ol vi ng se x cri m es agai nstm i no rs , w e have found that th er e is a lw ay s a su b stan ti al risk th at p h ys ical fo rc e w il l b e u se d to en su re a c h il d ’s com pl i ance w i th an adu l t ’ s s exual dem ands. ” Mu n ro , 39 4 F . 3d at87 0 (i nt ernal qu ot at i on m arks and ci t at i on om i tt ed). T he T enth C i rc ui tfurther provi ded that10

“ ph ys i ca l i nj ury nee d n otbe [c ert ai n] for acr i m e t o p ose ase ri ou s r i sk of ph ys i ca l i nj ury , ” a nd c onc l ude d tha t“ the r i s k i nvol ve d i n a tt e m pt e d s e xua l abus e of am i nor i s s i gn i fi ca ntenou gh t o render [avi ol at i on of § 2 42 2(b)] a c ri m e of vi ol ence . ” I d. a t870- 71 ( i nt e rna l quot a t i on m a rks a nd c i t a t i on om i tt e d) . W hi l e w e a r e notbound by the deci si on s of our si st erci rc ui t s w ho have previ ou sl y c on si dere d si m i l ar is s u e s , w e d o f

in d th e r e a s o n in g o f

th e S ix th a n d T e n th C ir c u its to b e p e r s u a s iv e . M oreover, ou r c on si dera t i on of the spec i fi c l angu age thatthe U ni t ed S t at es S e nt e nc i ng C om m i s s i on c hos e t o de f i ne a“ c r i m e of

vi ol e nc e ” i n U . S . S . G . § 4B 1. 2, w h ic h w a s ap p r o v e d b y C o n g r e s s , c o n v in c e s u s th a t C o n g r e s s in te n d e d th a t § 2422( b) c ons t i tut e a“ c r i m e of vi ol e nc e ” f

orc a r e e rof

f e nde rpurpos e s . P l a i nl y , the us e of a n I nt e rne tf

a c i l i ty t o e nt i c e am i nort o e nga ge i n s e xua l a c t i vi ty pr e s e nt s the p o s s ib ility o f

a n e n c o u n te rth a t c o u ld r e s u lt in “as e r io u s r is k o f p h y s ic a l in

ju ry to [ the m i nor ] . ” U . S . S . G . § 4B 1. 2. A lth o u g h it is u n n e c e s s a ry to lo o k a t th e le g is la tiv e h is to ry to r e a c h th is c o n c l u s i o n , w e n o t e th a ti ta l s o s u p p o r t s th e c a t e g o r i z a t i o n o f § 2 4 2 2 ( b ) a s ac r i me of vi ol e nc e f

orc a r e e rof

f e nde rpurpos e s . O r i gi na l l y , § 2422( b) w a s a dde d t o 18 U .S .C . § 2 4 2 2 a s p a r t o f th e T e le c o m m u n ic a tio n s A c t o f 1 9 9 6 . See P ub. L . N o. 10 4-10 4, § 5 08 , 11 0 S t at . 56 (199 6). S peci fi ca l l y, thi s part i cul arsub-se ct i on w as i ncl ud ed i n T i t l e V of the T el ec om m un i ca t i on s A ct , w hi ch i s the se ct i on t i t l edTwo we eks af ter Sea rcy committed the instant offense , Congress ag ain amende d § 4 2422(b) to include a

minimummandatory

prison sentenc e of f

ive year s and to incre ase the maxi mum prison sentencefrom fifte en year s to thirty year s. See Prosecutorial Remedies and Tools Ag ainst the Expl oitation of Children Today Act of 2003, Pub. L . No. 108-21, 11 “ O bs c e ni ty a nd V i ol e nc e , ” a f t e rthe S e na t e J udi c i a ry C om m i tt e e he l d ahe a r i ng r e g a r d in g c h ild e n d a n g e rm e n t v iath e in te rn e t. See H .R . C ONF . R EP . N o . 104- 458, a t 1 9 3 ( 1 9 9 6 ) . L e s s tha n tw o y e a r s l a t e r , the “ C hi l d P r ot e c t i on a nd S e xua l P r e da t or P un i shm entA ctof 19 98 , ” w hi ch w as l at erre nam ed the “ P rot ec t i on of C hi l dren f r om S e xua l P r e da t or s A c tof 1998, ” w a s i ntr oduc e d t o a m e nd T i t l e 18 of the U ni t e d S t a t e s C ode “ w i th r e s pe c tt o vi ol e nts e x c r i m e s a ga i ns tc hi l dr e n [ a nd] f or o th e rp u rp o s e s .” H .R . R EP . N O . 1 0 5 - 5 5 7 , a t 1 ( 1 9 9 8 ) , r e pr i nte d i n 1998 U . S . C . C . A . N . 67 8. A m on g the am endm ent s t o T i t l e 18 w as the am endm entof § 2 42 2(b) t o i ncre as e the m axi m um pri son sent ence fr om t en t o fi ft ee n yea rs . S uch am endm ent s w er e nec es sa ryi n l i gh tof the i ncre as i ng nu m ber of c as es i n w hi ch c h ild r e n e n tic e d v iath e in te rn e t h a d b e e n k id n ap p e d , p h o to g r ap h e d f o rc h ild p o rn o g r ap h y , r ap e d , a n d b e a te n . H .R . R EP . N O . 1 0 5 - 5 5 7 , a t 1 2 , r e pr i nte d i n 1998 U . S . C . C . A . N . 678, 680. T hus , “ [ t ] he goa l of [ the ‘ P r ot e c t i on of

C hi l dr e n f

r om S exual P re dat ors A ctof 19 98 ’ w as ] t o p rovi de strong erprot ec t i on s f or chi l dren f r om thos e w ho w oul d pr e y upon the m . ” 144 C ONG . R EC . S 1 2 ,2 5 7 , S 1 2 ,2 6 3 ( d a ily ed. O ct . 9, 19 98 ) ( st at em entof S en. L ea hy). 4§§ 10 3( a)( 2) (B ), (b )( 2) (A)( i) &(b )( 2) (A)( ii) , 1 17 Stat. 6 50 , 6 52 -5 3 (20 03 ) ( amending18 U. S.C.

§ 2422(b)) . 12 I V . CONCL US I ON A f t e rc a r e f ul c ons i de r a t i on of

the w or di ng of

§ 2422( b) a nd U . S . S . G . §§ 4B 1. 1 and 4B 1. 2, and h avi ng consi dere d the j uri sprudence of our si st erci rc ui t s a s w ell as th e leg islati v e h isto ry o f § 2 4 2 2 (b ), w e a g re e w ith th e d istrict co u rt’s concl usi on that§ 2 42 2(b) const i tut es a c ri m e of vi ol ence for c ar ee r off ender c l a s s i f i c a t i on purpos e s . A l though i ti s notone of the l i s t e d of

f e ns e s , pe r s ua s i on, i nd ucem ent , ent i ce m entor coer ci on of a m i no r t o eng age i n u nl aw ful se xu al a c t i v i ty c a rr i e s a n i n h e r e n tr i s k o f p h y s i c a l i n

j u ry t o th e m i n o r . Ac c o r d i n g l y , we a f f irm th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s c la s s if ic a tio n o f

S e a r c y a s ac a r e e ro f

f e n d e rp u r s u a n t to U . S . S . G . § 4B 1. 1. AF F I RME D.