# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 2- 27 48

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Lee Ad am s

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s - Li tt le Ro ck

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Su bm it te d: Jan ua ry

14 , 20 13
Fil ed : J un e 1 1, 2 01 3 [Pu bl is he d]

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Befo re BYE, MELLOY, and SMITH, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

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PER CURI AM.

A gr an d jury in th e East ern Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s in di ct ed Lee Ada m s fo r be in g

a fel on in po ss es si on of a fir earm , in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. § 92 2( g) (1 ). A gr an d jury

in th e Mi dd le Dis tri ct of Fl or id a in di ct ed Ada m s fo r be in g a fel on in po ss es si on ofam m

un it io n, in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. § 92 2( g) (1 ). The di st ric t co ur t gr an te d a joi nt 1

m ot io n to co ns ol id at e t h e t wo cas es fo r pl ea an d se nt en ci ng . Ad am s pl ead ed gu il ty

pu rs ua nt to a pl ea ag reem en t to th e co un ts se t fo rth in bo th in di ct m en ts

, bu t th e

pa rti es ag reed to le av e to th e di st ric t co ur t th e de te rm in at io n of whe th er th e Arm ed

Care er Cri m in al Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. § 92 4( e), ap pl ie d. Ada m s's pr io r co nv ic ti on s

in cl ud ed th ree of

fen se s un de r th e as sa ul t s ta tu te s of th e St at e of Cal ifo rn ia . Two of

th e as sa ul t of

fen se s co ul d be cl as si fie d as ei th er m is de m ean or or fel on y co nv ic ti on s,
de pe nd in g up on th e le ng th of in carc erat io n im po se d— so -cal le d "wo bb le r" of fen se s.
Ada m s ag reed th at th e th ird of fen se , in fli ct in g cor

po ral in jury up on a sp ou se , was a
fel on y

. The di st ric t co ur t fo un d th at bo th wob bl er of fen se s were in fact fel on ie s an d

se nt en ced Ada m s un de r th e ACCA. Ad am s ti m el y ap pe al ed hi s cl as si fic at io n as an

a rm ed care er cri m in al

, arg ui ng th at th e two wob bl er of fen se s were m is de mea n o r s

un de r Cal ifo rn ia law. We affi rm

.

I. Bac kg ro un d

In 19 84

, Ada m s was co nv ic te d in th e Su pe rio r Co ur t of Cal ifo rn ia

, San ta Cl ara

Co un ty, in cas e n u mb e r 95 13 4 of as sa ul t wit h a de ad ly weap on or fo rce li ke ly to

pr od uc e gr eat bo di ly in

jury—ot he r t h a n a f

i r earm , in vi ol at io n of Cal ifo rn ia Pen al

Co de § 24 5( a)(1 ). Fo r th is co nv ic ti on , Ada m s rece iv ed a se nt en ce of t h r e e y ears '

f o r mal pr ob at io n, wit h im po si ti on of se nt en ce su sp en de d, wit h a co nd it io n o f

pr ob at io n of jail ti m e of 36 5 da y s to be se rv ed in th e co un ty jail

, wit h cred it fo r ti m e

se r v e d of 12 2 da y s. In 19 88

, Ada m s was ag ai n co nv ic te d in th e Su pe rio r Co ur t of

Cal ifo rn ia

, San ta Cl ara Co un ty in cas e nu m be r 12 14 68 fo r th e sa m e of fen se

. Fo r th is

c o n v i c ti on , Ada m s rece iv ed a se nt en ce of th ree y ears ' fo rm al pr ob at io n, wit h

im po si ti on of se nt en ce s us pe nd ed , wit h a co nd it io n of pr ob at io n of jail ti m e of 36 5

da y s t o b e se rv ed in th e co un ty j ai l, wi th cred it for ti m e se rv ed of 9 6 d ay s. In 19 91

, Ada m s was ag ai n co nv ic te d in th e Su pe rio r Co ur t of Cal ifo rn ia

, San ta Cl ara Co un ty,

The Hon or ab le J. Leo n Ho lm es , Uni te d Stat es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e Eas te rn 1

Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s.

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-in cas e nu m be r 15 20 62

. Thi s ti m e Ada m s was co nv ic te d of in fli c t i on of co rp or al

in jury up on a sp ou se , in vi ol at io n of Cal i f o r n i a P e na l Co de § 27 3.5 (a). Fo r th is

co nv ic ti on , Ada m s rece iv ed a se nt en ce of th ree y ears ' fe l o n y p r o ba ti on , wit h

im po si ti on of se nt en ced su sp en de d, wit h a co nd it io n of pr ob at io n of jail ti m e of on e

y ear t o b e se rv ed in th e co un ty j ai l, wi th cred it for ti m e se rv ed

.

On Apr il 19

, 20 12

, in a co ns ol id at ed pr oc eed in g, Ada m s pl ead ed gu il ty to two

fel on y -in -p o s se ss io n ch arg es ari si ng fro m se pa rat e pr os ecu ti on s in th e East ern
Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s and th e Mi dd le Dis tri ct of Fl or id a. The pl ea agre em en t, sig ne d
by Ada m s an d hi s at to rn ey , st at ed in rel ev an t pa rt th at if th e di st ric t co ur t de te rm in ed

th at th e ACCA ap pl ie d, th en th e m in im um te rm of Ada m 's i mp r is on m en t wou ld be

15 y ears an d:

The pa rti es ag ree th at

, at a m in im u m , th e de fen da nt was pr ev io us ly

co nv ic te d of th e fo ll owi ng cri m es pu ni sh ab le by a te rm of im pr is on m en t

ex ceed in g on e y ear: (1 ) in th e Su pe rio r Co ur t of Cal ifo rn ia

, San ta Cl ara Co un ty, fo r as sa ul t wit h a de ad ly weap on or fo rce li ke ly to pr od uc e
gr eat bo di ly in

jury, in cri m in al cas e 95 13 4; (2 ) in th e Su pe rio r Co ur t of
Cal ifo rn ia

, San ta Cl ara Co un t y , fo r as sa ul t wit h a de ad ly weap on or fo rce li ke ly to pr od uc e gr eat bo di ly in jury, in cri m in al cas e 12 14 68 ; an d (3 ) in th e Su pe rio r Co ur t of Cal ifo rn ia

, San ta Cl ara Co un ty, fo r in fli ct in g

co rp or al in

jury upo n a sp ou se , in a cri m in al cas e 1 52 06 2.

Fo r eac h Cal ifo rn ia co nv ic ti on , Ada m s rece iv ed si m il ar se nt en ces of th ree

y ears ' pr ob at io n, wit h im po si ti on of se nt en ce su sp e nd ed

, wit h a co nd it io n of

p r o b a t i o n o f ja il ti m e of 36 5 da y s to be se rv ed in th e co un ty jail

. The in fo rm at io n

su m m ary f o r c a s e nu m

be r 15 20 62 refe rred to th e co nv ic ti on s in cas e nu m be rs 2

12 14 68 an d 95 13 4 as fel on y co nv i c t i o n s

. At hi s ch an ge -o f-p le a he ari ng , Ada m s
ad m it te d th at each of th es e of fen se s was as so ci at ed wit h a t e r m o f i m pr is on m en t

The in fo rm at io n su m

m ary is pr od uc ed by th e San ta Cl ara di st ric t at to rn ey an d 2

in cl ud es a su m

m ary of th e fac ts rel at ed to th e ch arg e as well as a ny pri or fel on ie s.

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-gr eat er th an on e y ear. The pr es en te nc e in ve st i g a t i on rep or t (PSR ) reco m m en de d a
ba se of fen se le ve l of 14

. The PSR ad de d two of fen se le ve ls un de r U.S.S.G.
§ 2K2 .1(b )(1 )(A) (2 01 1) fo r po ss es si ng m or e th an th ree bu t le ss th an se ve n fir earm s,
ad de d fo ur of

fen se le ve ls un de r U.S.S.G. § 2K2 .1(b )(6 )(B) fo r po ss es si ng th e fir earm

in co nn ect io n wit h an ot he r fel on y of fen se

. App lying U.S.S.G. § 4B 1.4 (b )(3 )(A), th e

PSR es ta bl is he d an of

fen se le ve l of 34 ba se d on Ada m s's st a t u s a s an arm ed care er
cri m in al ta ki ng in to acco un t hi s th ree pr io r co nv ic ti on s fo r a vi ol en t fel on y or se rio us
dr ug of fen se , or bo th

, whi ch wer e c o mm i t te d on di ffer en t oc cas io ns

. The PSR

su bt ract ed two le ve ls ba se d on U.S.S.G. § 3E1 .1(a ) fo r acce pt an ce of res po ns ib il it y ,

res ul ti ng in a to ta l of

fen se le ve l fo r Ada m s of 32

. At th e se n t e n c i n g he ari ng , th e

go ve rn m en t m ov ed fo r an ad di ti on al on e le ve l-r ed uc ti on fo r acce pt an c e of

res po ns ib il it y , whi ch th e co ur t ac cep te d, p ut ti ng th e to ta l o ffen se lev el at 3 1.

Ada m s ob

jecte d to th e PSR de si gn a t i ng hi m as an arm ed care er cri m in al

. Ada m s di d no t di sp ut e th at hi s co nv ic ti on fo r in fli ct in g co rp or al in jury up on a sp ou se

was a fel on y , he sp ec i f

i c a l ly ob jecte d to th e cl as si fic at io n of th e two Cal ifo rn ia

as sa ul t of fen se s as fel on ie s un de r th e ACCA. Ada m s arg ue d th at th e two co nv ic ti on s

f o r a s sa ul t wit h a de ad ly weap on in cas e nu m be rs 95 13 4 an d 12 14 68

, bo th i n
vi ol at io n of Cal ifo rn ia Pen al Co de § 24 5( a) ( 1 )

, w ere "wo bb le rs " an d sh ou ld ha ve
be en cl as si fie d as m is d e mea n o r s

. Sp eci fic al ly, Ada m s arg ue d th at in bo th of th es e

c o n v i c t i o ns , t he st at e co ur t se nt en ced hi m to on e y ear in jail . Ac co rd in g to Ada m s , th e co nv ic ti on s were fo r m is de m ean or s, no t fel on ie s, an d he co ul d no t rece iv e a

se nt en ce o f gr eat er t ha n o ne y ear.

The di st ric t co ur t di sa gr eed wit h A d a ms an d fo un d th at al l of Ada m s's

Cal ifo rn ia co nv ic ti on s were pr op erl y cl as si fie d as fel on ie s un de r th e ACCA ba se d on

Uni te d S ta te s v. Ro bi ns on , 96 7 F .2d 28 7, 2 93 (9t h C ir. 1 99 2)

, ab ro ga te d i n p ar t o n

ot he r gr ou nd

s by Ort eg a- Men de

z v. Gon za le s , 45 0 F.3 d 10 10

, 10 20 (9 th Ci r. 20 06 ).

The di st ric t co ur t no te d th at t h e ju dg e who se nt en ced Ada m s fo r hi s th ird of fen se , in fli ct in g co rp or al in

jury up on a sp ou se , tre at ed hi s pr io r as sa ul t co nv ic ti on s as fel on y

-4

-co nv ic ti on s. In su m , th e di st ric t co ur t fo un d Ada m s to ha ve th r e e p r i o r fel on y

co nv ic ti on s an d th us to b e a n a r med care er cri m in al un de r 18 U.S.C. § 92 4( e). The

di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced Ada m s to 18 0 m on th s' im pr is on m en t fo r bo th of

fen se s to ru n

co nc ur ren tl y an d fiv e y ears of su pe rv is ed rel eas e. Ada m s ti m el y ap pe al ed th e di st ric t

co ur t's fin di ng th at he was a n a rm ed care er cr im in al

.

II. Dis cu ss io n
Ada m s argu es th at hi s two pri or "v io le nt fel on y " con vi ct io ns for as sa ul t with

a de ad ly weap on were act ua ll y m is de m ean or s un de r Cal ifo rn ia la w. Ada m s co nt en ds

th at th es e of

fen se s were "wo bb le r" of fen se s th at co ul d be fel on ie s bu t whi ch be cam e

m is de m ean or s un de r C a li fo rn ia la w whe n th e st at e tri al co ur t im po se d a se nt en ce

o t h e r t h an in carc erat io n in a st at e pr is on

. Ada m s al so arg ue s th at th is co ur t sh ou l d

fo ll ow th e ru le of le ni ty by res ol vi ng an y am bi gu it y reg ard in g th e ap pl ic at io n of th e

ACCA in hi s fav or

. Ada m s as se rts th at si nc e two of hi s pr io r co nv ic t i o n s w e r e

m is de m ean or s, h e sh ou ld no t h av e b een cla ss ifi ed as a n a rm ed care er cr im in al

.

"We rev ie w de no vo a d i s t r i ct co ur t's de te rm in at io n th at a de fen da nt 's pr io r

co nv ic ti on co ns ti tu te s a vi ol en t fel on y fo r pu rp os es of § 92 4( e)." U n i t e d St at es v.

Boa z , 55 8 F.3 d 80 0, 80 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) ( ci ta ti on om it te d)

. Und er 18 U.S.C.
§ 9 22 (g )(1 ),

[i]t sh al l be un la wfu l fo r an y pe rs on

. . . who ha s be en co nv ic te d in an y

co ur t of

, a cri m e pu ni sh ab le by im pr is on m en t fo r a te rm ex ceed in g on e

y ear

. . . to sh ip or tra ns po rt in in te rs ta te or fo rei gn co m m erce , or po ss es s in or affe ct in g co m

m erce , an y fir earm or am

m un it io n; or to rece iv e an y fir earm or am m

un it io n whi ch ha s be en sh ip pe d or tra ns po rte d in
in te rs ta te or f

or ei gn co m

m erce

.

Any in di vi du al who vi ol at es § 92 2( g) (1 ) an d who ha s th ree pr ev io us co nv ic ti on s fo r

a vi ol en t fel on y or a se rio us dr ug of fen se sh al l be "i m

pr is on ed n o t l e ss th an fif te en

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-y ears ." 18 U.S.C. § 92 4( e). Und er 18 U.S.C. § 92 4( e)(2 )(B)

, "t he te rm 'vi ol en t fel on y '

m ean s an y

cri m e p un is ha bl e b y

im pr is on m en t fo r a t erm

ex ceed in g o ne y ear."

Ada m s's cri m in al reco rd i n c l u de s two vi ol at io ns of Cal ifo rn ia Pen al Co de
§ 2 45 . Each vi ol at io n was pu ni sh ab le by " im pr is on m en t in th e st at e pr is on fo r two

, th ree, or fo ur ye a r s , o r i n a co un ty jail fo r no t ex ceed in g on e y ear, or by a fin e no t

ex ceed in g te n th ou sa nd do ll ars ($ 10 ,00 0)

, or by bo th th e fin e an d im pr is on m en t." Id

. § 24 5( a)(1 ). "[A]n o ffen se pu ni sh ab le ei th er by i m pr is on m en t in th e st at e pr is on or by a co un ty jail se nt en ce is 'sa id to "wo bb le " be twee n th e two pu ni sh m en ts an d he nc e
is freq ue nt ly cal le d a "wo b b l e r " o f fen se .'" Uni te d St at es v. Viez ca s- So to

, 56 2 F.3 d

90 3, 90 6, n.2 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) (q uo ti ng Rob er t L. v. Su pe ri or Co ur t

, 69 P.3 d 95 1, 95 6

n.9 (20 03 )). Und er Ca li fo rn ia Pen al Co de § 1 7( b)

,

[w]hen a cri m e is pu ni sh ab le

, in th e di sc ret io n of th e c ou rt, ei th er by
im pr is on m en t in th e st at e pr is on or im pr is on m en t in a co un ty jail

. . . it
is a m is de m ean or for all pu rp os es un de r th e fo ll owi ng cir cu m st an ces :

(1 ) Afte r a ju dg men t im

po si ng a pu ni sh m en t ot he r th an im pr is on m en t in
th e st at e pr is on or im

pr is on m en t in a co un ty jail un de r th e pr ov is io ns of

su bd iv is io n (h ) of

Sect io n 1 17 0 [o r]

* * *

(3 ) W he n t he co ur t gran ts pr ob at io n to a de fen da nt wit ho ut im po si ti on of se nt en ce an d a t th e ti m e of gr an ti ng pr ob at io n, or on ap pl ic at io n of
th e de fen da nt or pr ob at io n of fic er th erea fte r, th e co ur t de cl ar es th e of fe ns e to be a mi sd emea no r

.

(Em ph as es ad de d.)

"Un de r Cal ifo rn ia la w, whe re th e of fen se is al te rn at iv el y a fel on y or

m is de m ean or it is reg ard ed as a fel on y fo r ev ery pu rp os e un ti l jud gm en t." Rob in so n , 96 7 F.2 d at 29 3. In Rob in so n , t h e N i n t h C irc ui t he ld th at whe re a co ur t gr an te d

-6

-pr ob at io n an d s u s p en de d im po si ti on of a se nt en ce aft er co nv ic ti on , i m po se d a ni ne

m on th jail te rm , ne ve r en te rin g jud gm en t a n d n e v e r d ecl ari ng th e of fen se to be a

m is de m ean or , th e pr io r co nv ic ti on (b at te ry on a po li c e of fic er) was a fel on y an d

Cal ifo rn ia Pen al Co de §§ 17 (b )(1 ) an d (3 ) di d no t ap pl y

. Id

. The Nin th Ci rcu it fo un d

th at Cal ifo rn ia Pen al Co de § 17 (b )(1 ) di d no t a p p l y b ecau se no jud gm en t was

ren de red an d § 17 (b )(3 ) di d no t ap pl y be cau se th e co nv ic ti on s were ne ve r de cl ared

to be m is de m ean or s. Id . The Ni nt h C irc ui t h as als o s ta te d:

Cl earl y , "[a ]n or de r gr an ti ng pr ob at io n is no t a jud gm en t." Peo pl e v. Smi th

, 19 5 Cal

. App

. 2d 73 5, 73 7, 16 Cal

. Rp tr. 12 (1 96 1)

. Fu rth erm or e, whe n a se nt en ci ng co ur t gr an ts pr ob at io n aft er a co nv ic ti on , it m ay

su sp en d th e im

po si ti on of se nt en ce, in whi ch cas e no jud gm en t of

c o n v i c ti on is ren de red

, or it m ay im po se se nt en ce an d or de r i t s

ex ecu ti on to be st ay ed

. In th e la tt er cas e on ly, a jud gm en t of co nv ic ti on is ren de red

. Peo

pl e v. Arg ue ll o , 59 Cal

. 2d 47 5, 47 6, 30 Cal

. Rp tr. 33 3,
38 1 P .2d 5 (1 96 3) ."

Id

.

Ada m s's pr ev io us co nv ic ti on s fo r as sa ul t wit h a de ad ly weap on , cas e nu m be rs

95 13 4 an d 12 14 68

, were pu ni sh ab le by im pr is on m en t fo r gr eat er th an on e y ear un de r
Cal ifo rn ia Pen al Co de § 24 5. Howev er, be cau se vi ol at io n of § 2 45 can res ul t in

im pr is on m en t in a st at e pr is on gr eat er th an a y ear or im pr is on m en t in a co un ty jail fo r
le ss th an a ye a r , t he co nv ic ti on s "wo bb le " be twee n a fel on y an d a m is de m ean or

. Ada m s's cas e res em

bl es Rob in so n be cau se bo th cas es in vo lv e an or de r of pr ob at io n

in ad di ti on to th e su sp en si on of th e im po si ti on of th e s e n t e n c e an d on e y ear or le ss

i n co un ty jail

. Si nc e th e Cal ifo rn ia co ur t im po se d pr ob at io n fo r bo th of Ada m s ' s

co nv ic ti on s, th es e co nv ic ti on s di d no t res ul t in a jud gm en t un de r Rob in so n an d th us § 17 (b )(1 ) do es no t ap pl y

. Se e Rob in so n , 96 7 F.2 d at 29 3. Add it io na ll y , al th ou gh th e

co ur t gr an te d pr ob at io n, li ke in Rob in so n , it di d no t ex pl ic it ly de c l a r e t h e as sa ul t

co nv ic ti on s to be m is de m ean or s. Sect io n 17 (b )(3 ) is th us in ap pl ic ab le as well

. Se e id

.

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-App lying Rob in so n to th is ap pe al

, Ada m s's co nv ic ti on s in cas e nu m be rs 95 13 4 a nd

12 14 68 are fel on ie s fo r s e nt en ci ng pu rp os es be cau se , al th ou gh each of th e as sa ul t

of fen se s m ay wob bl e be tw e e n a fel on y an d a m is de m ean or , ne it he r co nv ic ti on

res ul te d in a jud gm en t an d ne it he r co ur t de cl ared th e co nv ic ti on s to be m is de m ean or s.

Ada m s con te nd s th at in Viez ca s- So to , th is co ur t ag reed wit h hi s po si ti on th at

Cal ifo rn ia Pen al Co de § 17 (b ) ren de rs a co nv ic ti on a m is d e mea no r "'[a ]fter a jud gm en t im

po si ng a pu ni sh m en t ot he r th an im pr is on m en t in th e st at e pr is on .'" 56 2

F.3 d at 90 7 (a l t e r a t i o n in or ig in al ) (q uo ti ng Cal

. Pen al Co de § 17 (b )(1 )).

Im pr is on m en t in a co un ty jail

, fo r in st an ce, wou ld no t co ns ti tu te a fel on y

. The refo re,
Ada m s arg ue s th at be cau se he rece iv ed pu ni sh m en t ot he r th an im pr is on m en t fo r hi s

co nv ic ti on s, th e of

fen se s co ul d no t be felo ni es un de r Cal ifo rn ia la w. Co ns eq ue nt ly,

acco rd in g to Ada m s , t h e o f f en se s were no t pr ed ic at e of fen se s un de r th e ACCA.

Ada m s, ho wev er, m is read s ou r pr eced en t an d th e Cal ifo rn ia st at ut e. Viez ca s- So to

de al t wit h th e qu es ti on of whe th er th e go ve rn m en t ha d su ffi ci en tl y pr ov en th at th e

ap pe ll an t's pr io r co nv ic ti on qu al ifi ed as a fel on y cri m e of vi ol en ce fo r pu rp os es of th e

ap pl ic at io n of a Gui de li ne s en ha nc em en t. Id

. The reco rd in Viez ca s- So to was un cl ear

as to ho w th e Cal ifo rn ia co ur t pu t it s se nt en ce in to effe ct

. Id

. The reco rd in th is cas e

ha s no su ch de fic ie nc y . Th is cas e is di st i n g u i s h ab le fro m Viez ca s- So to be cau se th e

reco rd s cl earl y in di cat e th at th e Cal ifo rn ia co ur ts su sp en de d th e im po si ti on of th e

se nt en ces

. Su sp en de d se nt en ces do no t rep res en t jud gm en ts

. Se e Rob in so n , 96 7 F.2 d

at 29 3. In co nt ras t, i n Viez ca s- So to

, th e reco rd was un cl ear whe th er th ere was a

su sp en si on of th e im

po si ti on or th e ex ecu ti on of th e se nt en ce. 56 2 F.3 d at 90 7– 08

. In Viez ca s- So to

, "we co nc lu de [d ] th e go ve rn m en t di d no t m eet it s bu rd en of pr ov in g

th e of fen se was a fel on y wit hi n th e m ean in g of th e rel ev an t Guid el in es se ct io n." Id

.
at 90 5.

A d d i t i o na ll y , th e pr es en t cas e is al so di st in gu is ha bl e fro m Uni te d St at es v

. Bri dg ef or th

, 44 1 F.3 d 86 4, 87 1

– 7 2 ( 9 t h C i r. 20 06 ). In th at cas e, th e Nin th Ci rcu it

he ld th at a pr io r co nv ic ti on be cam e a jud gm en t whe n th e co ur t te rm in at ed pr ob at io n

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-an d im

po se d a se nt en ce of 36 5 da y s in co un ty jail an d th us was a m is de m ean or un de r § 1 7( b) (1 ). Id . at 8 71 –7 2. Her e, th e p ro ba ti on ha s n ot be en ter m in at ed

.

Fi na ll y , Ada m s arg ue s th at th e ru le of le ni ty sh ou ld ap pl y in th is cas e be cau se "[i ]t is di ffi cu lt to de te rm in e th e effe ct s of th e Cal ifo rn ia wob bl er st at ut es on cri m in al

hi st o r y i n a fed eral cas e. The co ur ts sh ou ld res ol ve an y in co ns is te nc ie s in th at

de te rm in at io n in fav or of th e App el la nt

, Mr. Ada m s." Fo r au th or it y , Ada m s ci te s on ly

to Viez ca s- So to 's fo ot no te 3, whi ch do es no t ad dr es s th e ru le of le ni ty. Se e 56 2 F.3 d

at 90 8 n

. 3

. A d a ms ha s th us ci te d no au th or it y fo r hi s arg um en t th at le ni ty sh ou ld

ap pl y

. W e al so do no t fin d hi s reas on in g pe rs ua si ve gi ve n ou r an al y si s of Cal ifo rn ia 's

rel ev an t st at ut es an d cas es in te rp ret in g th em

. "Th e si m pl e ex is te nc e of so m e st at ut or y

am bi gu it y

. . . is no t su ffi ci en t to warra nt ap pl ic at io n of [th e ru le of le ni ty]

, fo r m os t

st at ut es are am

bi gu ou s to so m e de gr ee." Mus ca re ll o v. Uni te d St at es , 52 4 U.S. 12 5,

13 8– 39 (1 99 8)

. "To in vo ke th e ru le

, we m us t co nc lu de th at th ere is a gr ie vo us

am bi gu it y or un cert ai nt y in th e st at ut e." Id

. (q u o ta ti on s an d ci ta ti on s om it te d)

. The

cas e co nt ai ns no gri ev ou s ambig ui ty or un cert ai nt y

.

A d a ms ' s t wo pr io r co nv ic ti on s fo r as sa ul t wit h a de ad ly weap on an d a

co nv ic ti on fo r in fli ct io n of co rp or al in jury to a sp o u s e a r e f

el on ie s. The refo re, th e
di st ric t co ur t pr op erl y cl as si fie d Ada m s as an arm ed care er cri m in al un de r § 92 4( e).

III. Co nc lu si on

Acco rd in gl y , we affi rm

th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t.

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