F I L E D

United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit

June 14, 2005

PATRICK FISHER

Clerk

PUBLISH

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff - Appellee,

v. No. 04-8066

TERRANCE N. THOMAS,

Defendant - Appellant.

APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF WYOMING

(D.C. No. 04-CR-07-J)

Thomas A. Fleener, Assistant Federal Public Defender (Raymond P. Moore,

Federal Public Defender, with him on the brief), Cheyenne, Wyoming, for

Defendant-Appellant.

James C. Anderson, Assistant United States Attorney (Matthew H. Mead, United

States Attorney, with him on the brief), Cheyenne, Wyoming, for PlaintiffAppellee.

Before O’BRIEN , ANDERSON , and McCONNELL , Circuit Judges.

ANDERSON , Circuit Judge.
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Terrance N. Thomas (“Thomas”) was convicted following a jury trial of

two counts of using interstate commerce to attempt to persuade a minor to engage

in an illegal sexual act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). Thomas was

sentenced to two concurrent sentences of seventy months’ imprisonment, five

years’ supervised release, and $450 in fines and assessments. He appeals his

conviction and sentence. We AFFIRM.

BACKGROUND

On June 12, 2003, Special Agent Flint Waters (“Waters”) of the Wyoming

Division of Criminal Investigation visited a YAHOO! chat room using the screen

name “angelgirl12yo.” Waters had created a profile on YAHOO! for

“angelgirl12yo” indicating she lived in Cheyenne. While Waters was in the chat

room, Thomas, using the screen name “blackass_blk,” typed “all Cheyenne ladies

represent.” Waters testified that he understood this as an invitation for all

females from Cheyenne to get in touch with Thomas. Thomas had also created a

profile in YAHOO! in which he posted his picture and described himself as 28

years old, single, and an independent contractor. He listed his hobbies as “chillin,

clubin, lifting weights, fuckin, working on my website.” Appellee’s App. at 3.
-3-

Waters, still using the screen name angelgirl12yo, and mimicking the

manner in which a preteen girl would conduct an Internet chat, responded to

blackass_blk’s request to “represent.” The following chat ensued:

angelgirl12yo (2:09:37 PM): Cheyenne

blackass_blk (2:09:47 PM): HI

angelgirl12yo (2:09:50 PM): Hi

blackass_blk (2:09:55 PM): AS [age, sex?]

angelgirl12yo (2:10:01 PM): <-----------------------

blackass_blk (2:10:02 PM): NOT L [not location]

angelgirl12yo (2:10:03 PM): lol [laughing out loud]

blackass_blk (2:10:18 PM): R U HOME

angel girl12yo (2:10:24 PM): ya

blackass_blk (2:10:29 PM): ALONE

angelgirl12yo (2:10:33 PM): lol ya

blackass_blk (2:10:51 PM): WASSUP

angelgirl12yo (2:11:06 PM): notta, 12 female cheyenne, lol

blackass_blk (2:11:08 PM): CAN I EAT THAT PUSSY

angelgirl12yo (2:11:14 PM): dam u all that?

angelgirl12yo (2:11:27 PM): rite up front like like that

blackass_blk (2:11:31 PM): YEAH GURL!

blackass_blk (2:11:45 PM): IM HUNGRY

angelgirl12yo (2:11:55 PM): hmmm

blackass_blk (2:12:31 PM): CAN I

angelgirl12yo (2:12:38 PM): not sure I should

blackass_blk (2:12:47 PM): Y

angelgirl12yo (2:12:53 PM): don’t no you

blackass_blk (2:13:08 PM): WE CAN NOW

angelgirl12yo (2:13:25 PM): when?

blackass_blk (2:13:37 PM): NOW

angelgirl12yo (2:13:40 PM): where

blackass_blk (2:13:53 PM): WHERE DO U LIVE

angelgirl12yo (2:13:58 PM): south side, u?

blackass_blk (2:14:06 PM): BASE

angelgirl12yo (2:14:31 PM): cool, cant do it at my house, my moms

mite get told by the neybors

blackass_blk (2:15:08 PM): WHERE

angelgirl12yo (2:15:18 PM): I don’t no, its your idea
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blackass_blk (2:15:25 PM): AT THE PARK

blackass_blk (2:15:48 PM): NOW

angelgirl12yo (2:15:50 PM): cool, car?

blackass_blk (2:15:59 PM): YEAH

angelgirl12yo (2:16:08 PM): ok

blackass_blk (2:16:22 PM): WHERE CAN I PICK YOU UP?

angelgirl12yo (2:16:34 PM): u wanna meet like behind the burger

king by my house?

blackass_blk (2:16:54 PM): WHICH 1

angelgirl12yo (2:17:22 PM): u know where central gets off I 80 by

the holiday inn

blackass_blk (2:17:32 PM): YEAH

blackass_blk (2:17:46 PM): U GOING TO BE THERE

angelgirl12yo (2:18:01 PM): I can, I will watch for the car, what

kind ya got?

blackass_blk (2:18:11 PM): WHITE

blackass_blk (2:18:35 PM): WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO

MEET U AT

angelgirl12yo (2:18:51 PM): just pull in behind the bk in like the

dirt part and I will see you and come over

blackass_blk (2:19:31 PM): OK U SEEN MY PROFILE

blackass_blk (2:19:35 PM): RIGHT

angelgirl12yo (2:19:40 PM): ya, you sure its cool that I am 12?

blackass_blk (2:20:21 PM): YEAH

blackass_blk (2:20:30 PM): OK HERE I COME

angelgirl12yo(2:20:41 PM): ok, I am kinda short 4 9, 77 pds, see you

there in like 10 minutes

blackass_blk (2:20:54 PM): OK

angelgirl12yo (2:21:34 PM): hey whats ur name

blackass_blk (2:21:47 PM): RON

angelgirl12yo (2:21:53 PM): cool I am angela

blackass_blk (2:22:03 PM): OK

blackass_blk (2:22:03 PM): WHT OR BLK

angelgirl12yo (2:22:24 PM): wht

blackass_blk (2:22:33 PM): KOOL

angelgirl12yo (2:23:37 PM): is it on?

blackass_blk (2:23:49 PM): YEAH

angelgirl12yo (2:23:54 PM): ok

angelgirl12yo (2:25:54 PM): u still there?

blackass_blk (2:26:56 PM): IM ON MY WAY
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angelgirl12yo (3:18:48 PM): well?

Id. at 2. Officers then set up surveillance at the Burger King and awaited

Thomas’s arrival. A white vehicle with a Warren Air Force Base decal driven by

a black man entered the parking lot. Police detained the driver but soon learned

that he was not Thomas. Thomas never showed up at the Burger King, and

Waters speculated that he may have seen the police activity in the parking lot and

been deterred. Waters closed the investigation.

However, six months later, on December 22, 2003, Waters was again online

in a YAHOO! chat room. This time he was using the persona “cheygirl13,” for

whom he had also created a YAHOO! profile. Waters observed that the persona

“blackassblk” was online and available for messaging. Because of the similarity

between this screen name and the screen name he encountered in June

(“blackass_blk”), Waters accessed the profile and photo for this persona and

learned that “blackassblk” was Thomas. Cheygirl13 then contacted blackassblk

and the following chat took place:

cheygirl13 (5:30:19 PM): hi

blackassblk (5:30:46 PM): HEY

blackassblk (5:31:06 PM): HEY 

cheygirl13 (5:31:09 PM): I was jus lookin at people in Cheyenne and

saw u

 blackassblk (5:31:23 PM): OH OK

cheygirl13 (5:31:31 PM): I am Sheila

blackassblk (5:32:16 PM): I’M NIGEL

cheygirl13 (5:32:22 PM): nice meetin u

blackassblk (5:32:38 PM): U TO
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cheygirl13 (5:32:56 PM): is it a bad time to chat ya?

blackassblk (5:33:12 PM): NO WHATS ON UR MIND

cheygirl13 (5:33:33 PM): jus thot u looked nice

blackassblk (5:34:28 PM): TY [thank you]

cheygirl13 (5:34:35 PM): yw [your welcome]

blackassblk (5:35:03 PM): R U OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE SEX

cheygirl13 (5:35:11 PM): ya I am 13

blackassblk (5:35:27 PM): DO U

cheygirl13 (5:35:31 PM): yes

cheygirl13 (5:35:35 PM): do u? lol

blackassblk (5:35:43 PM): YES

blackassblk (5:36:00 PM): DO U WANT TO MEET

cheygirl13 (5:36:16 PM): don’t no if I shoud

blackassblk (5:36:26 PM): HOW COME

cheygirl13 (5:36:26 PM): I don’t rely no you yet

blackassblk (5:36:34 PM): OH OK

blackassblk (5:37:04 PM): WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? 

cheygirl13 (5:37:12 PM): r u cool?

blackassblk (5:37:23 PM): YEAH

blackassblk (5:38:07 PM): I WILL NOT TELL IF U WONT

cheygirl13 (5:38:16 PM): lol thats cool what all u wanna do

blackassblk (5:38:51 PM): WHAT DO U LIKE TO DO

cheygirl13 (5:39:21 PM): I don’t know, kinda open I gess 

blackassblk (5:40:15 PM): I LIKE TO GET MY DICK SUCKED

cheygirl13 (5:40:24 PM): I gess I coud do that

cheygirl13 (5:40:36 PM): no tellin tho right?

blackassblk (5:40:49 PM): NAW

blackassblk (5:41:10 PM): CAN U DO IT GOOD

cheygirl13 (5:41:26 PM): not sure neva had anyone complane

blackassblk (5:41:37 PM): OK

blackassblk (5:42:07 PM): R U HOME BUY UR SELF?

cheygirl13 (5:42:25 PM): ya

blackassblk (5:42:49 PM): WHO DO U LIVE WITH

cheygirl13 (5:42:54 PM): me and mom

blackassblk (5:43:25 PM): CAN I COME OVER

cheygirl13 (5:43:31 PM): ok

blackassblk (5:43:53 PM): WHAT TIME WILL THEY BE HOME

blackassblk (5:44:00 PM): SHE

cheygirl13 (5:44:10 PM): mom mite be home at like 7

blackassblk (5:44:30 PM): KOOL 
-7-

blackassblk (5:44:55 PM): CAN I COME TO YOU THAN?

cheygirl13 (5:45:05 PM): ok

blackassblk (5:45:29 PM): WHERE R U?

cheygirl13 (5:46:03 PM): if I give you my address u wont like come

here later and tell my mom rite

blackassblk (5:46:35 PM): Y WOULD I

cheygirl13 (5:46:52 PM): ok, u no where 25 and thomes is

blackassblk (5:47:05 PM): YES

cheygirl13 (5:47:18 PM): ok if u go there I will come out and get u

k?

blackassblk (5:48:13 PM): DO U HAVE A GIRL FRIEND WITH

YOU SO U WILL NOT BE SCARED

cheygirl13 (5:48:22 PM): I can if u want

blackassblk (5:48:47 PM): UR NOT SCARED R U?

cheygirl13 (5:48:58 PM): not rely, I jus don’t wanna get busted

cheygirl13 (5:49:06 PM): we don’t hafta if u don’t want its cool

blackassblk (5:49:49 PM): OK I’LL BE THERE

cheygirl13 (5:49:57 PM): ok cool, how long

blackassblk (5:50:13 PM): 20 MIN

cheygirl13 (5:50:20 PM): ok cool

blackassblk (5:50:40 PM): WHERE AGAIN?

cheygirl13 (5:50:52 PM): 25 and thomes

blackassblk (5:51:14 PM): OK

Id. at 4. Immediately after the chat ended, Waters and other agents established

surveillance at the intersection where Thomas was supposed to meet cheygirl13. 

They observed a white passenger car pull to a curb and turn off its lights. 

Without turning its lights back on, the car pulled back out, made a U-turn, and

then pulled into a parking lot. Finally, the car pulled back out into the street, at

which point the agents stopped the vehicle. Thomas was driving the car and his

two small children were in the back seat.
1Rule 404(b) provides that evidence of “other crimes, wrongs, or acts,”

while not admissible to prove character, is admissible to show “proof of motive,

opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake

or accident.”

-8-

The defendant was advised of his Miranda rights. He admitted that he was

online and had been using the screen name blackassblk to chat with a girl, but he

denied knowing that she was 13 and said that he had not caught her age because

one of his children had been playing with the computer. He also said he had

changed his mind about engaging in sexual activities with her and had “slipped.”

Officers then obtained consent to search Thomas’s home, where they

discovered a locked room containing the computer he had been using. The

computer was on. A pornographic movie was playing on the computer and in the

foreground was the chat with cheygirl13. Waters seized the computer and

searched its hard drive and found the entire chat with cheygirl13 preserved on the

computer. The examination also revealed that Thomas had accessed cheygirl13’s

YAHOO! profile.

Initially, Thomas was charged with one count of violating 18 U.S.C.

§ 2422(b) for the December 22, 2003, incident. The district court admitted the

June 2003 chat between Thomas and angelgirl12yo as Fed. R. Evid. 404(b) 1

evidence. Thomas went to trial on the charge, but it resulted in a hung jury and a

mistrial was declared. Thomas was later charged by superseding indictment with
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two counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), one count for the June chat and one

count for the December chat. The jury found him guilty of both counts.

Thomas appeals his conviction, arguing: (1) that 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) is

unconstitutionally vague and overbroad; (2) that the district court erred in

admitting evidence that Thomas traveled to the supposed meeting place with

cheygirl13; (3) that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction on

either count; and (4) the government engaged in vindictive prosecution by

charging him with two counts in the superseding indictment. Thomas also

challenges his sentence, arguing that it violates United States v. Booker , 125 S.

Ct. 738 (2005), because the district court sentenced him while operating under the

then-mandatory federal Guidelines system.

DISCUSSION

A.

I. Constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b)

Title 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) provides:

Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or

foreign commerce . . . knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or

coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to

engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can

be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be

fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 5 years and not

more than 30 years.
2Thomas cites the specific example of a parent sending e-mail messages

about birth control to an underage daughter if the parent knows the daughter has a

boyfriend who is older. Thomas argues that the parent, who had no intent to

engage in the underlying illegal sexual act, would nonetheless be guilty of

violating the statute because by discussing birth control, the parent is enticing,

persuading, or inducing the daughter to engage in illegal sex with her older

boyfriend. This argument, which stems from the Supreme Court’s discussion and

invalidation of the Communications Decency Act in Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S.

844, 878 (1997), has been rejected in the 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) context. See

United States v. Panfil, 338 F.3d 1229, 1301 (11th Cir. 2003).

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18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). Thomas first argues that because the district court and other

courts have interpreted the statute as requiring only the intent to entice a minor

for illegal sexual activity and not intent to commit the underlying sexual offense,

the statute is overbroad in violation of the First Amendment. Thomas thus asserts

that the statute “impinges on constitutionally protected speech including the

fundamental right to parent.” 2

 Appellant’s Opening Br. at 10. Second, he asserts

that the statute is void for vagueness because the terms are unclear, causing “men

of common intelligence [to] necessarily guess at its meaning.” Id.

We review challenges to a statute’s constitutionality de novo. Ward v.

Utah , 398 F.3d 1239, 1245 (10th Cir. 2005). The overbreadth doctrine “prohibits

a statute from making criminal otherwise innocent and constitutionally protected

conduct.” United States v. Pinelli , 890 F.2d 1461, 1472 (10th Cir. 1989). “The

crucial question then is whether the statute sweeps within its prohibitions conduct

that may not be punished because of the protection of the first and fourteenth
3Thomas relies on the Fifth Circuit case United States v. Farner, 251 F.3d

510, 513 (5th Cir. 2001), in which the court states that “the district court correctly

concluded from the stipulated evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Farner

intended to engage in sexual acts with a 14-year-old girl and that he took

substantial steps toward committing the crime.” Id. (emphasis added). Thomas

argues that Farner thus holds that one must intend to engage in the underlying

illegal sexual act to have the criminal intent required by 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). 

Thomas asserts that Farner creates tension with other circuits that have held that

the intent must be only to persuade, induce, or entice, and therefore the statute has

an unclear meaning and is void for vagueness. We reject this argument; first,

because we agree with the district court’s determination below that the language

quoted above is dicta rather than the holding of Farner, and second, because even

if it can be read to create tension with the other circuits, this does not in and of

itself render the statute void for vagueness. Pinelli, 890 F.2d at 1471.

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amendments.” Id. Similarly, the “void for vagueness doctrine requires that a

penal statute define a criminal offense with sufficient specificity that ordinary

people can understand what conduct is prohibited and in a manner that does not

encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.” Id. at 1470. The Supreme

Court “has recognized that the most important aspect of the vagueness doctrine ‘is

not the actual notice [to citizens of prohibited conduct], but the other principal

elements of the doctrine—the requirement that a legislature establish minimal

guidelines to govern law enforcement.’” Id. (quoting Smith v. Goguen , 415 U.S.

566, 574 (1974)).

Although we have not spoken on this question, Thomas points to no case in

which a court presented with an overbreadth or vagueness challenge to § 2422(b)

has deemed the statute unconstitutional. 3 See, e.g. , United States v. Dhingra , 371
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F.3d 557, 561-63 (9th Cir. 2004) (overbreadth challenge fails because statute

regulates conduct—inducement of minors for sexual activity—not speech;

vagueness argument also fails); United States v. Meek , 366 F.3d 705, 720-22 (9th

Cir. 2004) (same); Panfil , 338 F.3d at 1300-01 (statute not vague or overbroad

because its terms have plain and ordinary meanings and statute includes scienter

requirement); United States v. Bailey , 228 F.3d 637, 639 (6th Cir. 2000) (no

overbreadth or ambiguity problems because statute only applies to those who

target minors, and “the Defendant simply does not have a First Amendment right

to attempt to persuade minors to engage in illegal sexual acts”).

We agree with the reasoning of the circuits that have already considered

and upheld the constitutionality of the statute in question. Section 2422(b)

requires only that the defendant intend to entice a minor, not that the defendant

intend to commit the underlying sexual act. Contrary to Thomas’s assertions, this

interpretation does not render the statute unconstitutionally overbroad or void for

vagueness.

II. Evidence that Thomas traveled to meet cheygirl13

Thomas next argues that the court abused its discretion by admitting

Waters’ testimony that Thomas was stopped near the intersection where he

planned to meet cheygirl13. He asserts that because the district court ruled that
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the government needed only to prove intent to entice, not intent to engage in the

underlying sexual act, this evidence was admitted in violation of Fed. R. Evid.

401, because it was irrelevant, and Fed. R. Evid. 403, because it was more

prejudicial than probative. The defendant filed a motion in limine to exclude the

testimony below, but the court denied the motion, stating, “I view it as additional

evidence of a substantial step in terms of the offense charged, but, at any rate,

certainly evidence that is intertwined with the offense.” Tr. of Jury Trial, R. Vol.

5 at 107.

We review a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence for an

abuse of discretion. United States v. Hernandez-Herrera , 952 F.2d 342, 343 (10th

Cir. 1991). We will not overturn an evidentiary ruling “absent a distinct showing

that it was based on a clearly erroneous finding of fact or an erroneous conclusion

of law or manifests a clear error of judgment.” United States v. Jenkins , 313 F.3d

549, 559 (10th Cir. 2002).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Waters’

testimony about where he stopped Thomas. The evidence may not have been

required to prove that Thomas was guilty of the second count of violating

§ 2422(b), considering that he was convicted on the first count without any proof

that he traveled to meet angelgirl12yo. See infra Part III. The evidence

nonetheless helped demonstrate his intent. Thomas would not have been at the
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supposed meeting place had he not intended to entice cheygirl13 to meet him

there to engage in oral sex. See Dhingra , 371 F.3d at 565 (agent’s testimony that

defendant actually engaged in sexual activity with minor admissible to prove

enticement charge even though “evidence of sexual contact is not required under

§ 2422(b)”). Moreover, defendant has not sufficiently identified how this

testimony presented “unfair prejudice,” except to say that it permitted the jury to

focus on Thomas’s intent to actually engage in sexual activities with the girl. 

Assuming the evidence can be viewed as prejudicial, it is outweighed by its

probative value.

Finally, we reject Thomas’s argument that the evidentiary ruling was

erroneous because the judge failed to articulate his Rule 403 balancing analysis. 

Thomas acknowledges in his brief that we have consistently upheld implicit Fed.

R. Evid. 403 determinations when they are supported by the record. United States

v. Lazcano-Villalobos , 175 F.3d 838, 846-47 (10th Cir. 1999). Such is the case

here. The district court did not err in admitting this evidence.

III. Sufficiency of the evidence

Thomas next argues that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of

either count, but particularly of count one, the June 2003 chat with angelgirl12yo. 

He contends that there was no proof that he knew how old angelgirl12yo was
4The court specifically instructed the jury not to consider the evidence

pertaining to count two when determining guilt on count one. The court stated:

“A separate crime or offense is charged against the defendant in each count of the

indictment. Each offense, and the evidence pertaining to it, should be considered

separately. The fact that you may find the accused guilty or not guilty of one of

the offenses charged should not control your verdict as to any other offense.” Tr.

of Jury Trial, R. Vol. 7 at 316-17.

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because the age section of her YAHOO! profile was left blank, and he argues that

there was no evidence, as there was for the second count, that he actually

attempted to meet angelgirl12yo. 4

We review sufficiency of the evidence claims de novo. United States v.

Munro , 394 F.3d 865, 869 (10th Cir.), cert. denied , 73 U.S.L.W. 3631 (U.S.

Apr. 25, 2005) (No. 04-9423). “In doing so, we view all evidence in the light

most favorable to the prevailing party below. . . . Ultimately, we must determine

whether the evidence and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom could allow a

reasonable jury to find [Thomas] guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.

We recently set forth the four elements that must be proven to show a

violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b): (1) use of a facility of interstate commerce; (2)

to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce; (3) any individual who is

younger than 18; (4) to engage in any sexual activity for which any person can be

charged with a criminal offense, or attempting to do so. Id. Thomas was charged

with attempt in this case because he could not have actually enticed a minor

because his online chats were with an undercover police officer. Therefore, to
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prove attempt, “the government had to show that [defendant] took a ‘substantial

step’ towards the commission of the ultimate crime, and that such step was more

than mere preparation.” Id. The issue here then is whether there was sufficient

evidence that Thomas took a “substantial step” in each count towards the

commission of the crime.

The court gave the jury the following instructions regarding the terms in the

statute:

‘Entice’ is defined as beguiling by arousing hope or desire. A

synonym of entice is lure.

‘Induce’ is defined as leading or moving by persuasion or

influence. A synonym of induce is to prevail upon.

‘Persuade’ is defined as causing someone to do something by

means of entreaty, argument, or reasoning. A synonym of persuade

is convince.

Tr. of Jury Trial, R. Vol. 7 at 321. We have reviewed the evidence in this case,

particularly the transcripts of the YAHOO! messaging sessions, and conclude that

a reasonable jury had sufficient evidence to convict Thomas of both counts using

the definitions set forth above.

As to the first count, it is apparent that Thomas initiated the sexual

conversation by asking, in crude terms, to engage in oral sex moments after

angelgirl12yo confirmed that she was a 12-year-old girl living near him. After

angelgirl12yo questioned blackass_blk’s boldness and said she was unsure about

the proposal because she did not know him, Thomas insisted again that they have
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oral sex, and do it “now.” Then, Thomas immediately asked the girl where she

lived and suggested that they meet at the park, again stating that they should meet

“now.” See Munro , 394 F.3d at 869-70. Thomas took a substantial step in an

attempt to induce, entice, and persuade by writing and sending his insistent

messages.

We do not agree with Thomas’s argument that “[w]ith particular regards to

Count One, there is simply no evidence that Mr. Thomas intended to engage in

anything more than harmless banter.” Appellant’s Opening Br. at 19. Thomas

crossed the line from “harmless banter” to inducement the moment he began

making arrangements to meet angelgirl12yo, notwithstanding the lack of evidence

that he traveled to the supposed meeting place. See United States v. Bailey , 228

F.3d 637, 639-40 (6th Cir. 2000) (sufficient evidence of substantial step toward

enticing minors where defendant sent e-mails to minors proposing oral sex but did

not ever travel to meet the girls).

Moreover, sufficient evidence was presented for the jury to conclude that

Thomas believed angelgirl12yo was 12 years old. Aside from her age being in her

screen name, Special Agent Waters informed Thomas twice of her age, at one

time asking, “you sure its [sic] cool that I am 12?” Appellee’s App. at 2. Waters

also gave Thomas a physical description of angelgirl12yo as being four feet, nine

inches tall and seventy-seven pounds, the size of a typical preteen girl.
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Finally, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to find Thomas

guilty of the second count of enticement, for all of the same reasons as mentioned

above. The substantial step on this count is strengthened by the evidence of

Thomas’s venture to meet cheygirl13. We are therefore unpersuaded by Thomas’s

sufficiency of the evidence argument.

IV. Vindictive prosecution

Thomas’s final challenge to his conviction is that the United States engaged

in vindictive prosecution by adding an additional count to the indictment after a

mistrial was declared in the original trial.

We view a vindictive prosecution claim as a mixed question of law and fact

and review a district court’s resolution of the issue under the clearly erroneous

standard. United States v. Wood , 36 F.3d 945, 946 (10th Cir. 1994). A defendant

may not be penalized for exercising constitutional or statutory rights during the

course of a criminal proceeding. United States v. Raymer , 941 F.2d 1031,1040

(10th Cir. 1991).

To punish a person because he has done what the law plainly allows

him to do is a due process violation of the most basic sort, and for an

agent of the State to pursue a course of action whose objective is to

penalize a person’s reliance on his legal rights is ‘patently

unconstitutional.’ 
-19-

Bordenkircher v. Hayes , 434 U.S. 357, 363 (1978) (quoting Chaffin v.

Stynchcombe , 412 U.S. 17, 32 n.20 (1973) (citation omitted)). A defendant may

demonstrate a due process violation by showing either (1) actual vindictiveness or

(2) a realistic likelihood of vindictiveness which gives rise to a presumption of

vindictiveness. Raymer , 941 F.2d at 1040. Once the defendant has made this

showing, “the burden shifts to the prosecution to justify its charging decisions

with legitimate, articulable, objective reasons.” Wood , 36 F.3d at 946 (further

quotation omitted).

We have examined the issue of prosecutorial vindictiveness in a context

similar to Thomas’s case, where the first trial resulted in a hung jury and the

prosecution thereafter added charges to the indictment. We stated:

Generally, where, as here, a modification in a charging

decision follows a mistrial occurring for neutral reasons, such as a

hung jury, and without objection from the government, no

presumption of vindictiveness is raised because there is no reason

why the prosecutor would consider the defendant responsible for the

need for a new trial. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has refused to

adopt per se rules in the prosecutorial vindictiveness context.

Consequently, to determine whether a reasonable likelihood of

vindictiveness exists, we must look to the totality of the objective

circumstances surrounding the prosecutorial decision.

United States v. Contreras , 108 F.3d 1255, 1263 (10th Cir. 1997) (citations

omitted).

Thomas argues that a realistic likelihood of vindictiveness exists because

the prosecution had all of the evidence pertaining to the June 2003 chat before the
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first trial began and only charged him with it after he exercised his right to plead

not guilty. He further asserts that the addition of the second charge resulted in an

increase in his sentence.

Examining the totality of the circumstances, we cannot agree that there is a

realistic likelihood of vindictiveness. The mistrial in Thomas’s first case was

declared because the jury could not reach a verdict, a neutral reason, and not

because Thomas exercised a specific right.

Even if we assumed arguendo that a presumption of vindictiveness is

appropriate here, the government has justified its decisions. At a hearing on this

issue in the district court, the prosecutor told the court that he added the charge

after speaking to the jury after the first trial was over. The jury members told the

attorneys that they believed that Thomas’s first chat with angelgirl12yo was the

more egregious of the two. The prosecutor also told the court that when he

subsequently decided to add the charge, he spoke to the probation office and was

informed—erroneously, it was discovered much later—that the additional charge

would not increase Thomas’s punishment. Thomas has therefore not

demonstrated that the superseding indictment was a result of prosecutorial

vindictiveness.
-21-

B.

I. Booker claim 

United States v. Booker held that “[a]ny fact (other than a prior conviction)

which is necessary to support a sentence exceeding the maximum authorized by

the facts established by a plea of guilty or a jury verdict must be admitted by the

defendant or proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.” Booker , 125 S. Ct. at

756. District courts post- Booker are required to consult the Guidelines in

fashioning sentences, but they are not required to sentence within the Guidelines

range. United States v. Gonzalez-Huerta , 403 F.3d 727, 731 (10th Cir. 2005) (en

banc). Constitutional Booker error occurs when the district court “re[lies] on

judge-found facts . . . to enhance a defendant’s sentence mandatorily.” Id. By

contrast, non-constitutional Booker error occurs when a sentencing court applies

the Guidelines in a mandatory fashion, “even though the resulting sentence was

calculated solely upon facts that were admitted by the defendant, found by the

jury, or based upon the fact of a prior conviction.” Id. at 731-32.

Thomas asserts only non-constitutional Booker error in his case. The facts

upon which his sentencing enhancements were based—conviction on two separate

counts and use of a computer in the commission of the crime—were established
5The Verdict Form completed by the jury specifically describes Thomas’s

criminal conduct as taking place during an “Internet chat.” R. Vol. 1, doc. 86.

-22-

by the jury verdict 5 and not by judicial fact-finding. He argues that he would

have received a less harsh sentence had the district court been acting in a postBooker regime. He urges us to vacate his sentence and remand to the district

court “for a sentencing which recognizes the mere advisory role of the

Guidelines.” Appellant’s Opening Br. at 23.

The base offense level for Thomas’s offense is 21 under United States

Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual (“USSG”) §§2G1.1(c)(3) and

2A3.2(b)(2)(B). Based upon the jury’s findings that Thomas was guilty of two

separate counts and that he used a computer in the commission of the offense, the

district court assessed two, two-level increases under USSG §3D1.4 and USSG

§2A3.2(b)(3), respectively. The district court declined to assess a third two-level

increase for unduly influencing his purported victims. The defendant’s total

offense level was 25, and with a criminal history category of three, he was placed

in a sentencing range of 70 to 87 months. The court sentenced him to 70 months,

at the low end of the range, ten months more than the minimum of five years

required by 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).

The defendant objected to the two-level multiple-count upward adjustment

in the PSR, arguing that the court should treat the two offenses as part of a
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“common scheme or plan” under USSG §3D1.2(b). At the sentencing hearing, the

United States joined the defendant’s objection to the multiple-count adjustment,

which was based on the jury’s conviction of Thomas on two counts. The court

denied the objections, finding there was no evidence of a common scheme

because the offenses were separated by a substantial time period. Nonetheless,

when it imposed the sentence, the court stated:

[E]xamining the presentence report in this case, it is difficult

to find a case where circumstances could have conspired more

against the defendant for a harsh application of the guidelines in this

case. . . . [I]t seems to me if you’re trying to conceive of every harsh

effect that could occur under the guidelines in a case, they have been

applied and do, on their face, appear to apply to Mr. Thomas.

Tr. of Sentencing Hr’g, R. Vol. 9 at 22-24.

Because Thomas did not raise this argument below, we review for plain

error. Booker , 125 S. Ct. at 769 (“[W]e expect reviewing courts to apply ordinary

prudential doctrines, determining, for example, whether the issue was raised

below and whether it fails the ‘plain-error’ test.”); Gonzalez-Huerta , 403 F.3d at

732. “‘Plain error occurs when there is (1) error, (2) that is plain, which (3)

affects substantial rights, and which (4) seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or

public reputation of judicial proceedings.’” Gonzalez-Huerta , 403 F.3d at 732

(quoting United States v. Burbage , 365 F.3d 1174, 1180 (10th Cir.), cert. denied ,

125 S. Ct. 510 (2004)).
-24-

Thomas has met the first two prongs of the plain-error test: error occurred

in this case, because the district court was operating under Guidelines it thought

were mandatory, and that error was plain. See United States v. Dazey , 403 F.3d

1147, 1174-75 (10th Cir. 2005). However, because we conclude below that

Thomas cannot meet the fourth prong of plain-error review, we need not decide

whether his substantial rights were affected. See United States v. Cotton , 535

U.S. 625, 632-33 (2002); Gonzalez-Huerta , 403 F.3d at 736.

Under the fourth prong, the reviewing court may in its discretion correct an

error if the error “seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of

judicial proceedings.” United States v. Olano , 507 U.S. 725, 732 (1993) (internal

quotation marks omitted). The defendant bears the burden of showing that we

should exercise our discretion. Dazey , 403 F.3d at 1178. “Where only nonconstitutional Booker error is at issue, this standard is especially demanding. We

will not notice non-constitutional Booker error unless the defendant establishes

the error is ‘particularly egregious’ and that our failure to correct it would result

in a ‘miscarriage of justice.’” United States v. Dowlin , Nos. 03-8038 & 03-8055,

__ F.3d __, 2005 WL 1155882, at *18 (10th Cir. May 17, 2005).

We have identified several non-exclusive factors that might show that a

defendant has satisfied the fourth prong: a sentence increased substantially based

on a Booker error, a showing that the district court would likely impose a
6We have noted that this factor is ordinarily not present for consideration

when a defendant raises a non-constitutional Booker error. United States v.

Clifton, No. 04-2046, __ F.3d __, 2005 WL 941581, at *6 (10th Cir. Apr. 25,

2005). In this case, however, this factor is useful because we are able to compare

the sentence Thomas received under the mandatory Guidelines, or, as Thomas

argues, as a result of non-constitutional Booker error, and the minimum sentence

he would in any event have received based on the mandates of the statute.

-25-

significantly lighter sentence on remand, a substantial lack of evidence to support

the sentence the Guidelines required the district court to impose, and/or a showing

that objective consideration of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors warrants a

departure from the sentence suggested by the Guidelines. Dowlin , 2005 WL

1155882, at *18 (citations omitted).

This case is a closer call than many. However, considering that we must

find a “particularly egregious” error in a case of non-constitutional Booker error,

this case does not warrant a remand. First, Thomas’s sentence was not increased

substantially based on the mandatory application of the Guidelines. Under

§ 2422(b), the mandatory minimum sentence is 60 months, and he was sentenced

to just ten months more than the minimum. 6 Cf. Dazey , 403 F.3d at 1178-79

(mandatory enhancement based on a judicial finding increased defendant’s

offense level by twenty levels, a consideration that helped show satisfaction of

fourth prong). Second, we are not convinced the judge would impose a lighter

sentence on remand. Although the district court mentioned the “harsh” effect of

the Guidelines in this case, it further noted: “The court’s [greater] concern . . .
-26-

[is] that we are all familiar with [18 U.S.C. § 2422(b)] and its influence upon any

departure on the part of the court.” Tr. of Sentencing Hr’g, R. Vol. 9 at 24. The

judge thus appears to feel bound more by the minimum sentence in the statute,

which was unaffected by Booker , than by the application of the Guidelines. 

Third, as previously discussed, sufficient evidence supported conviction on both

counts in this case; therefore, the sentence was supported by substantial evidence. 

Finally, there is evidence in the record that the district court considered the

history and characteristics of the defendant at sentencing, see 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a)(1), including that the crime may have resulted from Thomas’s boredom

with life or “feeling that he was a victim of a system that made him care for the

children while his wife was . . . away on [military] assignments.” Tr. of

Sentencing Hr’g, R. Vol. 9 at 27. Despite this, the court still sentenced Thomas

to seventy months, which indicates that further objective consideration of the

§ 3553(a) factors would not warrant a departure. In sum, Thomas has not

demonstrated that this is the “particularly egregious” case in which we should

exercise our discretion to correct the Booker error.

CONCLUSION 

For all of the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM Thomas’s conviction and

sentence.