# U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t o f A pp e a l s

For the Eig hth Circu it

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

No . 1 8 -3 0 00

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Un i t ed St at es o f Am eri ca,

l l ll l l l l l l l l l l ll l l l l l Pl a i nt i

f f - Ap p el lee

,

v

.

Sam o ry Azi k i we M o n ds

,

l l ll l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Def

en d a n t - Ap pel l an t

.

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Ap p eal fro m

Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct Co u rt

fo r t he So ut hern Di s t ri ct o f Io w a - Des M o i n es

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Su b m i t t ed : Sep tem

ber 2 7, 2 0 19

Fi l ed : Decem

b er 2 0 , 2 0 1 9

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Befo re LOKEN, COLLOTON, an d KOBES, Ci rcu i t J u d g es

.

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

COLLOTON, Ci rcu i t J u d g e.

A ju ry co n v i ct ed Sam ory M o n d s o f p o s s es s io n wi th i n t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e co cai n e

an d co cai n e bas e. S

ee 2 1 U.S.C. § 8 4 1 (a)(1 ), (b )(1 )(C). Th e d i s tri ct co u rt 1 s en t en ced

h i m t o 2 6 2 m o n t h s ’ i m

p ri s on m en t

. On ap p eal

, M o n ds ch al l en g es t h e ad m i s s i o n o f

1 Th e Ho n o rab l e J am es E. Gri t zn er, Un i ted St at es D i s t ri ct J u d g e fo r t h e

So u t hern Di st ri ct o f Io wa.ev i d en ce t h at h e had s us t ai n ed t h re e p ri o r fel o n y d ru g co n vi ct io n s, an d t h e

p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t es t i m o n y ad v ert i n g t o t h e fact t hat M o nd s w as u n d er co u rt

s u p erv i s i o n at t h e t i m e o f h is arres t

. M o n d s al s o d i s p ut es t he di s t ri ct co urt ’ s

cal cu l at io n o f t h e ad v i s o ry g u i d el i n e ran g e at s en t en ci n g

. W e co n cl u de th at t h ere was

n o rev ers i b l e erro r, an d t h erefo re affi rm t h e ju d g m en t.

I.

In Au g u s t 20 1 7

, M on d s was s erv i n g t erm s o f fed eral s u p e rv i s ed rel eas e an d

s t at e p ro b at i on

. He h ad vi o l at ed co n d i t i o n s o f s u p erv i s ed rel eas e, an d p o l i ce o ffi cers

arri v ed at h i s h o m e o n A u gu s t 3 0 t o arres t h i m fo r t h e v i o l at io n. As o ffi cers arres t ed

M o n d s at h i s fro n t d oo r, a m an n am ed To m m y J oh n s o n ap p ro ach ed t h e h o u s e, b u t

t u rn ed t o fl ee wh en h e s aw t h e p o l i ce. O f f i c e r s c au g h t J o hn s on an d fo u nd t h at h e

p o s s es s ed s ev eral b ag gi es of h ero i n an d a p i pe fo r s m o k i n g c r ack co cai n e. Po l i ce

t h en o bt ai n ed a search warran t fo r M o n d s ’ s res id en ce, an d t h e y s ei zed co cai n e an d

p arap h ern al i a u s ed i n d i s t ri bu t i n g d ru g s

.

A g ran d ju ry ch arg ed M on d s wi t h p o ss es s i o n wi th i nt en t t o d i s t ri b u t e co cai n e

an d co cai n e b as e. Befo re t ri al

, t h e g o v ern m en t fi l ed a n o ti ce u n d er Fed eral Ru l e o f

Ev i d en ce 4 0 4 (b ) t o p res en t ev i d en ce o f t h ree pri o r co n v i ct i o n s : (1 ) an Au g u s t 2 0 1 7

co n vi ct i o n fo r po s ses s i on o f m ari j u an a wi t h i n t en t t o d el iv er; (2 ) a M ay 2 0 1 4

co n vi ct i o n fo r co n s p i racy t o d i s t ri b u t e co cai n e b as e; an d (3 ) an Ap ri l 2 0 1 1 co n v i ct i o n

fo r p o s s es s i o n o f a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce w i t h i n t en t t o del i v er. Th e m o t i o n as s ert ed

t h at t h e co n vi ct i o n s w ere rel ev an t t o p ro ve M o n d s ’ s “ m o t i v e

, o p p o r t u n i t y

, i n t en t

,

p rep arat i o n

, pl an

, k n owl ed g e, an d ab s en ce o f m i s t ak e.” M o n d s m o v ed t o ex cl u d e t h e

p r i o r co n v i ct i o n s

. He al s o s ou g h t t o k eep ou t ev id en ce th at he was o n s up erv i s e d

rel eas e an d p ro b at i o n at t he t i m e o f h i s arres t

.

Aft er a h eari n g

, t h e d is t ri ct co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e p ri or co n v ict i on s wo u l d b e

recei v ed i n ev i d en ce. In l i g h t o f o u r d eci s i o n i n Un i t ed S t a t es v. W r i g h t

, 86 6 F.3 d

-2

-8 9 9 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 7 ), wh i ch rei t erat e d t h a t “ a p ri o r co n vi ct i o n fo r di st ri bu t i n g d ru g s

. . . [i s ] rel ev an t un d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) t o s h o w k n owl ed g e an d i n ten t to co m m it a cu rren t

ch arg e of co n s p i racy t o d i st ri b u t e d ru g s,” i d

. at 90 5 (i n tern al q u ot at i o n m ark s

o m it t ed ), t h e co u rt d et erm in ed t h at “ u n d er th e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h i s cas e,” i t was

“ co m p el l ed t o ru l e t h at t h e y a re ad m i s s i b l e.” Th e co u rt al s o ru l ed t h at wi t n es s es

wo u l d b e p erm i t t ed t o m ak e l i m i t e d r e f e r e n ce t o th e fact t hat o ffi cers ap peared at

M o n ds ’ s res id en ce t o arres t h i m fo r v i o l at i n g t erm s o f s u p erv i s ed rel eas e.

At t ri al

, t h e co u rt ad m i t t ed ev i den ce o f t h e t h ree co n v i ct io ns

, an d i ns t ru ct ed t h e

j u ry t h at i t co u l d co n s i d er t h e ev i d en ce o n l y t o hel p d eci de “ m o t iv e, i n t en t

,

k n o wl ed g e, o r ab se n c e o f m i s t ak e o r acci d en t .” T h e ju ry was ad m o n i sh ed t h at i t

co u ld n o t co nv i ct M o n d s s i m p l y b ecau s e h e m ay h av e co m m it t ed s i m i l ar act s i n t h e

p a s t

. W h en wi t n es s es t es t i fi ed t h at M o nd s was u n d er co urt s u p erv i s i on at t h e t i m e

o f t h e i n v es t i g at i o n

, t h e co u rt g av e a cau t io n ary i n s t ru ct i o n ab o u t t h e l i m it ed p u rp o s e

o f t h e ev i d en ce.

II.

A.

M o n d s arg u es fi rs t t h at th e d i s t ri ct co urt ab u sed i t s d i s cret i o n b y ad m i t t i n g t h e

p ri o r co n v i ct i o n s

. Ru l e 4 04 (b ) i s a “ ru l e of i n cl u s i o n

, ” Un i t e d S t a t es v. Ri ep e

, 8 5 8

F. 3 d 5 5 2

, 5 6 0 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 7 ), t h at p erm i t s ev i d en ce o f p ri o r cri m es t o s h o w a

d efen d an t ’ s “ m o t i v e, o pp o rt u n i t y

, i n t en t

, p rep arat io n

, p lan

, k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y

,

ab s en ce o f m i s tak e, o r l ack of acci d en t .” Fed

. R. Ev i d

. 4 0 4 (b )(2 ). Th e ev i d en ce m u s t

b e (1 ) rel ev an t t o a m a t e r i a l is s u e rai s ed at t ri al

, (2 ) s i m i l ar i n k in d an d n o t o v erl y

rem o t e i n t im e t o t h e cri m e ch arg ed

, (3 ) s u p p o rt ed b y s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt

a j u ry fi n d i n g t h at t h e d efen d an t co m m i t t ed th e o t her act

, an d (4 ) o f p ro bat i v e v al u e

n o t s u b s t an t i al l y o u t wei g hed b y i t s p reju d i ci al effect

. S ee Un i t ed S t a t es v. LeBea u

,

8 6 7 F.3 d 9 6 0

, 9 7 8 -7 9 (8 th Ci r. 2 0 1 7 ); Un it ed S t a t es v. Ga n t

, 7 2 1 F.3 d 5 0 5

, 5 0 9 (8 th

-3

-Ci r. 2 0 1 3 ). Ev i d en ce i s n ot ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ) i f i t i s i n t ro d u ced s o l el y to

s h o w a defen d an t ’ s p ro p en s i ty t o en g ag e i n cri m i n al m i s co n d u ct

. Un i t ed S t a t es v.

W a l ker

, 4 2 8 F.3 d 1 1 6 5 , 1 16 9 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 5 ).

M o n d s co n t en d s th at t h ere w as n o m ean i n g fu l s i m i l a r i t y b et ween hi s p ri o r

co n vi ct i o n s an d t he ch arg e i n t h i s cas e. Ci t i n g d i ct a fro m U n i t e d S t a t es v. Tu r n er

,

7 8 1 F.3 d 3 7 4 (8 t h Ci r. 2 01 5), M o n d s co m p l ai n s th at t h e g o v ern m en t fai l ed t o p ro v i d e

a sp eci fi c n o n-p ro pen s i t y p urp os e fo r o fferi n g ev i d en ce o f t h e p ri o r co n v ict i o n s

. W e

ex p la i n ed i n Un i t ed S ta t es v. Ha r r y

, 93 0 F.3 d 1 0 0 0 (8 th Ci r. 2 0 1 9 ), h o wev er, t h at

“ Tu r n er is i n ap p o s i t e wh ere a d efen d an t p l aces h i s k n o wl ed g e an d i n t en t at i s s u e

d u ri n g t ri al .” Id

. at 1 0 06

. M o n d s p l aced b o th el em en t s at i s s u e

, b y m e a n s of a

g en eral den i al

, i d

. (q u o t i ng Un i t ed S t a t es v. Th o ma s

, 5 8 F.3 d 1 3 1 8, 1 3 2 2 (8 t h Ci r.

1 9 9 5 )), an d b y s u g g es ti n g s peci fi cal l y t h at t h e dru g s m ay h av e b el on g ed t o J o h n so n

an d t h at an y

d ru g s t h at h e p o s s es s ed were fo r p ers o n al u s e.

Th e co n cern i n T

u r n er

, m o reo v er, w as wh et h er t h e g ov ern m en t fai l ed to

ex p lai n wh a t i nt en t o r kn o wl ed g e t h e ev i den ce wo u l d t en d t o s h o w, o r h o w t h e p ri o r

cri m es were rel ev an t t o t h e offen s e ch arg ed

. 78 1 F.3 d at 39 0

. Fai l u re t o el ab o rat e in

t h i s way

, wh i l e d i s co u rag ed b y t h i s co u rt

, i s “ n o t i n i t s el f a b as i s fo r rev ers al .” Un i t ed

S t a t es v. Mo t h er

s h ed

, 8 5 9 F.2 d 5 8 5

, 5 8 9 (8 t h Ci r. 19 8 8 ); s ee Un i t ed S t a t es v.

Jo h ns o n

, 439 F.3d 947, 953-54 (8th Cir. 2006)

. Here, m o reo ver, t h e go v ern m en t d id

m o re t h an “ s im

p l y read t he l i s t o f is s ues fo r wh i ch p ri o r b ad a c t s can b e ad m i t t ed

u n d er Ru l e 4 0 4 (b ).” Mo t h er s h ed , 8 5 9 F.2 d at 5 8 9

.

Th e g o v ern m en t was req u i red t o p ro v e t h at M on d s k n ew t h at t h e su b s t an ce

fo u n d o n h i s d i n i n g ro om t ab l e was co c a i n e o r co cai n e bas e, as o p p o s ed t o an

i n n o cen t i t em

, an d t h e p ro s ec u t i o n ex p l ai n ed t h at a p ri o r co n v i ct i o n fo r co n s p i ri n g

t o d i s t ri b u t e co cai n e bas e was rel ev an t t o hi s k n o wl ed g e. Th e go v ern m en t al s o b o re

t h e b u rd en t o p ro v e t h at M o n d s i n t e n d e d t o d i s tri b ut e t he d ru g s i n h i s p o s s es s i o n,

rat h er t h an h o l d th em fo r p ers o n al u s e; th e ju ry was g i v en t h e o p ti o n to co ns i d er t h e

-4

-l es s er-i n cl ud ed o ffen s e o f s i m p l e p o s s es s i o n

. Th at M on d s was c o n v i c t ed t h ri ce

b efo re o n ch arg es in v o l v i n g t h e d i s t ri b u t i o n o f dru g s

, t h e p ro s ecu ti o n ex p lai n ed

, was

rel ev an t to wh et h er h e i n t en d ed t o d i st ri b ut e t h e d ru gs fo u n d i n h i s res i d en ce. E.g

. ,

Un i ted S ta t es v. Pa ti n o

, 9 1 2 F.3 d 4 7 3

, 4 7 6 ( 8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 9). Th e p ro p o s ed u s es o f

p ri o r co nv i ct i on s t o p ro v e “ m o t i v e” an d “ ab s e n c e o f m i s t ak e” were n o t wel l

ex p lai n ed

, an d m i g h t p ru den t l y h av e b een o m i t ted

, b ut were co n s i s t en t wi t h ci rcu i t

p reced en t

. E.g

. , W

ri g ht

, 8 6 6 F.3 d at 90 5 ; Un i t ed S t a t es v. El l i s

, 8 1 7 F

. 3 d 5 7 0

, 5 7 9

(8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 6 ); U

n it ed S t a t es v. McGi l b er r y

, 6 20 F.3 d 8 8 0

, 8 8 6 -8 7 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 0 );

Un i ted S ta t es v. S

h o f f n er

, 71 F.3 d 1 4 2 9, 14 3 2 (8 t h Ci r

. 1 9 9 5 )

. W here t h e d i s t ri ct

co u rt i s s a t i s fi ed b y t h e g o vern m en t ’ s ex p l an at i o n fo r ad m i s s i b i li t y u n der Ru l e

4 0 4 (b ), t h e co u rt n o t n eed rep eat o r au g m en t t h e an al y s i s.

M o n d s o b j ect s i n p art i cu l ar to ad m is s i o n o f th e 2 0 1 1 co n v i ct i o n b ecau s e i t was

b as ed o n co n d u ct o ccu rri n g al m o s t t en y ears b efo re t h e a l l eg ed o ffen s e co n d u ct in

t h i s cas e. Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt al l o wed t h at i f t h i s c o n v i c t i o n were o ffered “ b y i t s el f,

t h at m i g h t b e a cl o s er cal l

, ” b u t reas o n ed t h at wh ere t h e t w o m o re recen t co n v i ct i on s

were “ m o re s i g n ifi can t an y way ,” ad m i s s i o n of t h e t h i rd co n vi ct i o n d id n o t o ccas i o n

“ an y p art i cu l arl y ad d i t i o n al p reju d i ce.” Th i s was a perm i ss i b l e ex erci s e o f d i s cret i o n.

Th e o l der co n v i ct i on w a s w i t h i n t h e ran g e o f rel ev an ce, e.g

. , Un i t ed S t a t es v.

Jo h ns o n

, 8 6 0 F.3 d 1 1 3 3

, 1 1 4 2 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 7 ), an d i n co n s i d eri n g p reju d i ci al effect

,

t h e co u rt was en t i t l ed t o co n s id er t h e i n crem en t al effect o f t h e ev i d en ce i n l i g h t o f t h e

reco rd as a wh o le.

M o n d s al s o co m

p l ai n s th at t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt fai l ed t o co n du ct a n a d e q u at e

b al an ci n g o f t h e p ro b at iv e v al ue an d p reju d i ci al effect o f t h e ev i d en ce. Th e arg u m en t

s eem s t o b e t h at b ecau s e t h e g o v ern m e n t a d m i t t ed o n l y t h e ju dg m en t s o f p ri o r

co n vi ct i o n s

, w i t ho u t g reat er d et ai l ab o u t th e cri m es

, t h e p ro b at i ve v al ue was to o s m al l

t o ju s t i fy ad m i s s i o n

. Of co u rs e, i f th e g o v ern m en t h ad pres en t ed d et ai l s o f Mo n d s ’ s

p ri o r d ru g t raffi ck i n g

, t h en t h at ev i d en ce w o u l d h av e ri sk ed g reat er p reju d i ci al effect

.

W e co n cl u de t h at t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o l i m i t t he ev i d en ce an d t o p ro v i de a

-5

-cau t i on ary i n s tru ct i on ju s t ifi ed i t s co n cl us i o n t h at t h e pro b at i v e val u e o f t h e ev i d en ce

o n i s s u e s s u ch as k n o wl ed g e an d in t en t w as no t s u b s t an t i al ly o u t wei g h ed b y i t s

p reju d i ci al effect

.

B.

M o n d s n ex t arg u es th at t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n b y al l o wi n g

referen ces t o t h e fact t h at h e was s erv i n g t erm s o f s u perv i sed rel eas e an d p ro b at i o n

at t h e t i m e o f h is arres t

. A p o l i ce o ffi ce r t es t i fi ed t hat he was as s i g n ed t o arres t

M o n ds wh i l e h e was o n “ s t at e an d fed e r a l p ro b at i o n .” Two p ro b at i o n o ffi cers

t es t i fi ed t h at t h ey su p erv i s ed M o n d s o n fed eral s u p erv i s ed rele a se a nd sta te pr obat i o n,

r e s p e c t i v e l y

, an d th at h e rep o rt ed l i v i n g al o ne at t h e ad d res s w h ere p o l i ce arres t e d

h i m an d fo u n d d ru g s

. Each t i m e, th e d i s t ri c t co u rt cau t i o n ed t h e ju ry t h at t h e

ev i d en ce ab o u t co u rt su p erv is i on was o ffered “ so l el y t o ex p l ai n wh y t he p ers o n s were

cal l ed t o t h e res i d en ce at i s s u e,” wh o l i v ed at t h e res i den ce, o r h o w t h e wi tn es s was

fam i l i ar wi t h t h e l i v i n g s i tu at i o n

.

M o n d s as s ert s t h at t h e di s t ri ct co u rt ab u s ed i t s d is cret i o n b y fai l i n g to ex cl u d e

t h e ev i d en ce u nd er Ru le 4 0 3 o n t h e g ro u n d t h at i t s p ro b at i v e v al ue was su b s t an t i al l y

o u t wei gh ed by a d an ger o f u nfai r p reju d i ce. H e as sert s t h at b ecau se he was wi l l i n g

t o s t i p u lat e t hat h e l i v ed at t h e res i d en ce, th e t es t i m o n y ad ded n o p ro b at i v e v al u e b ut

creat ed a ri s k th at t h e ju ry u n fai rl y wo u l d co n v i ct h im o f t he ch arg ed o ffen s e b as ed

o n h i s p ri o r t ran s g res s i o n s.

M o n d s u n d ers t at es t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e d i s p u t ed ev i d en ce. Tes t i m o ny

fro m th e p ro bat i o n o ffi cers t en d ed t o es t ab l i s h n o t o n l y t h at M on d s l iv ed at t h e

res i den ce, b u t t h at h e l i v ed t h ere a lo n e

. Th i s fact h el p ed t o p ro v e t h at M o n d s

, n o t t h e

v i s i t i n g J o h n s o n

, p o ss es s ed t h e d ru g s t hat w ere fo u n d wi t h i n t h e res i d en ce. Th e

t es t i m o ny of t he p o l i ce o ffi cer t h at h e was p res en t t o arres t M o n d s fo r vi o l at i n g

co n di t i o n s o f rel eas e w as ad m i s s i b l e t o ex p l ai n th e ci rcu m st an ces s u rro u n d i n g t h e

-6

-ev en t. S

ee Un i t e d S t a tes v. Or o z co -Ro d r i g uez

, 2 2 0 F.3 d 9 4 0

, 9 4 2 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 0 );

Un i ted S t a t es v. E

d wa rd s

, 15 9 F.3 d 1 1 1 7

, 1 1 2 9 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 8 ). Th e co u rt p ro p erl y

cau t i on ed t h e ju ry t o co n s id er i t o n l y fo r t h at p u rp o s e, an d t h e j u ry al read y was aware

t h at M o nd s h ad su s t ai n ed pri or co nv i ct io n s

. T he d i s t ri ct co urt t h u s d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n u n d er Ru l e 4 0 3

.

III.

M o n d s al s o rai ses a cl ai m o f p ro ced u ral erro r at s en ten ci n g

. He arg ues t h at t h e

d i s t ri ct co u rt erro neo u s l y cal cu l at ed t he ad v is ory

g u i d el i ne ran g e b y

d en y i n g h i m a

t wo -l ev el red u ct i o n fo r accep t an ce o f res p o n si b i l i t y u n der USSG § 3E1 .1

. W e rev i ew

t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at io n fo r cl ear erro r. Un i ted S ta tes v. P er r y

, 6 4 0 F.3 d 8 0 5,

8 1 3 (8 th Ci r. 2 0 11 ).

A d efen dan t i s en t i t l ed t o a t wo -l ev el d ecreas e i f h e “ cl earl y d em o ns t rat es ” an

accep t an ce o f res po n s i b i l it y

. USSG § 3 E1 .1 (a). Th is ad ju s t m en t g en eral ly “ i s n ot

i n t en d ed t o ap pl y t o a d efen d a n t w h o p u t s th e go v ern m en t to it s b urd en o f p ro o f at

t ri al b y d en y i n g t h e es s en t ial fact u a l e l em en t s o f g u i l t .” USSG § 3 E1 .1

, co m m en t

. (n .2 ). In “ rare s i t u at i on s

, ” h o wev er, a d efen d an t wh o i s co nv i ct ed aft er tri al m ay earn

t h e ad ju st m en t

, su ch as wh en t h e d efen d an t “ g o es to t ri al t o as s ert an d p res erv e i s s u es

t h at d o no t rel at e t o fact u al g u i l t .” Id

. ; s ee Per r y

, 6 4 0 F.3 d at 8 1 4

. Gi v en t h at M o nd s

m ai n t ai n ed at t ri al t h at h e was n o t g u i l t y as a fact ual m at t e r

, t h e d i s tri ct co u rt ru l ed

t h at i t was “ co m

p el l ed t o fi n d th at h e i s n o t en t i t l ed ” t o t h e t wo -l ev el red uct i o n

.

M o n d s arg u es t h at h e a c c ep t ed res p o n s i b i l i t y b y s ub m i t t i n g t o a p ro ffer

i n t erv i ew b efo re t ri al an d p ro v i d i n g d et ai l s ab o u t t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e. As i t t u rn ed

o u t

, h o wev er, t h e p art i es d i d n o t reach a p l ea ag reem en t o r ot her p ret ri al res o l u t i o n.

Th e cas e p ro ceed ed t o t ri al

, an d M o n ds d en ied fact u al g u i l t

. Th at h e refrai n ed fro m

o b s t ru ct i ng ju s t i ce b y t es t i fy i n g fal s el y d o es n o t m ean th at h i s d efen s e was u n rel at ed

t o fact ual g u i l t wi t h i n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e g u i d el i n e co m m en tary

. Th i s was n o t o n e

-7

-o f t h e rare si t uat i o n s i n wh i ch a d efen d an t m ay recei ve an ad ju s t m en t fo r accep t an ce

o f res p o ns i b i l i t y d es p i t e p ut t i n g t h e g o v ern m en t t o it s b u rd en o f p ro o f at tri al

. M o nd s

co m p l ai n s t h at t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt fai l ed t o ex erci s e i ts d i s cret i on wh en i t d ecl ared t h at

i t was “ co m

p el led ” t o d en y th e ad

ju s t m en t

. Bu t t h e co u rt ’ s s t at em en t s i m p l y

reco g n ized t h e l aw: Un d er t h e g u i d el i n es

, a d efen dan t wh o p ro ceed s to t ri a l a n d

p res en t s a d efen s e t h at d en ies fact u al g u i l t d o es n o t cl earl y d em o ns t rat e accep t an ce

o f res po n s i b i l i ty

.

* * *

Th e ju d g m en t o f t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt i s affi rm ed

.

__ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _

-8

-