# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _
No. 1 5- 32 41

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _
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.

Ch arl es Kenn et h M ul ve rh il l

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 Weste rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur i - Sp rin gf ie ld

__ __ __ __ __ __
Su bm it te d: Ju ne 17 , 20 16 Fil ed : Au gu st 16 , 20 16

__ __ __ __ __ __
Befo re SM ITH, GRUENDE R, an d B ENTON, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

SMI TH, Circ ui t J ud ge

.

Ch arl es Mu lv erh il l pl ead ed gu il ty to on e co un t of fai lu re to reg is te r as a se x of fen de r, in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. § 22 50 (a) an d wa s se nt en ced to 57 m on th s'
im pr is on m en t. On ap pe al
, Mu l v e r hi ll arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t pl ai nl y erre d in 1

M u lv erh il l co nc ed es th at he fai le d to ob ject in th e di st ric t co ur t to t h e 1
pu rp or te d e rro rs th at he no w rai se s.(1 ) acce pt in g hi s gu il ty pl ea ba se d on an erro ne ou s cl as si fic at io n of hi m as a Tier III

se x of fe nde r und er th e Sex Offen de r Reg is tra ti on an d Not ifi cat io n Act (SORNA), an d (2 ) cal cu la ti ng hi s to ta l of fen se le ve l ba se d on an in ad ve rte nt erro r in th e pr es en te nc e in ve st ig at io n rep or t (PSR). W e affi rm th e di st ric t cou rt' s accep ta nc e of Mu lv erh il l's

gu il ty pl ea. Howev er, w e va cat e Mu lv erh il l's se nt en ce and rem an d for rese nt en ci ng ba se d on ou r co nc lu si on th at Mu lv erh il l was "s en t e n ced un de r an in co rrec t Gui de li ne s r a n g e" du e to th e PSR erro r an d th at su ch erro r is "s uf fic ie nt to sh ow a

reas on ab le pro ba bi li ty of a d iff eren t o ut co m e ab se nt th e erro r." Mol in a- Mar ti ne z v. Uni te d S ta te s , 13 6 S . Ct. 1 33 8, 1 34 5 (2 01 6)

.

I. Bac kg ro un d
On Decem

be r 26 , 19 89 , Mu lv erh il l was co nv ic te d o f two co un ts of lewd an d
la s c i v i o u s a c t s wit h a ch il d un de r 14 y ears ol d, in vi ol at io n of § 28 8( a) of th e Cal ifo rn ia Pen al Co de
, an d se nt en ced to 27 2 da y s in cu st od y an d 6 y ears of pr ob at io n. On Mar ch 14
, 19 90
, Mu lv erh il l reg is te red as a se x of fen de r up on hi s rel eas e fro m jail
in Cal ifo rn ia

. On May 14
, 20 01
, he m ov ed to Ariz on a an d co nt in ua ll y m ai nt ai ne d hi s
reg is tra ti on st at us un ti l Sep te m be r 4, 20 12

. In Ju ne 20 14
, Mu lv erh il l m ov ed to Sp rin gf ie ld , Mis so ur i, b ut he ne ve r reg is te red as a sex off en de r in Mi ss ou ri.

On Apr il 2, 20 15
, Mu lv erh il l was ch arg ed wit h f a i l u r e to reg is te r as a se x of fen de r "[b ]etween Ju ne 19
, 20 14
, an d Ja nu ary 30
, 20 15 ," in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. § 2 2 5 0 ( a )

. The in di ct m en t pr ov id ed no ti ce to Mu lv erh il l th at up on co nv ic ti on he

wou ld rece iv e no mo r e t h a n te n y ears in pr is on

. Mu lv erh il l su bs eq ue nt ly pl ead ed

gu il ty to th e c h arg e. Dur in g th e ch an ge -o f-p le a he ari ng , th e di st ric t co ur t ad vi se d
Mu lv erh il l t ha t " [t]he au th or iz ed pu ni sh m en t fo r th [e] offe ns e as est ab li sh ed by the
Co ng res s i s n ot m or e th an ten y ears ' im pr is on m en t," an d M ul ve rh il l co nf irmed th at he was "awa re th at 's th e au th o r i z e d pu ni sh m en t fo r th e of fen se ." The di st ric t co ur t al so as ke d th e g o v e rn m en t to "re ci te th e ev id en ce th at th e go ve rn m en t th in ks [it ]

co ul d pr es en t if [Mu lv erh il l] ch os e to go to tri al " an d ad vi se d M u lv erh il l to "l is te n

care fu ll y " to th e ev id en ce. Th e go ve rn m en t st at ed th at , as a res ul t of hi s pr io r

-2

-Ca li fo rn ia se x- of fen se co nv ic ti on , Mu lv erh il l was req ui red to regist er unde r SO RN A ; bu t, as of Ja nu ary 29
, 20 15
, ne it he r th e Green e Co un ty, Mi ss ou ri Sh eri ff's Offi ce no r th e Mi ss ou ri St at e Hig hw a y Pat ro l ha d an y reco rd of Mu lv erh il l ev er ha vi ng
reg is te red as a se x of

fen de r. The go ve rn m en t fu rth er st at ed th at "[u ]pon hi s arre st in

t hi s cas e, Mr. Mu lv erh il l ad m it te d to la w en fo rcem en t of fic ers th at he ha d h a d a
qu al ifyin g co nv ic ti on in hi s ba ck gr ou nd
, ack no wled ge d hi s ob li ga ti on to reg is te r an d
th at he ha d li ve d in Mi ss ou ri si nc e at le as t Mar ch of 20 14 bu t ha d fa il ed to reg is te r

as req ui red ." Afte r th e go ve rn m en t co m pl et ed it s reci ta ti on of th e fact ua l ba si s fo r th e pl ea, Mu lv erh il l co nf

irmed to th e di st ric t co ur t th at no th in g sa id was "i na ccu rat e" an d
th at he was g ui lt y

of t he de sc rib ed co nd uc t.

Fo ll owi ng th e en try of Mu lv erh i l l ' s gu il ty pl ea, th e di st ric t co ur t or de red th e
pr ep arat io n o f th e PSR . The PS R rec om m en de d a ba se off en se lev el of 1 6 p ur su an t

to U.S.S.G. § 2A3 .5(a )(1 ) be cau se th e of fen se in vo lv ed "fa il ur e to reg is te r as a [Tie r III] se x of

fen de r." (Alt e r a ti on in or ig in al .) The PSR reco m m en de d an ei gh t-l ev el

en ha nc em en t un de r U.S.S.G. § 2A3 .5(b )(1 )(C) fo r co m m it ti ng a se x of

fen se ag ai ns t

a mi no r (S.L.M) whi le in a fai lu re-t o- reg is te r st at us

. The PSR ad di ti on a l l y

reco m m en de d th at Mu lv erh il l rece iv e a th ree- le ve l red uc ti on fo r acce pt an ce of

res po ns ib il it y un de r U.S.S.G. § 3E1 .1(a ) an d (b ), res ul ti ng in a to ta l of fen se le ve l of
21

. Mu lv erh il l di d no t ha ve an y cri m in al hi st or y po in ts , res ul ti ng in a cri m in al hi st or y
cat eg or y of I. The PSR, ho wev er, mi s t a k en ly st at ed la te r in th e do cu m en t th at
Mu lv erh il l's "t ot al of

fen se l e v e l " was "2 3" an d th at ba se d on th at of fen se le ve l an d

a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of I, hi s Gui de li ne s r a n g e w a s 46 to 57 m on th s'
i mpri so nm en t. Mu lv erh il l di d no t ob ject to th is po rti on of th e PSR p r i o r t o

se nt en ci ng

.

At se nt en ci ng , th e di st ric t co ur t st at ed
, "Th e [PSR ] co nc lu de s an of fen se le ve l
of 23 an d a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of on e." Mu lv erh il l ob jecte d on ly to th e PSR's

reco m m en de d ei gh t-l ev el en ha nc em en t fo r co m m it ti ng a se x of

fen se ag ai ns t a m in or

. The go ve rn m en t th en pu t on ev id en ce in su pp or t of th e en ha nc em en t. Dep ut y Uni te d

-3

-St at es Mar sh al A n t h o n y Cab le te st ifi ed th at a fla sh dr iv e co nt ai ne d te xt m es sa ge s

be twee n S.L.M., a 14 -y ear- ol d gi rl, an d Mu lv erh il l. Sev eral te xt m es sa ge s fro m S.L.M. st at ed th at sh e wan te d to ha ve se x wit h Mu lv erh il l. In res po ns e to on e of he r
te xt s, Mu lv erh il l wro te , "I kn ow, lu h [s ic ] y ou ." In ot he r m es sa ge s, S.L.M. ex pr es se d
he r ho pe th at sh e was no t pr eg na nt , an d Mu lv erh il l rep li ed th at he al so ho pe d th at sh e

was no t pr eg na nt

. Mu lv erh il l di rect ed S.L.M. to eras e al l of he r e-m ai ls

. Dep ut y Cab le
al so rev ie wed ph ot og rap hs of S.L.M. on Mu lv erh il l's cel l ph on e, whi ch sh owe d
S.L.M. cl ot he d an d sl eep in g on a be d. Dep ut y Cab le te st ifi ed th at a rep or t fr om th e Mi ss ou ri Dep art m en t of So ci al Serv ic es , Ch il dr en 's Div is io n, co nt ai ne d an in te rv ie w of Mu lv erh il l i n w h i c h he sa id th at S.L.M. so m et im es sl ep t in hi s be d an d th at he
kn ew it was in ap pr op ria te

. Dep ut y Cab le read ex cerp ts fro m S

. L. M .'s st at em en t in
whi ch sh e de sc rib ed ho w Mu lv erh il l ha d in te rco ur se wit h he r an d se xu al ly ab us ed he r in ot he r way s.

At th e co nc lu si on of th e ev id en ce, th e di st ric t co ur t ov e r ru le d Mu lv erh il l's
ob jecti on to th e ei gh t-l ev el en ha nc em en t. The co ur t co nc lu de d th at th e to ta l of fen se le ve l was 23
, ap pl ie d a cri mi na l hi st or y cat eg or y of I, an d cal cu la te d an ad vi so ry Gui de li ne s ran ge of 46 to 57 m on th s. Mu lv erh il l di d no t ob ject to t h i s c a l c u l at io n. The go ve rn m en t arg ue d th at th e se nt en ce sh ou ld be at le as t 57 m on th s' im pr is on m en t

an d st at ed th at an up ward va ria nc e wou ld be ap pr op ria te

. Mu lv erh il l as ke d th e co ur t

to gr an t a do wnwar d va ria nc e fro m th e Gui de li ne s ran ge or , al te rn at iv e l y, f o r a

se nt en ce o n t he lo w end of t he Gui de li ne s ra ng e.

In ren de rin g M ul ve rh il l's sen te nc e, th e co ur t co m m en te d t ha t

[h ]ad [S.L.M.'s ] m ot he r no t kn own an d ha d S.L.M. no t kn own of y ou r si tu at io n as so m eo ne req ui red to reg is te r, I th in k I wou ld ha ve ex ceed ed th e gu id el in es

. I wou ld ha ve go ne ab ov e th e gu id el in es

. Bu t si nc e th ey k n e w a n d th e m ot he r al lo wed y ou to li ve th ere an y w[ay ] an d sh ut h e r ey es as to wha t was go in g on , I can 't real ly bl am e th e fai lu re to reg is te r fo r wha t o ccu rred

.

-4

-The co ur t ul ti m at el y im po se d a se nt en ce of 57 m on th s' im pr is on m en t, th e hi g h en d
of th e ad vi so ry

ran ge , and su pe rv is ed rel eas e fo r li fe.

II. Dis cu ss io n On ap pe al
, M u l v erh il l arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t pl ai nl y erre d in (1 )

acce pt in g hi s gu il ty pl ea ba se d on an erro ne ou s cl as si fic at io n of hi m as a Tier III se x

o ffen de r un de r SORNA, an d (2 ) cal cu la ti ng hi s to ta l of fen se le ve l ba se d on an in ad ve rte nt erro r in th e PSR

.

To p rev ai l u nd er p la in -err or rev ie w, Mul ve rh il l " m us t sh ow: (1) an erro r; ( 2)
th at is pl ai n; (3 ) th at affe ct s su bs ta nt ia l rig ht s; an d (4) seri ou sl y affe ct s th e fai rn es s, in te gr it y , or p ub li c rep ut at io n o f jud ic ia l p ro ceed in gs ." Uni te d St at es v. Bra ve Bu ll
, No. 15 -2 14 3, 20 16 W L 36 71 70 2, at *2 (8 th Ci r. J u l y 1 1
, 2 0 16 ) (ci ta ti on om it te d)

. "[I ]t is en ou gh th at an erro r be 'pl ai n' at th e ti m e of ap pe ll at e co ns id erat io n." Uni te d
St at es v. Fas t Hor

se , 74 7 F.3 d 10 40
, 10 42 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (q uo ti ng Hen de rs on v. Uni te d St at es , 13 3 S. Ct

. 11 21
, 11 30 –3 1 (2 01 3) ; ci ti ng Uni te d St at es v. W eb st er , 84
F.3 d 10 56
, 10 67 (8 th Ci r. 19 96 ) ("[ T] he pr op er fo cu s is th e la w ap pl ic ab le on ap pe al

rat he r th an at t ria l." )).

In th e ab se nc e of co nt ro ll in g pr eced en t of ei th er th is co ur t or th e Su pr em e Co ur t, th e di s t r i c t co ur t is gr an te d m or e di sc ret io n un de r th e pl ai n erro r st an da rd si m pl y be cau se th e le ss g u i d an ce th ere is
, th e

sm al le r th e real m of de ci si on s th at wou ld be cl earl y or ob vi ou sl y wro ng

un de r cu rren t l aw.

Uni te d S ta te s v. La ch ow sk i , 40 5 F .3d 69 6, 6 98 (8t h C ir. 2 00 5)

.

-5

-A. Gui lt y Ple a W e fir st ad dr es s whe th er th e di st ric t co ur t p l ai nl y erre d in acce pt in g Mu lv erh il l's pl ea of gu il ty t o f a i lu re to reg is te r as a se x of fen de r, in vi ol at io n of 18
U.S.C. § 22 50 ( a )

. " S O R NA cl as si fie s se x of

fen de rs in to th ree ti ers wit h each

cat eg or y co r r e s p on di ng to sp eci fic
, en um erat ed cri m es or to of fen se s in co rp or at ed
fro m ot he r fed eral se xu al ab us e la ws." Uni te d St at es v

. M o r al es , 8 01 F.3 d 1, 3 (1 st Ci r. 20 15 ). Tier III co nc ern s "[t ]he m os t eg reg io us of fen de rs ." Id

. (ci ti ng 42 U.S.C. 2 § 1 69 11 (4 )(A)). It pro vi de s, i n re le va nt pa rt, t ha t

[t]he te rm "t ie r III se x of

fen de r" m ean s a se x of

fen de r who se of

fen se is
pu ni sh ab le by im

pr is on m en t fo r m or e th an 1 year an d—

(A) is co m

pa rab le to or m or e se ve re th an th e fo ll owi ng of fen se s, o r an att em

pt to co m m it su ch an off

en se :
(i) ag gr av at ed se xu al a bu se or se xu al ab us e (as de sc r i b e d in se ct io ns 22 41 an d 22 42 of Tit le 18 ); o r
( i i ) ab us iv e se xu al co nt act (as de sc rib ed in

se ct io n 22 44 of Tit le 18 ) ag ai ns t a m in or who ha s n ot att ai ne d t he ag e o f 13 y ears

. . . .

42 U.S.C. § 1 69 11 (4 )(A).

Si m il arl y , a "t ie r II s ex off en de r" i s d efi ne d, i n re le va nt pa rt, a s

"Th es e ti er le ve ls are in co rp or at ed in to th e U ni te d St at es Sen te nc in g 2 Gui de li ne s an d us ed to de te rm in e th e de fen da nt 's bas e of fen se le ve l." Uni te d St at es v. Ta yl or , 64 4 F .3d 57 3, 5 76 (7t h C ir. 2 01 1) (ci ti ng U.S.S.G. § 2 A3.5 ).

-6

-a se x of fen de r ot h e r t h an a ti er III se x of fen de r who se of

fen se is
pu ni sh ab le by im

pr is on m en t fo r m or e th an 1 year an d—

(A) is co m

pa rab le to or m or e se ve re th an th e fo ll owi ng of fen se s, whe n co m

m it te d ag ai ns t a m in or , or an at te m pt or

co ns pi racy to c om m it su ch an off en se ag ai ns t a m in or :
(i) se x tra ffi ck in g (as de sc rib e d in se ct io n 15 91 of Ti tl e 1 8) ;
(ii ) co erci on an d en ti cem en t (as de sc rib ed in

se ct io n 2 42 2( b) of Ti tl e 1 8) ;
(ii i) tra ns po rta ti on wit h in te nt to en g a ge in cri m in al se xu al act iv it y (as de s cri be d in

se ct io n 2 42 3( a)) o f Tit le 18 ;
(iv ) ab us iv e se xu al co nt act (as de sc r i b ed in

se ct io n 2 24 4 o f Tit le 18 ) . . . .

42 U.S.C. 16 91 1( 3) (A).

"Th e fin al cat eg or y , Tier I, se rv es as a cat ch -al l pr ov i s i on fo r co nv ic te d se x of fen de rs no t ot he rwis e gr ou pe d in to Tier II or Tier III." M o ra le s , 80 1 F.3 d at 3 (ci ti ng 42 U.S.C. § 16 91 1( 2) ). A se x of fen de r m us t ke ep hi s or he r reg is tra ti on cu rren t fo r "(1 ) 15 y ears , if th e of fen de r is a ti er I se x offe nd er; (2 ) 25 y ears , if t he off en de r is a ti er II se x of

fen de r; an d (3 ) th e li fe of th e of fen de r, if th e of

fen de r is a ti er III se x of fen de r." 4 2 U.S.C. § 16 91 5( a).

Mu lv erh il l a rg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t pl ai nl y erre d in acce pt in g hi s gu il ty pl ea to fai lu re to reg is te r as a se x of fen de r, in vi ol at io n of § 22 50 (a), be cau se , us in g

a cat eg or ic al ap pr oa ch , n ei th er of hi s two co nv ic ti on s un d e r C al ifo rn ia Pen al Co de § 28 8( a) fo r le wd an d la sc iv io us act s wit h a ch il d un de r 14 y ears ol d qu al i f y a s a n of fen se "co m

pa rab le to or m or e se ve re tha n" an y of th e li st ed fed eral st at ut es in th e

-7

-de fin it io ns fo r Tier III or Tier II se x of fen de rs

. Se e 42 U.S.C. § 16 91 1( 3) –( 4)

. 3
Mu lv erh il l co nt en ds th at he is a Tier I se x of fen de r an d was th eref

or e no t req ui red to

reg is te r as a se x of

fen de r du rin g th e ti m e pe rio d se t fo rth in th e in di ct m en t b ecau se th e 1 5- y ear p eri od ha d e xp ire d. Se e 42 U.S.C. § 1 69 15 (a)( 1)

.

W e rece nt ly he ld in Uni te d St at es v. Hil l th at co ur ts sh ou ld em pl oy a ci rc um sta nc e- spe ci fi c ap pr oa ch

—no t a ca te gor ic al ap pr oa ch

— i n d et er m ini ng w he the r

an of fen de r's co nd uc t was by it s na tu re a se x of fen s e a g a i n s t a m in or , th ereb y

ren de rin g th e co nv ic ti on ari si ng fro m su ch co nd uc t a "s ex off en se " u nd er SORNA.
82 0 F.3 d 10 03
, 10 05 (8 th Ci r. 20 16 ) (ci ti ng 42 U.S.C. § 16 91 1( 5) (A)(i i) an d (7 )(I))

. Und er th e ci rcu m st an ce-s pe ci fic ap pr oa ch
, a co ur t "ex am i n e [ s ] th e 'pa rti cu la r ci rcu m st an ces in whi ch an of fen de r co m

m it te d t he cri m e on a pa rti cu la r oc cas io n.'"
Id

. (q uo ti ng Mon cr ie

ff e v. Hol de r , 13 3 S. Ct

. 16 78
, 16 91 (2 01 3) ). The co ur t reject ed

ap pl ic at io n of th e cat eg or ic al ap pr oa ch to § 16 91 1( 5) (A)(i i) an d (7 )(I) of SORNA,
whi ch "l oo k[ s] si m

pl y at th e st at ut e un de rlyin g [th e] co nv ic ti on to de te rm in e whe th er it s el em en ts sh ow ca te go ric al ly tha t i t i s a s ex off en se ag ai ns t a m in or ." Id

.

In Hil l
, we ha d no o c c a s io n to ad dr es s whe th er a ci rcu m st an ce-s pe ci fic or
cat eg or ic al ap pr oa ch ap pl ie s t o t he th ree ti er cl as si fic at io ns se t fo rth in § 1 69 11 (2 ), (3 ), an d (4 ). W e , h owe ve r, no te ou r si st er ci rcu it s' ad m it te d di ffi cu lt y in an swe rin g th is qu es ti on

. Se e, e.g

. , Uni te d St at es v. W hi te , 78 2 F.3 d 11 18
, 11 30 (1 0t h Ci r. 20 15 ) ("Ou r rev ie w of Mr. W hi te 's ti er cl as si fic at io n is co m pl ic at ed by th e fact th at th e te rm 'of fen se ' as us ed in 42 U.S.C. § 16 91 1 is am bi gu ou s." ); Uni te d St at es v. For st er , 54 9
F. Ap p 'x 75 7, 76 7 (1 0t h Ci r. 20 13 ) (u np ub li sh ed ) ("Ho wev er, it is far fro m cl ear whe th er a cat eg or ic al ap pr oa ch sh ou ld be ap pl ie d in th e SORNA co nt ex t." (ci ta ti on s

om it te d) ); Uni te d St at es v. St oc k
, 68 5 F.3 d 62 1, 62 8 ( 6 t h Ci r. 20 12 ) ("Ad m it te dl y , th ere was (an d rem ai ns ) so m e do ub t ab ou t th e ex te nt to whi ch Gui de li ne s § 2A3 .5(a )

Mu lv erh il l co nc ed es th at he is a "s ex of fen de r" un de r SORNA. Se e 42 U.S.C. 3 § 1 69 11 (1 ).

-8

-di rect s di st ric t co ur ts to lo ok be y on d th e m ere fact of a pr io r se x- of fen se co nv ic ti on

an d i nt o t he sp eci fic fact ua l ci rcu m st an ces of t ha t o ffen se .").

Here, we ne ed no t wad e in to th e q u a gm ire of whi ch ap pr oa ch ap pl ie s to th e th ree ti er cl as si fic at io ns se t fo rth in § 16 91 1( 2)
, (3 ), an d (4 ). Eve n as su m in g th at th e
cat eg or ic al ap pr oa ch d o e s ap pl y , we co nc lu de th at th e di st ric t co ur t co m m it te d no pl ai n erro r by no t ap pl y in g th at ap p r o a c h to Mu lv erh il l's pr io r co nv ic ti on s to de te rm in e hi s ap pr op ria te ti er cl as si fic at io n. W e a d v a n c e two reas on s fo r th is

c o n c l u si on

. Fi rs t, du rin g hi s ch an ge -o f-p le a he ari ng , Mu lv erh il l ag reed wit h th e
go ve rn m en t's reci ta ti on of th e fact s th at al th ou gh he was req ui red to reg is te r as a se x of fen de r, he ha d fai le d to do so as of Ja nu ary 29
, 20 15

. Mu l v e r hi ll 's ad m is si on

co ns ti tu te s a s uf

fic ie nt fact ua l b as is for th e g ui lt y pl ea.

Seco nd
, ev en if we co ns id er Mu lv erh il l's du ty t o r e g i s t er as a se x of fen de r be twee n Ju ne 19
, 20 14
, an d Ja nu ary 30
, 20 15
, as a pu rel y le ga l qu es ti on , th e di st ric t

co ur t co m m it te d no pl ai n erro r in no t ap pl y in g a cat eg or ic al ap pr oa ch to Mu lv erh il l's
Cal ifo rn ia co nv ic ti on s. Th i s i s so be cau se (1 ) we la ck co nt ro ll in g pr eced en t on th e
qu es ti on of whe th er a ci rcu m st an ce-s pe ci fic ap pr oa ch or cat eg or ic al ap p r o a c h is

ap pl ic ab le to th e th ree ti er cl as si fic at io ns se t fo rth in § 16 91 1( 2)
, (3 ), an d (4 ); (2 ) ou r Hil l de ci si on in di cat es th at su ch an ap pr oa ch do es no t ap pl y in ot he r su bs ect io ns of
th e sa m e st at ut e; an d (3 ) ou r si st er ci rcu it s ha ve ha d di ffi cu lt y in de te rm in in g whe th er th e ci rcu m st an ce-s pe ci fic or cat eg or ic al ap pr oa ch ap pl ie s to § 16 91 1( 2)
, (3 ), an d (4 ).
Se e Fed

. Cr op In s. v. Hes te r , 76 5 F.2 d 72 3, 72 7 (8 th Ci r. 19 85 ) ("B ecau se of th e la ck
of co nt ro ll in g pr eced en t wit hi n th e Eig ht h Ci rcu it an d th e s p l i t o f a ut ho rit y am on g
ot he r co ur ts , we de cl in e to ho l d t h at th e di st ric t co ur t co m m it te d pl ai n erro r in
in st ru ct in g t he jury as to th e p rep on de ran ce o f ev id en ce s ta nd ard .")

-9

-B. To ta l Of fe ns e Lev el
Mu lv erh il l ne xt arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t pl ai nl y er r ed in us in g a to ta l
of fen se le ve l of 23 in st ead of 21 ba se d on th e PSR's in ad ve rte nt erro r of as si gn in g to hi m a to ta l o ffen se lev el of 2 3.

The go ve rn m en t co nc ed es th a t "t he to ta l of fen se le ve l was 21 " an d th at "t he
di st ric t co ur t m is ta ke nl y ap pl ie d a to ta l of fen se le ve l of 23

. " Non et he le ss , i t arg ue s th at Mu lv erh il l cann ot sh ow a reas on ab le pr ob ab il it y th at he wou ld ha ve rece iv ed a le ss er s en te nc e b ut for

th e al le ge d e rro r. W e d is ag ree.

The Gui de li ne s ran g e f

o r a t o ta l of

fen se le ve l of 23 wit h a cri m in al hi st or y

c a t e g or y of I is 46 to 57 m on th s' im pr is on m en t; by co nt ras t, a Gui de li ne s ran ge fo r Mu lv erh il l's co rr ect to ta l offe ns e le ve l of 21 with a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of I is
37 to 46 m on th s' im

pr is on m en t. "W he n a def en da nt is sen te nc ed un de r an in co rrec t Gui de li ne s ran ge —wh et he r or no t th e de fen da nt 's ul ti m at e se nt en ce fal ls wit hi n th e

c o r r e c t r an ge —t he erro r it se lf can , an d m os t of te n wil l, be su ffi ci en t to sh o w a

reas on ab le proba

bil it y of a di ffer en t ou tc om e ab se nt th e erro r." Mol in a- Mar ti ne z , 13 6
S. Ct

. at 13 45

. Here, Mu lv erh il l "n eed no t m a k e a fu rth er sh owi ng of pr ejud ic e be y on d th e fact th at th e erro ne ou s gu id el in es ran ge 'se t th e wro ng fram ewo rk fo r th e

se nt en ci ng pr oc eed in gs .'" Uni te d St at es v. Teg el er , No. 15 -2 91 1, 20 16 W L 30 57 78 9,

at *3 n.3 (8 th Ci r. May 31
, 20 16 ) (u np ub li s he d pe r cu ria m ) (q uo ti ng Mol in aMar ti ne z , 13 6 S . Ct. at 13 45 ).

Non et he le ss , th e go ve rn m e n t a r gu es th at pa rt of th e se nt en ci ng co ll oq uy in
whi ch th e di st ric t co ur t "co nt em pl at ed al ou d a si tu at io n w he re it wou ld ha ve

ex c e e d e d th e Gui de li ne s" in di cat es th at no reas on ab le pr ob ab il it y ex is ts th at
Mu lv erh il l wou ld rec e i v e a le ss er se nt en ce. W e reco gn iz e th at "[t ]here m ay be
in st an ces whe n, de sp it e ap pl ic at io n of an erro ne ou s Gui de li ne s ra ng e, a reas on ab le

pr ob ab il it y of pr ejud ic e do es no t ex is t. Th e se nt en ci ng pro ces s i s p art ic ul ar t o each
de fen da nt , of co ur se , an d a rev ie win g co ur t m us t co ns id er th e fact s an d ci rcu m st an ces

-1 0-of th e cas e be fo re it ." Mol i n a

- Mar ti ne z , 13 6 S. Ct

. at 13 46 (ci ta ti on om it te d)

. The

pr es en t cas e is no t a si tu at io n in whi ch th e go ve rn m en t ha s sh own " t h a t th e co ur t 'wou ld ha ve arri ve d at the sa m e te rm of im pr is on m en t ab se nt th e pr oc ed ur al erro r.'" Teg el er , 20 16 W L 30 57 78 9, at *3 n.3 (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Hen so n , 55 0 F.3 d
73 9, 74 2 (8 t h C i r

. 20 08 ); ci ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Sa nc he z- Mar ti ne z , 63 3 F.3 d 65 8,
66 0– 61 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ); Uni te d St at es v. W oo ds
, 67 0 F.3 d 88 3, 88 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 )).
The di st ric t co ur t m ad e no aff i r mat iv e st at em en ts or in di cat io ns of it s in te nt io n to im po se th e sa m e se nt en ce ev en if M ul ve rh il l's to ta l o ffen se lev el were l owe r.

Acco rd in gl y , we fin d th at th e di st ric t co ur t pl ai nl y erre d in cal cu la ti ng Mu lv erh il l's to ta l of

fen se le ve l as 23 ; th eref

or e, Mu lv erh il l is en ti tl ed to res en te nc in g

un de r a co rrec tl y

cal cu la te d Gu id el in es ran ge ut il iz in g a to ta l o ffen se lev el of 2 1.

III. Co nc lu si on Acco rd in gl y , we vac at e Mu lv erh il l's sen te nc e an d re m an d fo r res en te nc in g.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

-1 1-