F I L E D

United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit

JUN 15 2004

PATRICK FISHER

Clerk

PUBLISH

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff - Appellee, No. 03-4239

v.

MICHAEL ANTHONY SHEEHAN,

Defendant - Appellant.

APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH

(D.C. No. 2:02-CR-632-TC)

Submitted on the briefs:

Stephen R. McCaughey, Salt Lake City, Utah, Attorney for Defendant-Appellant.

Paul M. Warner, United States Attorney, and Diana Hagen, Assistant United

States Attorney, Salt Lake City, Utah, Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Before TACHA, Chief Circuit Judge , ANDERSON and BALDOCK , Circuit

Judges.

ANDERSON , Circuit Judge.
1After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination

of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34 (a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). This cause is

therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

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Michael Anthony Sheehan pled guilty to one count of committing a robbery

affecting interstate commerce, in violation of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a),

and two counts of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, in

violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). At sentencing, Sheehan moved for a downward

departure under United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual

(“USSG”) §5H1.3, §5K2.0 (Nov. 2002), based on a defense expert’s report that he

suffered from acquired brain injury and seizure and mood disorders. The district

court denied the motion and sentenced him to 441 months’ imprisonment,

followed by three years of supervised release. On appeal, Sheehan argues the

district court failed to recognize its discretion to depart downward and requests

that we remand for an evidentiary hearing on his motion. 1

BACKGROUND

The charges against Sheehan stemmed from a series of armed robberies

committed September 12-13, 2002, at a restaurant, gas station, and 7-Eleven. Due

to prior convictions, Sheehan’s presentence report (“PSR”) calculated a criminal

history category of V. The PSR calculated a total offense level of 19 for the
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Hobbs Act violation and noted that violations of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) require

mandatory consecutive terms of imprisonment of seven years for the first offense

and twenty-five years for the second offense. The PSR also indicated Sheehan

had a history of seizures, migraines, and prescribed antidepressant use. The

report of the defense’s medical expert following a neuropsychological evaluation,

quoted in the PSR and included in the record on appeal, indicated Sheehan

suffered from serious acquired brain injury, seizure disorder, and mood disorder. 

The report recommended ongoing treatment for these conditions. The PSR also

indicated Sheehan had been evaluated by a court-appointed expert to determine

his mental competency and criminal responsibility. That expert diagnosed

Sheehan with substance dependence and antisocial personality disorder but found

no evidence of a formal thought disorder or psychotic disorder nor any indication

Sheehan was unable to appreciate the nature, quality, or wrongfulness of his

actions.

As indicated above, Sheehan filed a motion with the district court

requesting downward departure from the Guidelines sentencing range pursuant to

USSG §5H1.3 and §5K2.0. The court denied the motion, and, following

sentencing, Sheehan appealed.
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DISCUSSION

“Ordinarily, a district court’s refusal to exercise its discretion and depart

downward from the sentencing guidelines is not appealable.” United States v.

Miranda-Ramirez , 309 F.3d 1255, 1258 (10th Cir. 2002). Here, we apply an

exception to this rule because the district court unambiguously stated it had no

discretion to depart pursuant to §5K2.0 based on a defendant’s diminished

capacity. Nevertheless, we affirm the district court’s sentence because its

conclusion that it had no discretion to depart was proper.

A. Jurisdiction

While, as noted above, we normally do not consider appeals from a district

court’s refusal to depart from the applicable sentencing range, “[w]e may exercise

jurisdiction . . . in the very rare circumstance that the district court states that it

does not have any authority to depart . . . for the entire class of circumstances

proffered by the defendant.” United States v. Brown , 316 F.3d 1151, 1154 (10th

Cir. 2003). This exception to the rule “does not apply where the district court

concludes that it lacks authority to depart ‘ under the defendant’s particular

circumstances .’” United States v. Jeppeson , 333 F.3d 1180, 1184 (10th Cir.

2003) (quoting United States v. Castillo , 140 F.3d 874, 887 (10th Cir. 1998)). 

“Moreover, we ‘treat ambiguous statements made by district judges as though the
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judge was aware of his or her legal authority to depart but chose instead, in an

exercise of discretion, not to depart.’” Id. (quoting United States v. Fortier , 180

F.3d 1217, 1231 (10th Cir. 1999)).

Here, the transcript of the sentencing hearing makes clear that the district

court believed it lacked authority to grant a downward departure pursuant to

§5K2.0, as Sheehan had requested based on his mental and emotional conditions. 

At the hearing, the government argued that downward departures based on mental

and emotional conditions were unavailable under §5K2.0 because §5H1.3, the

Guidelines provision listing “mental and emotional conditions” as a discouraged

departure factor, “refers back to [§5K2.13],” the provision governing departures

based on “diminished capacity” arguments. Tr. of Sentencing Hr’g at 5, R. Vol.

II. In opposition, Sheehan argued that “[d]iminished capacity can still be

considered” as a basis for downward departure pursuant to §5K2.0, even where no

departure is permitted under the terms of §5K2.13. Id. at 6. The district court

stated, “I believe the government is correct about the structure of the Guidelines.

I do not believe that I can do a departure for the diminished capacity. I do believe

that the government’s argument is correct, and . . . I am referred back by 5H1.3 to

5K2.0, specifically 13.” Id. at 7. Holding Sheehan was ineligible for downward

departure pursuant to §5K2.13, the district court denied Sheehan’s motion without

considering his eligibility for downward departure pursuant to §5K2.0.
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Because the district court unambiguously stated it had no authority to

depart pursuant to §5K2.0 in any circumstance based on a defendant’s claim of

diminished capacity, we have jurisdiction to consider this appeal. 

We thus turn to the merits of Sheehan’s claim that the district court should

have considered his eligibility for downward departure pursuant to §5K2.0. 

“‘[W]e review de novo the district court’s interpretation that the Guidelines

provide it no power to depart downward from the prescribed sentencing range.’” 

Miranda-Ramirez , 309 F.3d at 1259 (quoting United States v. Talk , 13 F.3d 369,

371 (10th Cir. 1993)). 

B. Downward Departures for “Diminished Capacity” under USSG

§5K2.0 and §5K2.13

Resolution of the issue presented depends on the inter-relationship of three

Guidelines provisions, set forth in pertinent part below:

§5H1.3 . Mental and Emotional Conditions (Policy Statement):

Mental and emotional conditions are not ordinarily relevant in

determining whether a sentence should be outside the applicable

guideline range, except as provided in Chapter Five, Part K, Subpart

2 (Other Grounds for Departure).

§5K2.0. Grounds for Departure (Policy Statement):

[A]n offender characteristic . . . that is, in the Commission’s view,

‘not ordinarily relevant’ in determining whether a sentence should be

outside the applicable guideline range may be relevant to this

determination if such characteristic or circumstance is present to an
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unusual degree and distinguishes the case from the ‘heartland’ cases

covered by the guidelines.

§5K2.13. Diminished Capacity (Policy Statement):

A sentence below the applicable guideline range may be warranted if

the defendant committed the offense while suffering from a

significantly reduced mental capacity. However, the court may not

depart below the applicable guideline range if (1) the significantly

reduced mental capacity was caused by the voluntary use of drugs or

other intoxicants; (2) the facts and circumstances of the defendant’s

offense indicate a need to protect the public because the offense

involved actual violence or a serious threat of violence; or (3) the

defendant’s criminal history indicates a need to incarcerate the

defendant to protect the public. If a departure is warranted, the

extent of the departure should reflect the extent to which the reduced

mental capacity contributed to the commission of the offense.

Here, it is undisputed that Sheehan was ineligible for a downward departure

pursuant to §5K2.13 because his offense involved actual violence or a serious

threat of violence. See USSG §5K2.13(2). Sheehan nevertheless argues that the

district court could have granted a downward departure pursuant to §5K2.0

because his mental and emotional condition “is present to an unusual degree and

distinguishes the case from the ‘heartland’ cases covered by the guidelines.”

We reject Sheehan’s argument because it is clear from the memorandum

Sheehan submitted to the district court in support of downward departure, as well

as the sentencing hearing transcript, that, despite his assertion to the contrary,

Sheehan is invoking §5K2.0 merely as a means of circumventing the limitations

of §5K2.13. He provides no reason for departing based on his mental or
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emotional conditions other than the contribution these conditions made to the

commission of his offenses – in other words, his diminished capacity. Mem. in

Supp. of Downward Departure at 5, R. Vol. I (“It is indisputable that the

defendant’s actions in the instant case reflect, at least in part, his mental and

emotional instability.”); Tr. of Sentencing Hr’g at 6, R. Vol. II (recording

Sheehan’s attorney’s argument that “[d]iminished capacity can still be considered. 

I think that’s what they’re saying in the introductory comments is that you can

consider those on an unusual basis.”). 

Other circuits considering this issue have unanimously agreed that the

prohibitions in §5K2.13 may not be circumvented by applying §5K2.0 instead. 

United States v. Smith , 330 F.3d 1209, 1213 (9th Cir. 2003) (concluding that

§5K2.13 “adequately take[s] into consideration [the defendant]’s mental condition

as a contributing cause of [his crime]”); United States v. Petersen , 276 F.3d 432,

437 (8th Cir. 2002) (holding §5K2.13 “provides the only basis” for a departure

based on diminished capacity, “foreclosing consideration of diminished mental

capacity under section 5K2.0” (internal quotation marks omitted)); United States

v. Thames , 214 F.3d 608, 615 (5th Cir. 2000) (“§5K2.0 is inapplicable to

[defendant]’s claim that his diminished mental capacity, derived from his

gambling addiction, entitles him to consideration for a downward departure.”);

United States v. Russell , 917 F.2d 512, 516 (11th Cir. 1990) (refusing to apply
2

Inexplicably, the government fails to acknowledge this line of cases and

argues, rather, that no departures based on a defendant’s mental or emotional

condition are ever permitted unless they fit the requirements of §5K2.13. The

government’s argument appears to result from its tendency, shared by the

defendant, to conflate the terms “mental and emotional conditions” and

“diminished capacity.” The structure of the Guidelines, together with the case

law, make clear that these phrases are not synonymous.

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§5K2.0 to defendant’s argument that he had a “reduced capacity to resist

persuasion, caused by his dependent personality disorder”).

We recognize that it is well settled in this and other circuits that, in other

circumstances, the sentencing court may order a departure based on a defendant’s

mental or emotional condition pursuant to §5K2.0. 2 United States v. Jones , 158

F.3d 492, 503 (10th Cir. 1998) (the sentencing court may consider the defendant’s

mental or emotional condition in determining whether to depart if the condition

“‘is present to an unusual degree and distinguishes the case from the “heartland”

cases covered by the guidelines’” (quoting USSG §5K2.0)); see also United States

v. Maldonado-Montalvo , 356 F.3d 65, 74 (1st Cir. 2003) (explaining that to

depart based on the defendant’s mental condition, “the sentencing court must first

make a finding that the mental condition is extraordinary or atypical”); United

States v. DeBeir , 186 F.3d 561, 567 (4th Cir. 1999) (considering whether

defendant’s “unique psychological condition” brought the case “outside the

heartland”); United States v. Moses , 106 F.3d 1273, 1280 (6th Cir. 1997)

(considering whether defendant’s mental illness “makes this an ‘extraordinary
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case’” under §5K2.0); United States v. Pullen , 89 F.3d 368, 371 (7th Cir. 1996)

(similar); United States v. Barton , 76 F.3d 499, 502 (2d Cir. 1996) (similar).

However, we have found no case that considered the application of §5K2.0

based on the defendant’s claim of diminished capacity; rather, they did so based

on some other argument related to the defendant’s mental or emotional condition. 

See, e.g. , Maldonado-Montalvo , 356 F.3d at 73 (reviewing the district court’s

conclusion that “[p]rolonged incarceration would worsen the defendant’s mental

health condition and result in greater costs to the United States”); DeBeir , 186

F.3d at 567 (considering the defendant’s “unusual susceptibility to abuse in

prison” due to his psychological condition and the likelihood of further

psychological damage as a result of incarceration); Jones, 158 F.3d at 503

(considering “the negative effect incarceration would have on both the quality and

quantity of [defendant’s] rehabilitative counseling”); Moses, 106 F.3d at 1278

(reviewing the district court’s upward departure based on the defendant’s future

dangerousness due to his mental illness).

We conclude that “diminished capacity” departures pursuant to §5K2.13 are

a subset of departures allowed under §5H1.3 based on mental and emotional

conditions. While other departure requests based on mental and emotional

conditions may be governed by §5K2.0, diminished capacity claims are governed

solely by §5K2.13. Here, the district court properly concluded that it had no
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discretion to depart pursuant to §5K2.0 based on diminished capacity when such a

departure was prohibited by the terms of §5K2.13.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the sentence imposed by the district court is

AFFIRMED.