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

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 6- 12 83

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

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

ff - App el le e

v.

Mar io Tho m as , als o k no wn as "Ho od ie "

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

an t - Ap pe ll an t

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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 Ark an sa s - El Dora do

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Su bm it te d: Sep te m

be r 19 , 20 16
Fi le d: Sep te m

be r 26 , 20 16 [Pu bl is he d]

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Befo re LOKEN, BEAM, and GRUENDER, Circu it Ju dg es

.

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PER CURI AM.

Mar io Tho m as ap pe al s th e di st ric t co ur t's en ha nc em en t of hi s se nt en ce un de r 1

th e Uni te d St at es Sen te nc in g Gui de li ne s ( U

. S

. S

. G. or Gui de li ne s)

, an d we affi rm

.

The Hon or ab le Su sa n O. Hick ey , Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e W es te rn 1

Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s.Tho m as was co nv ic te d of di st rib ut in g co cai ne ba se

. At se nt en ci ng th e di st ric t co ur t

ap pl ie d th e Gui de l i n e s ' care er-o ffen de r en ha nc em en t on th e ba si s of two pr io r

co nv ic ti on s, o n e o f w h ic h was fo r fir st -d eg ree ba tt ery un de r § 5- 13 -2 01 of th e

Ark an sa s Co de

. Tha t s t a t u te en um erat es se ve ral cl as se s of co nd uc t th at qu al ify as

fir st -d eg ree ba tt ery, in cl ud in g: "With th e pu rp os e of cau si ng se rio us ph y si cal in jury

to an ot he r pe rs on , th e pe rs on cau se s seri ou s ph y si cal in jury to an y pe rs on by m ean s

of a de ad ly weap on ." Ark

. Co de Ann

. § 5- 13 -2 01 (a)( 1)

. The Ark an sa s Co de de fin es

"s eri ou s ph y si cal in

jury" as "p hysic al in

jury th at crea te s a su bs ta nt ia l ris k of de at h or

th at c a u s e s pr ot ract ed di sf ig ur em en t, pr ot ract ed im pa irment of he al th

, or lo ss or

pr ot ract ed im

pa irment of th e fu nc ti on of an y bo di l y m em be r or or ga n," id

. § 5- 1-

10 2( 21 ), an d "d ead l y w e a po n" as "(A) A fir earm or an y th in g m an ife st ly de si gn ed

,

m ad e, or ad ap te d fo r th e pu rp os e of in fli ct in g de at h or se rio us ph y si cal in jury; or (B)
Anythi ng th at in th e m an ne r of it s us e or in te nd ed us e is cap ab le of cau si ng de at h or

se rio us ph y si cal in

jury," id . § 5 -1 -1 02 (4 ).

In Uni te d S ta te s v . Boo se , 73 9 F .3d 11 85 , 11 88 (8t h C ir. 20 14 ), we he ld th at
§ 5-1 3- 20 1 pro hi bi ts a wid er ran ge of co nd uc t th an th at whi ch wou ld be co ns id ered

a cri m e of vi ol en ce un de r th e "fo rce cl au se " of U.S.S.G. § 4B 1.2 (a)( 1)

. The di st ric t

co ur t th eref

or e em pl oyed th e "m od ifi ed cat eg or ic al ap pr o a c h " whe n se nt en ci ng
Tho m as to at te m

pt to de te rm in e whe t h e r h e h a d be en co nv ic te d un de r a di vi si bl e

po rti on of § 5- 13 -2 01 pr oh ib it in g a c l a s s of co nd uc t th at qu al ifi ed as a cri m e of

vi ol e n c e

. I t l oo ke d to th e in fo rm at io n, whi ch id en ti fie d § 5- 13 -2 01 as th e st at ut e

un de r whi ch Tho m as was ch arg ed wit h fir st -d eg ree ba tt ery. Alt ho ug h th at do cu m en t

di d no t in ex pr es s te rm s id en ti fy an y pa rti cu la r su bs ect io n of § 5- 13 -2 01

, it pa rro te d

th e la ng ua ge of su bs ect io n (a )(1 ), al le gi ng th at Tho m as , "wit h t he pu rp os e to cau se

se rio us ph y si cal in

jury di d cau se se rio us in jury to Ja rn ard McC re e b y mea n s of a
de ad ly weap on ." The se nt en ci ng or de r in di cat ed th at Tho m as pl ed gu i lt y to th at

ch arg e a n d t h e r e was no ev id en ce th e in fo rm at io n ha d be en am en de d. The di st ric t

co ur t co nc lu de d th at Tho m as pl ed gu il ty to a vi ol at io n of su bs ect io n (a)( 1)

. It fu rth er

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-co nc lu de d t ha t s ub se ct io n (a )(1 ) req ui res as a n e le m en t t he us e of vi ol en t fo rce a nd

is th eref or e a cri m e o f vi ol en ce.

The di st ric t co ur t ap pl ie d th e care er-o ffen de r en ha nc em en t on th e ba si s of

Tho m as 's pr io r co nv ic ti on un de r § 5- 13 -2 01 (a)( 1) a n d a n o th er pr io r co nv ic ti on fo r
de li ve r y o f a co nt ro ll ed su bs ta nc e. Thi s res ul te d, aft er a do wnwar d ad jus tm en t fo r

acce pt an ce of res po ns ib il it y , in an of fen se le ve l of 31 an d a reco m m en de d Gui de li ne s

ran ge of 18 8 to 23 5 m on th s' im pr is on m en t. The di st ric t co ur t de ni ed Tho m as 's

ob jecti on to th e care er-o ffen de r en ha nc em en t an d se nt en ced Tho m as to 18 8 m on th s'

im pr is on m en t. Tho m as no w ap pe al s, arg ui ng th at hi s pr io r co nv ic tio n for fir st -d eg ree
ba tt ery un de r § 5- 1 3

- 2 0 1 w a s no t a cri m e of vi ol en ce be cau se : (1 ) th e ch arg in g
do cu m en t do es no t sp eci fy whi ch su bs ect io n Tho m as was ch arg ed wit h an d (2 ) in an y

ev en t su bs ect io n (a)( 1) do es no t req ui re th e us e– act ua l, att em pt ed

, or th reat en ed

–o f

vi ol en t fo rce. 2

"We re v i e w d e n ov o a di st ric t co ur t's ap pl ic at io n of an en ha nc em en t ba se d

up on a pr io r co nv ic ti on ." Uni te d St at es v. Pi ers on , 54 4 F.3 d 93 3, 94 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ).

The care er-o ffen de r en ha nc em en t pr es cri be s th e of fen se le ve l fo r cert ai n de fen da nt s
who ha ve "at le as t two pr io r fel on y co nv ic t i o n s o f ei th er a cri m e of vi ol en ce or a

co nt ro ll ed su bs ta nc e of

fen se ." U.S.S.G. § 4B 1.1 (a)( 3)

. The de fin it io n of a "cr im e of

vi ol en ce" in cl ud es an y of

fen se , pu ni sh ab le by im

pr is on m en t fo r a te rm ex ceed in g on e

y ear , t h a t "h as as an el em en t th e us e, at te m pt ed us e, or th reat en ed us e of ph y si cal

fo rce ag ai ns t th e pe rs on of an ot h e r

. " Id

. § 4B 1.2 (a)( 1)

. The Su pr em e Co ur t ha s
ad dr es se d th e qu es ti on of wha t of fen se s qu al ify as a "v io le nt fel on y " un de r th e Arm ed

Care er Cri m in al Act (ACCA), Jo hn so n v. Uni te d St at es , 55 9 U.S. 13 3 (2 01 0)

, an d we

em pl oy th at an al y si s to de te rm in e whe th er an of fen se is a cri m e of vi ol en ce un de r th e

Bec au se we affi rm th e di st r i c t c o u r t, we do no t reac h Tho m as 's fu rth er 2

arg um en ts th at hi s pr ev io us co nv ic ti o n s fo r se co nd -d eg ree ba tt ery an d ki dn ap in g li ke wis e d o n ot qu al ify as cri m es of v io le nc e.

-3

-Gui de li ne s, e.g ., Bo os e, 73 9 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 87 n.1 (n ot in g th e ACCA's an d Gui de li ne s'

"n earl y id en ti cal de fin it io ns " o f "v io le nt fel on y " an d " cri m e o f vi ol en ce" ).

Und er Jo hn so n, a pr ev io us co nv ic ti on is on e fo r a cri m e of vi ol en ce if th e cri m e

of co nv ic ti on req ui res as an el em en t th e act ua l, at te m pt ed

, or th reat en ed u s e o f

"v io le nt fo rce" –i .e., "fo rce cap a b l e o f c au si ng ph y si cal pa in or in jury to an ot he r

pe rs on ." 5 59 U.S. at 1 40 . If vi ol en t fo rce i s an ele m en t o f th e cri m e o f co nv ic ti on , th e in qu iry en ds ; by be in g co nv ic te d of th at cri m e th e de fen da nt ne ces sa ril y ha s be en

co nv ic te d of a cri m e em

pl oyin g vi ol en t fo rce an d, th eref or e, a cri m e of vi ol en ce. The

di st ric t co ur t m ay m ak e th is de te rm in at io n by "l oo k[ in g] on ly to th e fact of co nv ic ti on

an d t he st at ut or y

de fin it io n o f th e p rio r of fen se ." Tay lo r v. Uni te d St at es , 49 5 U.S.

57 5, 60 2 (1 99 0)

. Thi s "ca te go ri c a l a p p r o ach " is no t ap pr op ria te

, ho wev er, if th e
de fen da nt ha s be en co nv ic te d un de r a st at ut e th at de fin es bo th cri m es th at do an d

cri m es th at do no t qu al ify as a cri m e of vi ol en ce. In th at cas e, th e di st ric t co ur t m ay
lo ok to cert ai n ki nd s of reco rd ev id en ce to de te rm in e whi ch of th es e c r i mes th e
de fen da nt was co nv ic te d of –t he so -cal le d "m od ifi ed ca te go ric al ap pr oa ch ." See

Uni te d St at es v. Oss an a, 63 8 F.3 d 89 5, 89 9- 90 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ). In th e ev en t of a pa st

co nv ic ti on ba se d on a gu il ty pl ea, th e di st ric t co ur t m ay lo ok to " t h e te rm s of th e
ch arg in g do cu m en t, th e te rm s of a pl ea ag reem en t or tra ns cri pt of co ll oq uy be twee n ju d g e a nd de fen da nt in whi ch th e fact ua l ba si s fo r th e pl ea was co nf irmed by th e
de fen da nt

, or to so m e co m pa rab le jud ic ia l reco rd of th is i nf or m at io n." Sh ep ard v.
Uni te d St at es , 54 4 U.S. 13

, 26 (2 00 5)

. Bo th pa rti es ag ree th at th e on ly reco rd se tt in g

fo rth a fact ua l ba si s fo r Tho m as 's co nv ic ti on un de r § 5- 13 -2 01 in th is c a s e is th e
ch arg in g d oc um en t.

Tho m as fir st arg ue s th at th e ch arg in g do cu m en t do es no t es ta bl is h th at he was

co nv ic te d un de r su bs ect io n (a)( 1) of § 5- 13

- 2 0 1

. Rec or ds th at th e di st ric t co ur t is

pe rm it te d to r e ly up on un de r th e m od ifi ed cat eg or ic al ap pr oa ch m us t es ta bl is h th e
cri m e of co nv ic ti on by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce. Uni te d St at es v. Oss an a, 67 9

F.3 d 73 3, 73 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ). "Occ as io na ll y , . . . it wil l be ne ces sa ry to in te rp ret th e

-4

-st at e co ur t reco rd an d m ak e reas on ab le in fere nc es ba se d up on th e Sh ep ard -q ua li fy in g

m at eri al s in or de r to id en ti fy th e d i s c ret e st at ut or y su bd iv is io n at is su e." Id

. W e

ag ree wit h th e go ve rn m en t an d in fer fro m th e in fo rm at io n th at Tho m as was co nv ic te d

un de r su bs ect io n (a)( 1)

. The ch arg e tra ck s th e la ng ua ge of (a)( 1)

, an d th at is th e on ly

su bs ect io n of § 5- 13 -2 01 th at em pl oys, as th e ch arg e do es , th e te rm "d ead ly weap on ."

The st at e co ur t's cri m in al do ck et in di cat es th at th e in fo rm at io n was ne ve r am en de d,

an d th e pl ea ag reem en t an d se nt en ci ng or de r do no t co nt rad ic t th is co nc lu si on in an y

way

. See Uni te d St at es v. V i n t o n , 63 1 F.3 d 47 6, 48 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (co nc lu di ng
de fen da nt was co nv ic te d un de r a su bs ect io n of a st at ut e be cau se "[t ]he c h a r gi ng

in st ru m en t p reci se ly track [ed ] th e la ng ua ge " o f th at su bs ect io n)

.

Seco nd

, Th o mas a r g u es th at § 5- 13 -2 01 (a)( 1) do es no t qu al ify as a cri m e of

vi ol en ce un de r U.S.S.G. § 4B 1.2 (a)( 1)

. Bu t as th e pl ai n la ng ua ge of § 5- 13 -2 01 (a)( 1)

an d th e st at ut or y de fin it io n of "s eri ou s ph y si cal i n ju ry " su gg es t, on e m

us t cau se

se rio us in jury t o vi ol at e § 5- 13 -2 01 (a)( 1)

. In Sm it h v. St at e, 98 S.W .3d 43 3, 43 8
(Ark

. 20 03 ), th e Su pr em e Co ur t of Ark an sa s he ld th at rep eat ed ly st rik in g a vi ct im in

th e he ad wit h th e bu tt of a gu n m erel y in fli ct ed "p hysic al in ju r y" s u f fic ie nt fo r a

se co nd -d eg ree ba tt ery co nv ic ti on bu t n o t " s eri ou s ph y si cal in jury" as req ui red fo r

fir st -d eg ree bat te ry

. Thu s, if it is th e cas e th at a de fen da nt ex erci se s ph y si cal fo rce 3

to vi ol at e su bs ect io n (a)( 1) by causing se rio us ph y si cal in jury as Ark an sa s de fin es an d

in te rp ret s th at te rm , th en su ch ph y si cal fo rce un qu es ti on ab ly m eet s th e de fin it io n of

"v io le nt fo rce" se t fo rth in Jo hn so n; th at fo rce m us t ne ces sa ril y ha ve be en cap ab le of

cau si ng ph y si cal pa in or i nju ry to an ot he r pe rs on

.

The qu es ti on , th en , is whe th er it is po ss ib le to in fli ct se rio us ph y si cal in jury by

m ean s of a de ad ly weap on , as th os e te rm s are de fin ed in th e Ark an sa s Co de

, wit ho ut

Alt ho ug h we are n ot bo un d b y Arka ns as st at e co ur ts ' de fin it io n o f "p hysic al 3

fo rce" as th at te rm is us ed in th e Gui de li ne s, we are bo un d by th ei r in te rp ret at io n of
wha t § 5-1 3- 20 1( a)(1 ) req ui res . Jo hn so n, 5 59 U.S. at 1 38

.

-5

-em

pl oyin g ph y si cal fo rce. W e co nc lu de it is no t. As th e Su pr em e Co ur t ha s

ex pl a i n e d

, th e te rm ph

ys ic al fo rce "p la in ly refe rs to fo rce ex ert ed by an d th ro ug h

co nc ret e bo di es ." Jo hn so n, 55 9 U.S. at 13 8. The Ark an sa s Co de 's de fin i t io n of

"d ead ly weap on " de sc rib es jus t su ch a ph y si cal in st ru m en ta li ty. Ark

. Co de Ann

. § 5-

1- 10 2( 4)

. Thi s res u l t i s d e m an de d by bo th co m m on se ns e an d ou r pr eced en t. See

Uni te d St at es v. Ri ce, 81 3 F.3 d 70 4, 70 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 16 ) (h ol di ng Ark an sa s's st at ut e

fo r se co nd -d eg ree ba tt ery pr oh ib it in g "i nt en ti on al ly or kn owi ng ly

. . . c a us [in g]
ph y si cal in

jury" is a cri m e of vi ol en ce un de r th e Gui de li ne s' forc e cl au se (al te rat io n

in or ig in al ) (q uo ti ng Ark

. Co de Ann

. § 5- 13 -2 02 )); Vin to n, 63 1 F.3 d at 48 5- 86 (s am e

f or a Mi ss ou ri as sa ul t st at ut e m ak in g it a cri m e if a pe rs on "[a ]ttem pt s to c a u s e o r

kn owi ng ly cau se s ph y si cal in jury to an ot he r pe rs on by m ean s of a de ad ly weap on or
da ng ero us in st ru m en t" (qu ot in g M o. Re v. St at . § 5 65 .06 0.1 (2 )). 4

Acco rd in gl y , we affi rm

.

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Tho m as 's rel ia nc e on th e di ss en t in Ri ce is un av ai li ng , no t le as t be cau se we 4

are b ou nd by the co ur t's op in io n i n t ha t ca se

.

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