Source: http://openjurist.org/950/f2d/1267/united-states-v-j-connor
Timestamp: 2015-03-31 00:32:23
Document Index: 611327006

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 3742']

950 F2d 1267 United States v. J Connor | OpenJurist
950 F. 2d 1267 - United States v. J Connor	Home950 f2d 1267 united states v. j connor
950 F2d 1267 United States v. J Connor 950 F.2d 1267
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.Myles J. CONNOR, Jr., Defendant-Appellant.
Nos. 90-2669, 90-2687.
Argued Feb. 15, 1991.Decided Dec. 10, 1991.
Myles Connor pled guilty to one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; one count of conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine; two counts of distribution of controlled substances; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property; and one count of attempted escape. This appeal concerns Connor's sentence for these offenses. Under the sentencing guidelines, the district court initially determined an adjusted offense level of 24 (26 minus 2 for acceptance of responsibility) and a criminal history category of V. Accordingly, the sentencing table would yield a range of 92-115 months of imprisonment. The district court, however, decided to depart upwards and sentenced Connor to 240 months of imprisonment. United States v. Connor, 743 F.Supp. 582 (C.D.Ill.1990). On appeal, Connor contends that he had a criminal history category of IV, that the district court erred by departing from the guidelines range or, in any event, that the degree of departure is unreasonable, and that the sentence must be vacated because the district judge relied on materials he received which were not made available to Connor.
In order to determine Connor's criminal history category, the probation officer reported on Connor's extensive criminal record. On February 27, 1967, Connor was convicted by a Massachusetts court of assault with intent to murder--armed. He was sentenced to 12-20 years. Although the sentence was imposed more than fifteen years before the commencement of the instant offense, his incarceration extended into the fifteen year period. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(e)(1). This sentence was counted 3 points in computing criminal history. On the same date he was convicted by the same court of assaults and weapons offenses and sentenced to concurrent terms. These were related cases and for that reason were not counted. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(a)(2). The conduct occurred in May, 1966, when Connor was 23.
On April 20, 1971, Connor was sentenced by a Maine court to 1-2 years concurrent with the 1967 sentence. The offense was assault and battery and occurred in January, 1966, at age 23. The sentence was not counted in the criminal history because it was imposed and his imprisonment was completed more than fifteen years before the commencement of the present offense. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(e)(1).
On April 20, 1976, Connor was sentenced by a Massachusetts court to 1-2 years concurrent with the existing sentence. The offense was possession of a dangerous weapon, a switchblade knife, on July 18, 1974, at the time of his arrest for the federal offense. This sentence was counted 3 points, and defendant argues that it should not have been counted because the case was related to the federal case. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(a)(2). On the same date Connor received a similar sentence for carrying a pistol on the same occasion. This sentence was not counted.
Under the sentencing guidelines, the criminal history category is determined by adding three points "for each prior sentence of imprisonment exceeding one year and one month." U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1(a). However, "[p]rior sentences imposed in related cases are to be treated as one sentence for purposes of the criminal history." U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(a)(2) (1990). The guidelines do not define "related cases," but the commentary says, "Cases are considered related if they (1) occurred on a single occasion, (2) were part of a single common scheme or plan, or (3) were consolidated for trial or sentencing." U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(a)(2), comment. (n. 3) (1990). We give substantial weight to the commentary. United States v. Valencia, 913 F.2d 378, 384 (7th Cir.1990).
We review the district court's application of the guidelines under a due deference standard. 18 U.S.C. § 3742(e). This court has not previously determined the appropriate standard for reviewing a claim that prior convictions are related, but a close review seems appropriate in this case. See United States v. Davis, 922 F.2d 1385, 1388 (9th Cir.1991) (whether two cases are related is subject to de novo review). But see United States v. Jones, 899 F.2d 1097, 1101 (11th Cir.) (whether two cases are related is subject to clearly erroneous standard), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 275, 112 L.Ed.2d 230 (1990).
Nonetheless, courts which have mentioned the "single occasion" requirement have referred to it in terms of time. See United States v. Davis, 922 F.2d 1385, 1388 (9th Cir.1991) (no issue of whether offenses occurred on a single occasion because defendant did not even "argue that they occurred within the same general time period"); United States v. Bishop, 921 F.2d 1068, 1072 (10th Cir.1990) (Ebel, J., dissenting) (offenses are close to meeting single occasion test when they occur within a week and are "closely related from a temporal point of view"), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 2034, 114 L.Ed.2d 119 (1991); United States v. Jones, 899 F.2d 1097, 1101 (11th Cir.) (cases did not occur on a single occasion because an hour and a half separated the two robberies), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 275, 112 L.Ed.2d 230 (1990).
The Sentencing Commission apparently intended a broad reading of "related cases." The guidelines commentary includes any offenses that are consolidated for trial or sentencing in its definition of "related cases."1 We would have very odd results if only "inextricably intertwined" cases could be deemed to occur on a single occasion and thereby be related cases, but cases that were reasonably consolidated for trial--although the offenses neither occurred at the same time nor were inextricably intertwined--were related cases. Such a system would suggest that those, like Connor, who committed crimes subject to different jurisdictions deserve a different punishment from those who commit crimes within the same jurisdiction. Courts have clearly rejected such an approach. United States v. Houser, 929 F.2d 1369, 1374 (9th Cir.1990) (cases are related where defendant was charged and convicted in separate cases merely because drug sales occurred in different counties); Cf. United States v. Rivers, 929 F.2d 136, 140 (4th Cir.1991) (cases are not related every time sentencing is consolidated because defendant who was fortuitously sentenced by one judge on one day would face less punishment than similarly situated defendant who was sentenced on successive days or on the same day by different judges).
The government supported its definition of "