Source: http://openjurist.org/print/561207
Timestamp: 2015-11-25 14:57:20
Document Index: 181217852

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 846', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 5']

403 F3d 849 United States v. T Schlifer
Home > 403 F3d 849 United States v. T Schlifer
403 F3d 849 United States v. T Schlifer 403 F.3d 849
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.James T. SCHLIFER, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 04-3398.
Decided April 7, 2005.
Before KANNE, EVANS and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.
James Schlifer appeals his sentence of 120 months on the ground that the district court violated the Sixth Amendment by sentencing him as a career offender without presenting the facts underlying his prior convictions to a jury. He also argues that in light of the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Booker, ___ U.S. ___, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), the district court erred in applying the guidelines under the prior mandatory sentencing scheme. Although Schlifer's Sixth Amendment argument lacks merit, we vacate his sentence and remand for resentencing because the district court erred under Booker by sentencing Schlifer under a mandatory guidelines system, and the government has not demonstrated that the error was harmless.
In June 2004 Schlifer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). Under the November 2003 sentencing guidelines, Schlifer's crime ordinarily would have carried a base offense level of 30 based on evidence that the quantity of methamphetamine was at least 360 grams. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(5). However, the probation officer who prepared the presentence investigation report (PSR) recommended that the court sentence Schlifer as a career offender because among his prior crimes were two unrelated convictions for aggravated assault. See U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1. Under the career offender guideline, Schlifer's base offense level increased to 32 and his criminal history category was VI regardless. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1. The court then deducted three levels for acceptance of responsibility. See U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1. This resulted in a total offense level of 29, which, combined with Schlifer's criminal history category of VI, yielded a sentencing range of 151 to 188 months.
In response to the PSR and again at his sentencing hearing, Schlifer objected to being sentenced as a career offender. He argued that in order to classify him as a career offender the district court was required to find facts beyond the mere existence of two prior convictions. Specifically, he argued that the district court had to determine whether his prior convictions were for crimes of violence and whether the two crimes were unrelated. See U.S.S.G. §§ 4B1.2(c), 4A1.2(a) & cmt. n. 3. These determinations, Schlifer argued, required the district court to go beyond the "fact of a prior conviction" and thus exceeded the judicial factfinding exception for recidivism recognized in Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), and preserved in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Accordingly, Schlifer contended that under Blakely v. Washington, ___ U.S. ___, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), and United States v. Booker, 375 F.3d 508 (7th Cir.2004), these facts must be admitted or proven beyond a reasonable doubt before they could be used to increase his guideline range. The district court rejected Schlifer's argument, concluding that Blakely and this court's opinion in Booker do not apply to prior convictions.
The district court denied Schlifer's motion to depart under U.S.S.G. § 5K2.0, rejecting his argument that his offense primarily involved manufacturing methamphetamine for personal use and thus fell outside of the "heartland" of drug manufacturing and distribution cases contemplated by the guidelines. The court, however, granted the government's motion for a downward departure based on Schlifer's substantial assistance. See U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1. The court calculated a new effective range of 120 to 150 months by departing the equivalent of three levels, and sentenced Schlifer to 120 months' imprisonment.