Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/97865031/Briana-Waters-Sentencing-Memorandum
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Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 3624', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 3621', '§ 3624', '§ 3583', '§ 3605']

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THE HON. RONALD B. LEIGHTON
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. BRIANA WATERS, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CAUSE NO. CR 05-5828 RBL DEFENDANT’S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM AND MOTION FOR DOWNWARD DEPARTURE
COMES NOW the Defendant, Briana Waters, by and through her attorney, Neil M. Fox, and submits this sentencing memorandum. I. INTRODUCTION
Eleven years ago, motivated by peer pressure and youthful but misguided idealism, Briana Waters committed a terrible crime that caused enormous economic damage and which destroyed the valuable research of many individuals. Nothing can be done to reverse the events of 2001. There is nothing that Ms. Waters can do now to “un-do” what took place in a different era. Now, at 36 years of age, an established violin teacher, and the parent of a seven year old daughter, Ms. Waters looks back at her life in 2001 with shame. Ms. Waters’ main interest is to be a loving parent to her daughter, K.L., and to raise her in a way so that K.L. will not repeat her mother’s errors.
DEFENDANT’S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM AND MOTION FOR DOWNWARD DEPARTURE - Page 1
United States v. Briana Waters, CR 05-5828 RBL
Law Office of Neil Fox, PLLC Market Place One, Suite 330 2003 Western Avenue Seattle, Washington 98121 206-728-5440
Case 3:05-cr-05828-RBL Document 549
Ms. Waters was initially tried in this case in 2008 and was found guilty of two counts of arson, for the same fire at the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture on May 21, 2001.1 Judge Burgess sentenced Ms. Waters to serve 72 months in prison, but she was released in October 2010, after the Ninth Circuit reversed her convictions. At this point, Ms. Waters made a decision. At a critical time, when Ms. Waters could have gone back to trial, with the Government’s case being potentially weakened as a result of certain post-trial developments, Ms. Waters decided to come forward and tell the truth about what took place in 2001. She made this decision, knowing that some in the political movement that had made her a martyr would then revile her. She made this decision knowing that she would return to the Bureau of Prisons for a period of time. She made this decision knowing that her testimony could be used against her college boyfriend, Justin Solondz (and others who are still fugitives). Ms. Waters thus entered guilty pleas to the following charges: Conspiracy, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Arson and Using a Destructive Device During a Crime of Violence. The United States has filed a motion pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1,
asking the Court to sentence Ms. Waters below the applicable sentencing guideline range and below the mandatory minimum sentences based on her timely and substantial assistance. The plea agreement is for a joint recommendation of 48 months imprisonment. Ms. Waters has already served 31 to 32 months in prison, and thus, with good-time, has less than a year (10 to 11 months) to serve under the joint recommendation. This is an appropriate amount of time for this offense that took place over a decade ago.
The jury could not reach a verdict on the conspiracy count, the unregistered firearm charge and the destructive device charge.
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MS. WATERS’ BACKGROUND A. Childhood and College
Ms. Waters grew up in Pennsylvania. Her mother and father divorced when she was still a child, and her mother struggled to raise her and her brother pretty much alone. Ms. Waters was not the product of privilege, and her achievements were the result of her own hard work. Ms. Waters did well in school, impressed her teachers and received awards for her achievement. She received a scholarship to the University of Dayton, in Ohio, and then transferred to The Evergreen State College in Olympia. She graduated in December 1999. While at Evergreen, Ms. Waters became active in various student groups addressing animal rights and the environment. She participated in peaceful, and nonviolent, protests against logging of old growth forests, and helped to form an alliance between environmental activists and townspeople in the small community of Randle, Washington. Ms. Waters made a film called Watch, which documented the success of this non-violent community alliance. The film itself became an issue at Ms. Waters’ trial and the exclusion of this evidence was one basis for reversal in the 9th Circuit. United States v. Waters, 627 F.3d 345, 357 (9th Cir. 2010) (amended). B. Center for Urban Horticulture Arson
Ms. Waters’ on-again-off-again boyfriend at Evergreen was Justin Solondz, who was also involved in environmental activism. Through their work, Ms. Waters and Mr. Solondz met William Rodgers, an older man (then in his thirties), who was very active in “Forest Defense.” Mr. Rodgers was also involved, for many years, in underground activities, linking up with others in the amorphous “Earth Liberation Front” and “Animal Liberation Front.” Rodgers was secretly involved in a series of arsons against perceived enemies of the environment, and published a series of “how to” manuals for sabotage and arson. At that time, many in the environmental and animal rights movement believed that property destruction, that did not involve attacks
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on human beings, was a legitimate tool. Ms. Waters, as a young person seeking to fit in, came to the same conclusion as her peers. Rodgers first recruited Ms. Waters to assist him through small tasks, such as obtaining a cell phone for him in her name. Ms. Waters was never part of the broader “ELF/ALF” conspiracy that was alleged in the original indictment. Testimony at the 2008 trial revealed that Ms. Waters did not attend the so-called “Book Club” meetings, where various ELF/ALF “members” (such as Ms. Phillabaum and Ms. Kolar) met to train in sabotage and secret communications. In 2001, as Ms. Waters was finishing and showing her film, Watch, Mr. Rodgers recruited her and Mr. Solondz to be involved in the action against the Center for Urban Horticulture, which Ms. Waters was led to believe contained research on genetically modified poplar trees. Ms. Waters obtained a rental car to be used in the action; she allowed the house she was renting to be used as a staging ground for the building of the devices; she was a look-out during the actual event. Ms. Waters views her involvement in this tragic event as the result of her own gullibility and peer pressure, by which she sought the approval of other people and convinced herself that her actions were actually good for the world. She was horrified about the scope of the damage that was caused by the fire. She had been assured that the fire would only damage part of the office, not damage the entire building. After the CUH fire, Ms. Waters agreed to be involved in one other ALF/ELF action in October 2001, a horse release in Susanville, California. She initially thought the action would not involve arson and would only involve the release of animals and therefore agreed to participate. However, as the action unfolded, she did learn that it would also involve fire. Yet, based upon what she now sees as peer pressure, she agreed to participate once again. Ms. Waters looks back at these events at this point with a combination of shame and confusion. She is an intelligent person with an understanding that fire is dangerous, both to possible occupants of the buildings and to the fire fighters. It seems
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obvious from the standpoint of 2012 that her actions were wrong. But, at the time, with the combination of youthful enthusiasm and the desire to gain the approval of others who she respected and who she thought were seeking to improve the world, she concluded that property damage was legitimate (without fully thinking through the personal risks to firefighters or the full effect on those whose incomes and research were devastated). C. Move to California
At the end of 2001 and early 2002, Ms. Waters did not like the way her life in Olympia was unfolding and started a new life in the Bay Area. Not being a “member” of the ELF/ALF, Ms. Waters had no difficulties in extracting herself from what the inner part of her saw was a toxic mileau. Once in California, Ms. Waters worked as a nanny, music teacher and musician. Ms. Waters is a talented violinist, trained in the Suzuki method. She teaches both young children and adults, and plays music in different venues, often in community settings. As many of the letters of support show,2 Ms. Waters has touched many lives with her music. She also regularly performed at charitable events, and became a fixture in the music community. Ms. Waters met John Landgraf in the Bay Area, and in February 2005, their baby, K.L., was born. They lived a modest life in the East Bay. Mr. Landgraf is a carpenter, while Ms. Waters continued performing music and occasionally teaching violin. Ms. Waters became involved in many community activities, but no longer was tied into the radical environmental movement.
A packet of support letters is being filed under separate cover.
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First Trial and Incarceration
In February 2006, shortly after K.L.’s first birthday, the FBI knocked on Ms. Waters’ door in Oakland, and informed her that she was a target of an investigation into ELF/ALF activities. Ms. Waters declined to cooperate and declined to plead guilty. Instead, she went to trial, risking a 35 year mandatory minimum sentence (30 years for the § 924(c) count and 5 years for the arson counts), testifying that she was not guilty. Her motivation was that she would do anything to avoid prison so she could be with her young daughter who was still a baby and completely dependent on her in every way. The jury did not return a guilty verdict on the § 924(c) charge. However, on March 6, 2008, the jury convicted Ms. Waters of the substantive arson charges, which carried a five year mandatory minimum. Ms. Waters, who was out of custody on a recognizance bond until then, was taken into custody the day the jury returned its verdict. Sentencing took place on June 19, 2008. Judge Burgess imposed 72 months, or six years, in prison. Dkt. No. 450. Although Judge Burgess recommended to BOP that Ms. Waters be designated to FCI Dublin, so she could be near her family in California, BOP instead sent Ms. Waters three thousand miles across the country to FCI Danbury in Connecticut. Although that prison was a low security institution, it was very expensive for Mr. Landgraf to take K.L. across the country to visit Ms. Waters. This enforced separation with K.L. traumatized her, and she always had difficulties leaving Ms. Waters, wondering if and when she would see her mother again. K.L. suffered nightmares, digestive issues, bedwetting, anxiety and tearfulness as a result. Letter of Daria Wrubel, Support Letters at 56. By coincidence, Ms. Waters’ brother lived in New Haven, Connecticut, when Ms. Waters’ was incarcerated in Danbury. He describes the visits as follows: During these visits, I had ample opportunity to observe [K.L.] and understand the impact of the situation on her. It was saddening to hear [K.L.] ask Briana questions such as "When are you coming home, Mommy?" and "Why can't we go outside to play?" At the end of visits,
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[K.L.] would display a wide range of negative emotions - she would become upset, cry, sometimes throw small temper tantrums, sometimes become quiet and withdrawn. The emotional hardship for [K.L.] was obvious. In addition to the emotional strain, there was physical strain. The combination of flight schedules, school schedules and flight costs required [K.L.] and John to take the "red-eye" flight from Sacramento on their way to New York, followed by a 2-hour drive to New Haven. To make the most of their visits, [K.L.] and John got up early every morning and drove 1 hour to make the 8:30-9:00am window for morning visits. (Arriving at 9:01am meant you had to wait in the waiting room until10:30am before they would begin processing you.) Visits ended at 3:00pm, so they would normally have about 6 hours together (9:00am3:00pm). While this was great - far better than separation - the prison visiting room was not the best setting for a child. The rooms were crowded and very loud, making conversation difficult. There was not much space to play or interact. There was a children's room, but often it would be closed because the inmate-attendant would be unavailable. The only food available was candy and soda from vending machines, which would give [K.L.] swings of energy and make her behave hyperactively. There were many rules and regulations strictly enforced by the guards, which [K.L.] simply did not understand due to her age, but nevertheless caused her anxiety and angst. The combination of the red-eye flights, jet lag, early mornings, and long, uncomfortable visits was physically exhausting for [K.L.], which exacerbated her emotional and psychological strain. Letter of Eric Waters, Support Letters at 10-11. E. Life After Prison
In September 2010, the Ninth Circuit reversed Ms. Waters’ conviction, based upon a series of errors committed during the trial. Before the mandate issued, the Ninth Circuit ordered Ms. Waters’ release, and she left prison on October 14, 2010. Thus, according to the U.S. Probation calculations, Ms. Waters has already spent a total of 953 days (31-32 months) in custody on these charges. Since her release, Ms. Waters (who, as before the trial, was under the supervision of Pretrial Services)3 has resided in California, near where K.L.’s father, Mr. Landgraf resides.4
Ms. Waters was on pretrial release between March 2006 and March 2008, and again between October 2010 and the present. There have been absolutely no incidents of concern, at all, and her compliance has been perfect.
While Ms. Waters was incarcerated, Mr. Landgraf entered into a new relationship with another
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Ms. Waters resumed her life of giving violin lessons and playing music, helping those in the community less fortunate than her, and being a mother. As one of the parents of her daughter attests, “Briana is an excellent mother for [K.L.] and a great supporter of our school and class. She routinely volunteers whenever there is a task to be done and she is a great asset to our community.” Letter of Douglas P. Williams, Support Letters at 54. K.L. primarily resides with Ms. Waters, and, given the prior separation with her mother, she has exhibited anxiety and trauma when forced to leave her mother, even for short visits with her father. As K.L.’s former5 therapist explains: Each time she left her mother she experienced great emotional pain and feared that she would not be returned. This fear, intense separation anxiety, was caused by her previous trauma from the prolonged separation while her mother was incarcerated. She associated being with her father with having to be apart from her mother, so he became an object to be feared rather than loved or trusted. Often, when it was his turn to have time with [K.L.], she would refuse to leave with him or immediately plead to go back to her mother. He often complied with this, so she has gradually come to trust that her father will return her to her mother. The effect of any future prolonged separation from her mother will most certainly result in an inability to form close relationships later in life, due to trust issues. I have witnessed the very strong bond between Briana and [K.L.] and feel that it would be psychologically and emotionally damaging for this young child to experience any further trauma in being separated from her mother. Letter of Mary Lattimore, Support Letters at 7. When Ms. Waters was released from prison, she rented a room from Nicole Fox, who writes: Originally the arrangement between Briana and [K.L.]'s father was supposed to be a 50/50 time custody share. It was evident immediately, however, that separating from Briana for even a few hours was traumatic for [K.L.]. She screamed, begged, and physically fought against visits with her Dad and Grandparents, the very people who were charged with caring for her and making her feel as secure as possible while she was parted from her mother, and forced visits turned into disaster. School mornings were tearful as she frequently hid or refused cooperation to avoid being parted from Briana. [K.L.] rejected bedtime and attached herself to Briana, or to a piece of furniture nearer to where
For reasons connected to the therapist’s health, K.L. is recently began seeing a new therapist.
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ever Briana was in the house after the 2-3 hours Briana spent trying to make her feel secure and soothe her to sleep before parting the room. Letter of Nicole Fox, Support Letters at 4. Ms. Fox then describes how Ms. Waters was completely selfless in trying to meet K.L.’s needs: Night after night, after [K.L.] had given in to sleep, I witnessed Briana tirelessly searching for solutions. She researched counselors and therapists who could work with [K.L.] on the separation trauma, the subject that was being denied in her absence, and which urgently needed to be addressed. She got insurance for [K.L.] so that the over due dental care and medical exams, which had gone neglected, became possible. She searched for a music teacher and asked other parents for recommendations for physical programs, such as gymnastics, in hope that these activities may provide [K.L]. with an outlet as well as help her to build a healthy sense of self. I also watched Briana work hard to rebuild her business as a music teacher and musician, which she strived for endlessly in order to reach her goal of financial self-sufficiency. Briana did this work night after night, week after week, month after month, while her daughter slept so as not to waste any time together. I saw a mother who was committed to her child, who remained present and strong for her child instead of wallowing in the self-pity or self-centered despair that a bleak future back in prison may invoke in some. In reality she was tired, stressed, and trying hard to "keep a good face" for [K.L.'s] sake all the while confronted by an undetermined fate. I cannot imagine anyone who is more remorseful for bad choices made than Briana Waters. She has suffered, [K.L.] has suffered, and Briana has been paying with every ounce of her being. They are still paying even as I write this, having to live with the daily fear and debilitating anxiety of yet another painful separation sometime in the near future. Is Briana Waters sorry? ABSOLUTELY. Letter of Nicole Fox, Support Letters at 5. K.L.’s father, while loving and well-intentioned, in the words of one of his employers, “just doesn’t have it together, and hasn’t stepped up to the task” of raising his daughter. Letter of Dan Fries, Support Letters at 12-13. As Mr. Fries writes, Ms. Waters is the one with a functioning telephone, who returns calls; Ms. Waters is the one who cooks for K.L., takes her to school and drives her to see her friends. Id. While one can never predict the future, one could easily conclude that lengthy separation from Ms. Waters as it took place between 2008 and 2010, when Ms. Waters was in Danbury, would cause K.L. to suffer further trauma. It is not that there
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are not others who could look after her -- there are such people. But, there is a real concern that K.L.’s trauma would be exacerbated if Ms. Waters is sent across the country again, and not able to see her daughter on a regular basis while she serves out the remaining sentence. III. THE PECULIARITIES OF SENTENCING MS. WATERS
Normally, people get arrested shortly after committing a crime and often are in custody pending trial. If they are convicted, and then sentenced to prison, they are released from prison, but usually with some combination of less restrictive confinement -- camp, half-way houses and the like. Once out of prison, they are on supervision in the community. Ms. Waters situation is different. After the events of 2001, Ms. Waters lived freely for a number of years (until she was charged in 2006), without any criminal charges and as a productive and valued member of her community. She then spent almost two years on Pretrial Release (without any problems), and was taken into custody upon her conviction in March 2008. Her prison time ended abruptly (without any half-way houses) and she was the placed back on Pre-Trial Release -- for another 20-21 months. She has already successfully reintegrated herself into the society, and, as the many support letters illustrate, people in her community value her contributions and see her as a valued part of the community. From the music that brings joy to people’s lives to her participation in her daughter’s school, one cannot read the many support letters and not be impressed with Ms. Waters’ life. Not many people who have left prison have had this degree of success. These letters are significant because they are from “normal” people -- not members of some amorphous support network. In fact, given Ms. Waters’ public branding as a “snitch,” she has no public support from those interested in her case for political reasons. Rather, the letters reveal how Ms. Waters’ has touched the lives of dozens of people, from the music community to those whose children attend K.L.’s school.
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Under the joint recommendation of 48 months imprisonment, with good time credits, Ms. Waters will have just under a year to serve in custody. Based upon what took place four years ago, the defense has a legitimate fear as to what BOP will do. Will they place Ms. Waters in Danbury, Connecticut, again -- 3000 miles away from K.L.? While, under the Second Chance Act of 2007, Ms. Waters is eligible for placement in a “half-way house” for up to 12 months prior to her release date, 18 U.S.C. § 3624(c), BOP has a history of not complying with this statutory mandate and generally has not placed offenders in half-way houses until the final six months of a sentence, if even then. See Sacora v. Beaman, 628 F.3d 1059 (9th Cir. 2010) (rejecting lawsuit challenging BOP’s compliance with the “Second Chance Act”). Apart from the impact on Ms. Waters, the impact on K.L. will be quite harsh. IV. CALCULATING THE PROPER SENTENCE
In the wake of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), district courts, as a matter of process, must properly calculate the applicable guidelines range, treat the guidelines as advisory, and then consider the factors set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). As the Supreme Court summarized: The statute, as modified by Booker, contains an overarching provision instructing district courts to "impose a sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary" to accomplish the goals of sentencing, including "to reflect the seriousness of the offense," "to promote respect for the law," "to provide just punishment for the offense," "to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct," and "to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant." 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) (2000 ed. and Supp. V). The statute further provides that, in determining the appropriate sentence, the court should consider a number of factors, including "the nature and circumstances of the offense," "the history and characteristics of the defendant," "the sentencing range established" by the Guidelines, "any pertinent policy statement" issued by the Sentencing Commission pursuant to its statutory authority, and "the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct." Ibid. In sum, while the statute still requires a court to give respectful consideration to the Guidelines, see Gall v. United States, ante, 128 S. Ct. 586, 169 L. Ed. 2d 445, 128 S. Ct. 586, 169 L.Ed.2d, at 455, 460, Booker "permits the court to tailor the sentence in light of other statutory concerns as well," 543 U.S., at 245246, 125 S. Ct. 738, 160 L. Ed. 2d 621. Kimbrough v. United States, 552 U.S. 85 101 (2007).
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After consideration of these factors, a district court can impose any sentence that is “reasonable,” including a sentence that is significantly below the Guidelines range. Gall v. United States,552 U.S. 38, 50 (2007). “The district court may not presume that the Guidelines range is reasonable. . . . While the Guidelines are to be respectfully considered, they are one factor among the § 3553(a) factors that are to be taken into account in arriving at an appropriate sentence.” United States v. Carty, 520 F.3d 984, 992 (9th Cir. 2008) (en banc). Ultimately, the Court’s duty is to impose a sentence that is “sufficient, but not greater than necessary.” Id. In a post-Booker environment, the term “downward departure” really is of limited utility. While the Court first must calculate the Guideline range, the Court must then set a sentence in accordance with the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Previous concepts of “heartlands” and “downward departures” have little bearing in this calculus. Factors that previously could not be considered as a grounds for an adjustment to the offense level or for a “downward departure,” now can be considered under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). For instance, in United States v. Menyweather, 447 F.3d 625 (9th Cir. 2006), the Ninth Circuit approved a non-Guidelines’ sentence based upon “family circumstances” and diminished capacity, even if those circumstances were not sufficient to justify a traditional downward departure under the Guidelines. In terms of the Guidelines, the defense agrees with United States Probation (¶ 25) that the base offense level is 24 (although reached a different way).6 However, unlike U.S. Probation’s conclusion (¶ 28), there should be an adjustment downward two points for a minor role in the offense under § 3B1.2(b). In United States v. Tankersley, 537 F.3d 1100 (9th Cir. 2008) -- a related ELF case from the District of Oregon -- the district court adjusted downward two levels for minor role where the defendant also played a supporting role (i.e. gathering materials for timing devices, driving to the scene) to the individual who actually set the incendiary devices. While
A copy of Ms. Waters’ objections to U.S. Probation’s Presentence Report is attached in Ex. 1.
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the Circuit addressed Ms. Tankersley’s arguments that she should have received a four point reduction for a minimal role, no one disputed that the two point reduction for a minor role was appropriate. 537 F.3d at 1104-05, 1110-12. Ms. Waters’ involvement was similar to Ms. Tankersley’s and should receive a two-point reduction.7 The defense disputes the that the underlying offense involved a federal crime of terrorism (U.S. Probation ¶ 27) and thus objects to the enhancement under § 3A1.4.8 Unlike the defendants in the related Oregon cases, who all admitted facts in their plea statements that qualified them for the terrorism enhancement, United States v. Tankersley, 537 F.3d at 1115-16 & n. 13, Ms. Waters’ plea agreement was structured differently, and did not admit that the primary purpose of her actions was “to influence and affect the conduct of government, commerce, private business and others in the civilian population by means of force, violence, sabotage, destruction of property, intimidation and coercion, and by similar means to retaliate against the conduct of government, commerce and private business.” Id. Accordingly, the Court should not impose this enhancement. If the Court does impose the enhancement, the Court can adjust downward under § 4A1.3(b), where the criminal history category substantially over-represents someone’s criminal history/propensity. See United States v. Benkahla, 501 F. Supp.2d 748, 758-59 (E.D. Va. 2007), aff’d, 530 F.3d 300 (4th Cir. 2008); United States v. Meskini, 319 F.3d 88, 92 (2nd Cir. 2003). Given the advisory nature of the Guidelines, and the statutory factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), the Court should therefore adjust downward.
As the Government has argued previously, Ms. Waters’ participation in the offense was less than that of Mr. Solondz’s. Government’s Sentencing Memo [Solondz], Dkt. No. 535 at 9. It should be noted that U.S. Probation’s responses to Ms. Waters’ objections in the “addendum” do not discuss the Tankersley case. Prior to the June 2008 sentencing hearing, Ms. Waters filed a lengthy memo regarding this enhancement. Dkt. No. 430. These arguments (to the extent they still apply after the guilty plea in this case) are incorporated by reference.
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Other factors that the Court can consider in adjusting downward include Ms. Waters’ family circumstances, where she is the main parent of a child who already has been traumatized by one separation. See United States v. Menyweather, supra; United States v. Husein, 479 F.3d 318, (6th Cir. 2007). In this regard, it is important to note the documentation, from both professional and lay witnesses, of the trauma Ms. Waters’ earlier separation caused to her daughter, and how, since her release from prison, her daughter suffers huge anxiety when she is separated from her mother. Ms. Waters not only is the primary caretaker of K.L. (and one who is the most responsible of the parents), but she is also the caretaker who is essential to K.L.’s mental health. In this regard, Ms. Waters is unique caretaker contemplated by the Ninth Circuit: Here, the district court essentially concluded that the relationship between Defendant and her daughter was so unusual that care by others was not feasible: This case does not simply involve a single mother and child. The facts and circumstances show unusual traumatic circumstances for this mother and child and an unusual relationship between the two. This mother has been the sole parent caring for the child at home and after school. The mother has been consistently employed since the child's birth and her primary source of financial support. The social security benefits the child receives monthly (less than $ 400) are minimal and insufficient to support a child. [Defendant] has a special relationship with this child who has already lost one parent and has never been without her sole surviving parent excluding absences during brief trips. The court also relied on the fact that, although Defendant's grandmother and great-aunt live nearby, their housing situation is unsafe. Menyweather, 447 F.3d at 632. Just about every single lay and professional person who has viewed Ms. Waters’ relationship with K.L. would concur with this type of assessment, that Ms. Waters has a unique role and that prolonged separation would be unusually traumatic. Other grounds for a “downward departure” include (a) a life-time of good works, see United States v. Canova, 412 F.3d 331, 343 (2d Cir. 2005); United States v. Taylor, 499 F.3d 94, 99-100 (1st Cir. 2007); and (b) Ms. Waters’ substantial
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assistance to the Government.9 With regard to the decision to cooperate with the Government, the value that a system based upon the Rule of Law places on transparency and exposure of the truth sometimes can outweigh the need for excessive punishment. Ms. Waters’ decision to come forward and tell the truth about what took place in 2001 is certainly a factor that a Court should consider under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).10 Most importantly, the Supreme Court has approved of consideration of postsentencing rehabilitation as a reason to depart downward. Pepper v. United States, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S. Ct. 1229, 179 L.Ed.2d 196 (2011). The Court held: In light of the federal sentencing framework described above, we think it clear that when a defendant's sentence has been set aside on appeal and his case remanded for resentencing, a district court may consider evidence of a defendant's rehabilitation since his prior sentencing and that such evidence may, in appropriate cases, support a downward variance from the advisory Guidelines range. . . . ... As the original sentencing judge recognized, the extensive evidence of Pepper's rehabilitation since his initial sentencing is clearly relevant to the selection of an appropriate sentence in this case. Most fundamentally, evidence of Pepper's conduct since his release from custody in June 2005 provides the most up-to-date picture of Pepper's "history and characteristics." § 3553(a)(1); see United States v. Bryson, 229 F.3d 425, 426 (CA2 2000) ("[A] court's duty is always to sentence the defendant as he stands before the court on the day of sentencing"). At the time of his initial sentencing in 2004, Pepper was a 25-year-old drug addict who was unemployed, estranged from his family, and had recently sold drugs as part of a methamphetamine conspiracy. By the time of his second resentencing in 2009, Pepper had been drug-free for nearly five years, had attended college and achieved high grades, was a top employee at his job slated for a promotion, had re-established a
U.S. Probation concludes that Ms. Waters obstructed justice when she perjured herself at the trial in 2008 and that her scoring should be adjusted upward. ¶ 27. It is hard to understand how exactly this fits in to a Guidelines’ analysis because of the reversal of the earlier convictions, and then, instead of going to trial again, Ms. Waters pled guilty and agreed to cooperate with the Government, and she is now being sentenced for the new convictions. In any case, when Ms. Waters again had a choice as to how to proceed, she made a decision to come forward and tell the truth. Legal systems based upon the Rule of Law have used differing methods for addressing past “political” offenses. For one example of how a common-law jurisdiction handled this issue in structured legal proceedings that balanced the need for exposure of the truth versus the need for punishment, reference can be made to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
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relationship with his father, and was married and supporting his wife's daughter. There is no question that this evidence of Pepper's conduct since his initial sentencing constitutes a critical part of the "history and characteristics" of a defendant that Congress intended sentencing courts to consider. § 3553(a). 131 S. Ct. at 1241-42. A review of the support letters written about Ms. Waters’ after she was released from prison demonstrates her essential humanity and positive community involvement. These letters show the most up-to-date picture of Ms. Waters “history and characteristics.” Her devotion to her daughter; her involvement in her daughter’s school; the musical joy she creates; the deep and lasting impressions she has made to people who did not even know her previously, as well as the fact that many of her friends have stuck by her without regard to whether she pled guilty to arson -- all of this is evidence that Ms. Waters has been rehabilitated. In light of all these factors, the agreed-upon sentencing of 48 months imprisonment is the appropriate one under the Guidelines and § 3553(a). V. DESIGNATION
Ms. Waters, her friends and family, and those in her community are concerned that BOP will place Ms. Waters in a prison on the other side of the North American Continent, as it did four years ago. It is safe to say that such a placement will not contribute at all to any rehabilitation of Ms. Waters, nor will this placement be necessary to “protect” society. She will not learn any additional vocational skills in a prison on the East Coast nor does she have a substance abuse problem that will (or can) be treated there. Such additional time in Danbury really and truly will be “dead” time. Moreover, such a decision by BOP will once again cause Ms. Waters’ daughter to be separated from her mother, with all of the harm that can be caused by such separation. Therefore, while Ms. Waters asks the Court to sentence her to 48 months imprisonment in the Bureau of Prisons, she is asking that the Court make an advisory recommendation under 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b) as to designation, not to a prison, but rather that she be imprisoned in a half-way house run under BOP’s authority. As
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noted, under the Second Chance Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3624, because Ms. Waters will have less than 12 months to serve before she is released, Ms. Waters is eligible for immediate placement in a half-way house. Ms. Waters specifically requests placement at the Cornell Corrections-Oakland facility. This facility is the one that is closest to Ms. Waters’ daughter. While no one can ever guarantee what BOP will do, a strongly worded recommendation from the Court to BOP, if followed, will allow Ms. Waters to work in a job that will produce significant income to pay back the costs of her incarceration (prisoners pay 25% of their gross income), to support her daughter and to pay restitution. Designation to the Oakland half-way house will minimize any further trauma that K.L. suffers from the separation from her mother. As Ms. Waters writes in her statement to the Court, [I]f there is a way to punish me without punishing my child, I trust that you as a judge will be able to come up with that solution. I deserve to face the consequences for such shameful conduct 11 years ago. I want to make amends however I can to the victims and to society as a whole. Yet I also want my daughter to have the best chance at being a productive, responsible and law abiding citizen that she can. I doubt she will have this chance with continued re-traumatization at such a young age. I know that there must be some way to save her; to punish only me and not her anymore. Alternatively, the Court should recommend FCI Dublin. VI. SELF-REPORTING
Ms. Waters has been completely responsible on pre-trial release since October 2010. To allow her to be designated to the proper facility may require input and coordination. The defense concurs with U.S. Probations’ suggestion that she be allowed to self-report. VII. OTHER ISSUES
In terms of restitution, Ms. Waters should get credit for the amount of funds she has already paid toward this obligation after the first sentencing. As for supervised release, Ms. Waters has been on pre-trial release since her release from Danbury in October 2010. Imposing a lengthy term of supervised release
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after her re-release from prison in a year or so from now does not make a whole lot of sense. Accordingly, under 18 U.S.C. § 3583, if the Court imposes supervised release, the length should be one year. The special terms of supervision, proposed by U.S. Probation, include participation in a mental health program. It is not clear where this proposal comes from, and, given the circumstances, the condition is not appropriate. Finally, jurisdiction for supervised release should be transferred under 18 U.S.C. § 3605 to the Eastern District of California. VIII. CONCLUSION The Court should follow the joint recommendation of the parties. While nothing can ever rebuild the damage caused by Ms. Waters’ actions, she hopes that this Court will recognize her life in the intervening years supports the conclusion that 48 months imprisonment, with credit for time served and a recommendation for designation in a half-way house, is the appropriate way to put closure on the events of 2001.
Respectfully submitted, /s/ Neil M. Fox NEIL M. FOX WSBA NO. 15277 Attorney for Defendant Law Office of Neil Fox, PLLC 2003 Western Ave. Suite 330 Seattle WA 98121 Telephone: 206-728-5440 Fax: 206-448-2252 e-mail: nf@neilfoxlaw.com
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on the 18th day of June 2012, I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk of the Court using the CM/ECF system which will send notification of such filing to attorney of record for the Plaintiff and all other parties. /s/ Neil M. Fox NEIL M. FOX WSBA NO. 15277 Attorney for Defendant Law Office of Neil Fox, PLLC 2003 Western Ave. Suite 330 Seattle WA 98121 Telephone: 206-728-5440 Fax: 206-448-2252 e-mail: nf@neilfoxlaw.com
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