Source: https://openjurist.org/949/f2d/190/united-states-v-l-hamilton
Timestamp: 2017-09-25 21:12:36
Document Index: 10789762

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 841', '§ 3742', '§ 5', '§ 3742', '§ 5', '§ 5']

949 F2d 190 United States v. L Hamilton | OpenJurist
949 F. 2d 190 - United States v. L Hamilton
949 F2d 190 United States v. L Hamilton
949 F.2d 190
Robert L. HAMILTON, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 91-1086.
Decided Sept. 24, 1991.*
The government filed an information charging Dr. Hamilton with one count of possessing approximately 8,400 tablets of Tylenol IV with intent to distribute them, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). He pleaded guilty to this charge.
"where ... the guideline range was properly computed, the district court was not unaware of its discretion to depart from the guideline range, and the sentence was not imposed in violation of law or as a result of an incorrect application of the guidelines, the failure to depart is not cognizable on appeal under 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a)." United States v. Davis, 919 F.2d 1181, 1187 (6th Cir.1990).
See also, United States v. Draper, 888 F.2d 1100 (6th Cir.1989) ("[a] sentence which is within the Guidelines, and otherwise valid ... is not appealable on the grounds that the sentencing judge failed to depart from the Guidelines on account of certain factors which the defendant feels were not considered by the Guidelines and should reduce his sentence"); United States v. Gregory, 932 F.2d 1167 (6th Cir.1991) (no appeal lies to challenge degree of downward departure). We have found sentences subject to appellate review, however, when the district judge "incorrectly believed that it could not consider [the] defendant's mitigating circumstances and exercise discretion to depart from the guidelines based upon such consideration." United States v. Maddalena, 893 F.2d 815, 817 (6th Cir.1989). It is on this exception that Dr. Hamilton relies in arguing that the district court's decision not to depart downward is reviewable in the case at bar.
A fair reading of the transcript leaves no room for doubt that the court knew that if it found that the defendant suffered from a significantly reduced mental capacity or had sold drugs because of serious coercion or duress, the court was authorized to depart from the guideline range. The court said "I do not think the facts in this case fit the guidelines on coercion and diminished capacity," and agreed with the Assistant United States Attorney when she suggested that "you would agree that if you had found the facts to support 5K2.12 and 13 that you did have the authority to depart downward under those grounds[.]" There is also no reason to doubt that the district court was aware of its residual discretion to depart downward pursuant to § 5K2.0.2
The district court's conclusion that the type of mental state and coercion claimed by the defendant do not fit within sections 5K2.13 and 5K2.12 of the guidelines is a legal conclusion that is reviewable on appeal under 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a)(1). See United States v. Poff, 926 F.2d 588, 590-91 (7th Cir.1991) (en banc) (appellate court may review district court's conclusion that because the defendant committed a crime of violence, it was not authorized to depart downward pursuant to § 5K2.13), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 96, 116 L.Ed.2d 67 (1991); United States v. Rosen, 896 F.2d 789, 791 (3rd Cir.1990) (applying de novo standard of review to district court's conclusion that § 5K2.13 did not authorize a downward departure where the defendant was a compulsive gambler who committed a crime of violence). Having reviewed the district court's decision, we find no error in the conclusion that the circumstances of this case were not sufficient to justify invoking sections 5K2.13 and 5K2.12.
Section 5K2.0 provides that "[c]ircumstances that may warrant departure from the guidelines pursuant to this provision cannot, by their very nature, be comprehensively listed and analyzed in advance. The controlling decision as to whether and to what extent departure is warranted can only be made by the courts."