Source: http://www.openjurist.org/982/f2d/4/united-states-v-h-sanders
Timestamp: 2016-04-29 06:02:38
Document Index: 321993830

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 922', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 4', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 4']

982 F2d 4 United States v. H Sanders | OpenJurist
982 F. 2d 4 - United States v. H Sanders HomeFederal Reporter, Second Series 982 F.2d.
982 F2d 4 United States v. H Sanders 982 F.2d 4
UNITED STATES, Appellee,v.Steven H. SANDERS, Defendant, Appellant.
Submitted Dec. 15, 1992.Decided Dec. 18, 1992.
Defendant, who pled guilty to (1) being a felon in possession of firearms, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and (2) using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1), appeals from his sentence. He contends that the conduct underlying the second count was unfairly counted three times in computing his sentence and that the district court improperly departed upwards under U.S.S.G. 5K2.2 (physical injury) upon finding that defendant had used a firearm different from any of those listed in the indictment to shoot his girlfriend. Finding no error, we affirm.
* We first address defendant's triple counting argument. As defendant concedes, he was properly sentenced as an armed career offender, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), for the felon in possession count. In these circumstances, defendant's guilty plea to using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1), had three effects on defendant's overall sentence.
First, defendant's guilty plea to the count two offense of using or carrying firearms in connection with drug trafficking required a minimum mandatory five-year sentence to be added consecutively to the count 1 sentence. 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) ("Whoever, during and in relation to any
(3)(A) 34, if the defendant used or possessed the firearm ... in connection with a crime of violence or controlled substance offense ...
The district court chose subsection (3)(A), with a base offense level of 34, on the ground that, the firearms listed in counts one and two being identical, defendant's guilty plea to using or carrying firearms in connection with drug trafficking established that the firearms had been used or possessed in connection with a controlled substance offense.
* Turning first to the second (the selection of BOL 34 rather than 33) and the third (criminal history category) increases, we see no impermissible double counting. The very same guideline, U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4, plainly directs both of these increases. An armed career criminal who unlawfully uses or carries a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking offense will have both his base offense level (under subsection (b)(3)(A)) and his criminal history category (under subsection (c)(2)) augmented. This is not a circumstance where, through cross-referencing, it might be thought that double counting unintentionally resulted, but rather the case of one guideline expressly directing that a single factor--possession of a firearm in connection with a controlled substance offense--be considered in two ways. The district court correctly followed the plain language of the guideline in selecting BOL 34 and criminal history category VI.
Where a sentence under this section is imposed in conjunction with a sentence for an underlying offense, any specific offense characteristic for the possession, use, or discharge of a firearm (e.g., § 2B3.1(b)(2)(A)-(F) (Robbery)), is not to be applied in respect to the guideline for the underlying offense.
Second, even if the felon in possession charge were viewed as an offense underlying the using or carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime offense, the literal application of note 2 would not help defendant. The note directs that any "specific offense characteristic" for the underlying offense not be utilized in calculating the guideline range for the underlying offense. Unlike, for example, the guidelines for aggravated assault (§ 2A2.2), kidnapping (§ 2A4.1), or drug trafficking (§ 2D1.1) which list use or possession of a firearm as a "specific offense characteristic" raising the offense level, the felon in possession guidelines (§§ 2K2.1, 4B1.4) do not designate possession or use of a single weapon as a "specific offense characteristic" raising the offense level.1 Rather, possession of a weapon is an element of the crime. And section 4B1.4(b)(3)(A) where use is considered is not denominated a "specific offense characteristic." Consequently, application note 2 does not assist defendant.
The strongest case on which defendant relies for his contention that unforseen or unintended double counting occurs when use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense is used both in calculating the offense level for a felon in possession count and in adding a five-year consecutive sentence is United States v. Bell, 716 F.Supp. 1207 (D.Minn.1989). There, a defendant sentenced for prison escape objected to the application of U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1(d), which called for a two-point addition to the criminal history score when an offense was committed while under any criminal justice sentence. Defendant argued that an escape offense could only be committed while under a criminal justice sentence, so the offender's incarcerated status was necessarily already included in the base offense level. Consequently, considering it again under § 4A1.1(d) was improper double counting. After reviewing various places throughout the guidelines where provisions are made to avoid double counting, the district court substantially agreed with defendant, reasoning as follows:
All courts of appeals confronted with the situation in Bell have disagreed with Bell and have applied the plain language of the guidelines. See, e.g., United States v. Thomas, 930 F.2d 12, 13-14 (8th Cir.1991) (collecting cases). Nevertheless, there are other situations in which courts of appeals have refused to apply the guidelines literally when it seemed to them that a single factor had been used twice, even though the plain language of the guidelines called for the double enhancement. See, e.g., United States v. Hudson, 972 F.2d 504 (2d Cir.1992) (impermissible double counting where the use of a non-inherently dangerous weapon (car) both made the assault an aggravated one and resulted in a specific offense characteristic 4 level increase for use of a dangerous weapon); United States v. Romano, 970 F.2d 164, 167 (6th Cir.1992) ("if certain conduct is used to enhance a defendant's sentence under one enhancement provision, the defendant should not be penalized for that same conduct again under a separate provision whether or not the Guidelines expressly prohibit taking the same conduct into consideration under two separate provisions"; separate enhancements for being an organizer or manager and more than minimal planning improper as more than minimal planning is required to qualify as an organizer).
Other courts, however, when faced with situations in which a single factor has been used twice under the guidelines to compute a sentence have rejected claims of unfair double counting and have concluded that the guidelines should be applied as written. See, e.g., United States v. Ellen, 961 F.2d 462, 468 (4th Cir.1992) (rejecting argument that a defendant convicted of filling wetlands without a permit should not receive upward adjustments for ongoing discharge and discharge without a permit even if those factors were elements of the offense; "[b]ecause 'the Guidelines are explicit when double counting is forbidden, ... [a]n adjustment that clearly applies to the conduct of an offense must be imposed unless the Guidelines expressly exclude its applicability' "), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 217, 121 L.Ed.2d 155 (1992); United States v. Williams, 954 F.2d 204 (4th Cir.1992) (acknowledging that the use of a metal chair to commit an assault was counted twice--first, in selecting the base offense level and second in adding four levels for use of a dangerous weapon--but concluding that as the guidelines have been explicit where double counting is to be avoided, an exception should not be created where none is stated); United States v. Goolsby, 908 F.2d 861 (11th Cir.1990) (even though enhancement factors are required elements of the crime itself (escape from custody) court will not create an exception where the Commission has not); United States v. Vickers, 891 F.2d 86, 88 (5th Cir.1989) (same).
Even if the weapon which wounded defendant's girlfriend was not one of those listed in the indictment, defendant's possession of it was relevant conduct, under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(2), to the felon in possession charge. Section 1B1.3(a)(2) directs a defendant's offense level to be determined as follows:
"The 'same course of conduct' concept ... looks to whether the defendant repeats the same type of criminal activity over time. It does not require that acts be 'connected together' by common participants or by an overall scheme." United States v. Perdomo, 927 F.2d 111, 115 (2d Cir.1991). Here, defendant did repeat the same type of criminal activity--he illegally possessed three or four separate firearms when victim was shot. We have no difficulty viewing the illegal possession of the four weapons as all part of the same course of conduct.
It is true that the relevant conduct guideline specifically says that relevant conduct is to be used in determining the base offense level and adjustments (in chapter 3) to base offense level; it does not expressly direct whether relevant conduct may be a basis for an upward departure. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3. Nevertheless, we and other courts have approved upward departures based on relevant uncharged conduct. See, e.g., United States v. Figaro, 935 F.2d 4 (1st Cir.1991) (upward departure based in part on circumstance that defendant, charged with illegal entry, had been attempting to smuggle aliens at the time of the illegal entry, a separate and more serious--but uncharged--crime). United States v. Kim, 896 F.2d 678, 684 (2d Cir.1990) ("We conclude that, with respect to acts of misconduct not resulting in conviction, the Commission intended to preclude departures for acts bearing no relationship to the offense of conviction, but to permit departure for acts that relate in some way to the offense of conviction, even though not technically covered by the definition of relevant conduct."); United States v. Shields, 939 F.2d 780, 782 (9th Cir.1991) (departure based on relevant conduct not part of counts of conviction). The principles of these cases amply cover and support a departure here on the basis of uncharged, relevant conduct.
Defendant argues that sentencing him on the basis, in part, of an uncharged shooting is unconstitutional. He contends he is being punished for the shooting without a jury having determined beyond a reasonable doubt that he shot victim or the other procedural protections which would apply had defendant been indicted and tried for the shooting. We have rejected similar arguments and adhere to that position. United States v. Wright, 873 F.2d 437, 441-42 (1st Cir.1989) (government need not prove facts used in sentencing beyond a reasonable doubt). See also United States v. Galloway, 976 F.2d 414 (8th Cir.1992) (sentencing by considering relevant, uncharged conduct under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(2) does not violate the constitutional rights to indictment, jury trial, and proof beyond a reasonable doubt); McMillan v. Pennsylvania, 477 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 2411, 91 L.Ed.2d 67 (1986) (factors used to raise a minimum sentence below the statutory maximum need not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt; preponderance standard satisfies due process and right to jury trial is not implicated).2 Defendant has not received a sentence beyond the statutory maximum.
Possession of three or more weapons can raise the offense level of persons sentenced pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(1). Defendant's offense level was not calculated pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(1), but rather under § 4B1.4