Case Name: UNITED STATES of America v. Johnny RICHMOND, Defendant
Court: United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2016-11-14
Citations: 218 F. Supp. 3d 130
Docket Number: CRIMINAL ACTION NO. 09-10048-WGY
Parties: UNITED STATES of America v. Johnny RICHMOND, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Supplement 3d
Volume: 218
Pages: 130–131

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America v. Johnny RICHMOND, Defendant.
CRIMINAL ACTION NO. 09-10048-WGY
United States District Court, D. Massachusetts.
Signed November 14, 2016
Christopher J. Pohl, Cynthia Young, United States Attorney’s Office, Boston, MA, for United States of America.
Johnny Richmond, Hazelton, Bruceton Mills, WV, Peter C. Horstmann, Law Offices of Partridge, Ankner & Horstmann, LLP, Boston, MA, Inga L. Parsons, Inga Parsons Attorney at Law, Marblehead, MA, for Defendant.

Opinion:
ORDER
WILLIAM G. YOUNG, DISTRICT JUDGE
Johnny Richmond ("Richmond") filed a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate and correct his sentence pursuant to Johnson v. United States, — U.S. —, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015), and this Court's ruling in Ramirez v. United States, No. 10-10008-WGY, 189 F.Supp.3d 290, 2016 WL 3014646 (D. Mass. May 24, 2016). Corrected Mot. Pursuant 28 U.S.C. § 2255, ECF No. 305. Specifically, Richmond argues that since applicable caselaw renders his categorization and sentencing as a career offender under the federal Sentencing Guidelines ("Guidelines") improper, his sentence ought be vacated. Id. at 8.
In sentencing Richmond, this Court considered two relevant prior convictions for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Id. at 3-4. Recently this Court has decided that, under Massachusetts law, assault and batteiy with a dangerous weapon has both the required level of mens rea and the required level of force for a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e) ("ACCA") force clause. United States v. Webb, No. 01-10267-WGY, 217 F.Supp.3d 381, 2016 WL 6647929 (D. Mass. November 9, 2016); United States v. Timothy Meadows, NO. 06-10251-WGY, 217 F.Supp.3d 381, 2016 WL 6647929 (D. Mass. November 9, 2016). Given the similar wording between the force clauses under the ACCA and under the Guidelines, this Court applies that rationale here. Ramirez, 189 F.Supp.3d at 295-96, 2016 WL 3014646 at *3; United States v. Ramirez, 708 F.3d 295, 301 n. 4 (1st Cir. 2013). Under Massachusetts law, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon has both the required level of mens rea and the required level of force for a violent felony under the Guidelines force clause. Accordingly, Richmond still qualifies as a career offender under the Guidelines even after Johnson and Ramirez.
The Court, therefore, DENIES Richmond's petition to vacate and correct sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. A certificate of appealability will issue.
SO ORDERED.