Opinion ID: 70404
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Extreme psychological injury to Kenny Price

Text: 40 The Prices also challenge the court's reliance on its finding of extreme psychological harm to several of the victims, most notably Kenny Price, as a basis for upward departure. The Prices do not question the court's capacity to increase their sentences where their victims suffered severe psychological injury. See U.S.S.G. Sec. 5K2.3. They only argue that the evidence introduced by the government did not show that Kenny Price or the other victims suffered an injury much more serious than that normally resulting from being a target for murder. See U.S.S.G. Sec. 5K2.3, p.s. Our review, then, is limited to reviewing the court's factual findings for clear error. 41 To be sufficiently severe to warrant a departure, there must be a substantial impairment of the intellectual, psychological, emotional, or behavioral functioning of a victim likely to last for an extended duration and to manifest itself by physical or psychological symptoms, or by changes in behavior. U.S.S.G. Sec. 5K2.3. See United States v. Wilson, 993 F.2d 214, 218 (11th Cir.1993) (stating that [w]e doubt that feelings of foolishness, anger, or disappointment are so far beyond the heartland of fraud offenses to rise to the level of extreme psychological harm). While we have never decided the extent of harm needed to show extreme psychological injury, other circuits have affirmed trial courts that departed from the guidelines based on factual findings similar to those in this case. See, e.g., United States v. Anderson, 5 F.3d 795, 804-805 (5th Cir.1993) (upholding departure based on letter of victim describing her ordeal and its effects on her life), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 1118, 127 L.Ed.2d 428 (1994); United States v. Miller, 993 F.2d 16, 21 (2d Cir.1993) (upholding departure where victim was afraid to answer phone, open mail, or stay in New York area). 42 Upon review of the presentence investigation reports (PSIs), we cannot say that the trial court clearly erred in finding that several of the victims suffered severe psychological injuries of the type addressed by U.S.S.G. Sec. 5K2.3. The PSIs state that this ordeal was very traumatic for Kenny Price. He attended counseling sessions, and at one point contemplated suicide. Kenny suffered from depression, and he stated that he no longer felt safe in his home or when he went anywhere. IRS agent Dwight Huff stated in the PSIs that his whole family changed their lifestyle to be extra cautious of their surroundings, and he also said that his children were psychologically affected. Leon Capouano and David Hawthorne installed security systems in their houses and also restricted their activities outside their homes after the incidents at issue in this case. We find no error in the trial court's reliance on this evidence of extreme psychological injury as a basis for upward departure under U.S.S.G. Sec. 5K2.3. 43