Opinion ID: 78154
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Anton's Sentencing Objections

Text: Lastly, Anton objects to several aspects of his sentence. Anton argues that the district court erroneously accepted Probation's offense level calculation, which was not supported by evidence in the record. Anton also argues that the district court erred in finding that his firearms were not possessed for sporting or collection purposes, and that he was not entitled to a two level reduction for timely acceptance of guilt. The Court reviews the district court's findings of fact for clear error and its application of the sentencing guidelines to those facts de novo. See United States v. Humber, 255 F.3d 1308, 1311 (11th Cir. 2001). Anton's first sentencing argument is that no evidence was introduced to support the conclusions that he was responsible for over 300 firearms and a stolen firearm. As far as the quantity of firearms, the government primarily relied on various documents seized at Anton's property. None of these documents were made part of the record before the district court at sentencing. The only other evidence related to the number of firearms were the hearsay statements of the confidential informant. However, to rely on hearsay statements at sentencing, the district court must make explicit findings as to the credibility and reliability of these statements. See United States v. Baker, 432 F.3d 1189, 1253-55 (11th Cir.2005). Here the district court failed to make any findings regarding these hearsay statements. Similarly, the government failed to present any evidence to establish that one of Anton's firearms was stolen. Accordingly, the district court committed clear error by improperly calculating Anton's sentencing range based upon unsupported conclusions. See, e.g., United States v. Wise, 881 F.2d 970 (11th Cir. 1989). Anton's additional sentencing arguments, however, are meritless. Anton had the burden of producing evidence to establish that his firearms were for sporting or collection purposes, and failed to present any evidence in support of this point. See United States v. Caldwell, 431 F.3d 795, 799 (11th Cir.2005). Similarly, Anton had the burden of establishing that he was entitled to a reduction for timely acceptance of responsibility, and failed to present any evidence that he had taken responsibility for his offense other than pointing to his conditional guilty plea. See United States v. Sawyer, 180 F.3d 1319, 1323 (11th Cir.1999). In fact, Anton continued to deny responsibility for more than the thirteen firearms listed in the plea agreement when it is obvious he possessed some quantity of additional firearms.