Opinion ID: 770389
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sentence under Guideline 2K2.4

Text: 31 Collins argues that the upward departure the district court imposed in reliance upon the second paragraph of note 2 to guideline 2K2.4 is excessive. He maintains that the maximum range up to which the court could depart was 168 to 210 months. By adding two levels to bring him up to a level 30, and then adding the 60 months for the 18 U.S.C. 924(c) conviction, the court placed Collins in a range of 181 to 211 months. He points out that this range extends one month higher than the maximum allowed by note 2. For this reason, he argues that the court could depart upward only one level. 32 In essence, Collins' argument focuses on what is meant when the application note refers to the maximum of the guideline range. The note indicates that an upward departure may be warranted so that a 18 U.S.C. 924(c) conviction does not result in a decrease in total punishment of a defendant. However, such a departure shall not exceed the maximum of the guideline range that would have resulted had there not been a count of conviction under 18 U.S.C. 924(c). U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual 2K2.4 comment. (n.2). Collins suggests that the note must be interpreted to mean that a court cannot depart to a level that would include any months over the maximum permissible range. 33 We think a better interpretation of the note, in light of its context and intent, is that the actual sentence given cannot exceed the maximum range. Cf. United States v. Oliver, 60 F.3d 547, 556 (9th Cir. 1995) (holding that court erred in increasing sentences to 360 months when the maximum guideline range was limited to 300 months); United States v. Bias, Nos. 96-50483, 96-50499, 1998 WL 708772, -8 (9th Cir. Oct. 6, 1998) (unpublished) (holding that total sentence of 235 months was not facially excessive because it was within the range allowed under note 2; remanding because district court failed to articulate factual or legal basis for sentence); United States v. Edmond, Nos. 95-10322, 95-10342, 95-10365, 95-10400, 1996 WL 490188,  (9th Cir. Aug. 27, 1996) (unpublished), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 1069 (1999) (focusing on the number of months in excess of the maximum to which defendants were sentenced; indicating that court could have departed upward only a certain number of months for each defendant). Collins does not argue that his actual sentence exceeded the maximum range, nor do we see any indication in the record that would support such an assertion. Therefore, we find thatthe district court did not err in departing upward two levels under note 2 of guideline 2K2.4.