Opinion ID: 2976174
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Tate’s sentencing

Text: The probation office initially prepared a PSR in December of 2005 after Tate pled guilty to the felon-in-possession-of-a-firearm charge. Tate’s criminal history category was calculated to be VI, based on 36 criminal history points. He was assigned a base offense level of 20 because he had a prior felony conviction that qualified under the Sentencing Guidelines as a crime of violence. Two points were added because the firearm was stolen. Three points were then subtracted because Tate had accepted responsibility, which meant that the adjusted total offense level was 19. The PSR calculated the Guidelines range at 63 to 78 months’ imprisonment. In addition to the Guidelines-range calculation, the PSR discussed a possible upward departure under USSG § 4A1.3 “if reliable information indicates that the criminal history category does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the defendant’s past conduct.” The PSR also noted that, of Tate’s 36 criminal history points, 5 were noncountable because the maximum under § 4A1.1(c) (providing a maximum of four points for prior sentences not captured by §§ 4A1.1(a)-(b)) had been reached. No. 06-6529 United States v. Tate Page 3 After Tate’s trial and conviction in August of 2006, the original PSR was revised. The only substantive difference between the revised PSR and the original PSR was that, because Tate had gone to trial, the revised version removed the three-point reduction for acceptance of responsibility. His final offense level was therefore changed to 22, causing the Guidelines range to increase to between 84 and 105 months of imprisonment. The section dealing with a possible upward departure under § 4A1.3 remained the same, as did the recitation of Tate’s criminal history and offender characteristics. In response to the revised PSR, the government filed a sentencing memorandum that requested an upward departure under § 4A1.3, emphasizing that Tate “has almost three times the points necessary to place him in the highest Criminal History Category.” The government also requested that the district court sentence Tate to the statutory maximum of 120 months’ imprisonment based on the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
Tate’s sentencing hearing took place in September of 2006. The district court asked whether Irby and Tate had received copies of the PSR and whether they had discussed it. Irby explained that he had given Tate a copy, although Tate claimed that he had not had an opportunity to review the document. The court made a finding that Tate had had the opportunity to review the PSR, which apparently refers to the revised PSR prepared a month before the hearing. Irby also noted that he and Tate had “discussed the [original PSR] at length . . . months ago” and that they had “discussed the Sentencing Guidelines[,] . . . how they would apply to his case, and possibilities at sentencing.” After being given an opportunity to object to the facts and the Guidelines calculations contained in the revised PSR, both parties said that they had no objections. The district court and the attorneys then engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding Tate’s criminal history and the government’s motion for an upward departure under USSG § 4A1.3. Tate was also given an opportunity to address the court. He made a lengthy statement employing language sounding in commercial law, and presented the court with documents that, according to Irby’s understanding, were intended to put both Irby and the government’s counsel into involuntary bankruptcy. During the government’s argument, it renewed its request that the district court either depart upward from the Guidelines range or sentence Tate to the statutory maximum sentence based on the § 3553(a) factors. The government specifically pointed to the nature of the charged offense and to Tate’s criminal history in support of its argument that Tate’s sentence should be enhanced. In addition, the government noted that “the defendant’s prior attempts at rehabilitation . . . have failed.” It argued that, for those reasons combined with the other factors under § 3553(a), Tate “should be sentenced to 120 months.” After noting that the Guidelines are only one factor to consider under § 3553(a), the district court denied the motion for an upward departure under § 4A1.3. The court explained: I’m going to deny it because I think I’ll have a more accurate fair adjustor, a more reasonable result, if I consider all of these factors together rather than trying to isolate the criminal history. I think that’s a better way to do it, because ultimately I have to have a sentence that satisfies the requirements of [§] 3553. At that point, the district court engaged in a detailed discussion that applied the § 3553(a) factors to Tate’s case. It focused with particularity, although not exclusively, on Tate’s criminal history. The court noted that “the uncontested factual narrative” of Tate’s history demonstrated “a pattern that includes physical violence, attempt to avoid arrest, situations that risk the lives of individuals, . . . [and] a general lack of respect for the law.” No. 06-6529 United States v. Tate Page 4 Moreover, the court found that Tate had exhibited “a continuing desire to avoid the consequences of his conduct. Mr. Tate is educated, he is intelligent, mentally aware.” In discussing what the court termed “a piece of the prior conduct, contempt for law, [and] contempt for law enforcement,” it concluded that, by making UCC-based arguments, Tate had “chosen a course that is obstructionist and used in bad faith.” The court further stated: “Nothing . . . indicates that Mr. Tate is going to do anything but as soon as he is released, go out and offend again.” Noting that “what drives this case in my judgment is the need to protect the public,” the court determined that the Guidelines range did not adequately satisfy this need or the other factors under § 3553(a). It therefore imposed the statutory maximum sentence of 120 months’ imprisonment followed by a three-year term of supervised release. After imposing the sentence, the district court asked the parties if there were any objections not yet made. The attorneys answered in the negative, but Tate stated: “I would like the record to reflect I accept your offer of judgment for 120 months. I still request full settlement and closure of this account.” After responding to Tate’s request for a copy of the judgment, the court adjourned the hearing.