Opinion ID: 76728
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Related Cases Under Section 4A1.2

Text: 16 Although Smith's state convictions and sentences were obviously for separate crimes, § 4A1.2 instructs courts on how to determine a defendant's prior criminal history. According to § 4A1.2(a)(2): Prior sentences imposed in unrelated cases are to be counted separately. Prior sentences in related cases are to be treated as one sentence. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(a)(2). The commentary to § 4A1.2 instructs that prior sentences be treated as related and, therefore, counted as only one prior conviction under § 4B1.1, as follows: 17 Prior sentences are not considered related if they were for offenses that were separated by an intervening arrest ( i.e., the defendant is arrested for the first offense prior to committing the second offense). Otherwise, prior sentences are considered related if they resulted from offenses that (A) occurred on the same occasion, (B) were part of a single common scheme or plan, or (C) were consolidated for trial or sentencing. 18 U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2, cmt. n.3 (emphasis added). 19 Therefore, the first inquiry is always whether the underlying offenses were separated by an intervening arrest. Hernandez-Martinez, 382 F.3d at 1306, 2004 WL 1946072, at . Smith's offenses were not separated by an intervening arrest. Smith's offenses also did not occur on the same occasion; rather, they occurred over a three-day period. Further, his offenses were not part of a single common scheme or plan. 1 Accordingly, the sole question on appeal is whether Smith's prior state convictions were consolidated for ... sentencing, and, thus, related under § 4A1.2 and counted as only one prior conviction under § 4B1.1(a).