Opinion ID: 671690
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: curiel

Text: 2 Pursuant to a plea agreement, Curiel pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(c)(1), and the remaining counts against him were dismissed. Curiel's presentence report (PSR) indicated his offense required a mandatory five-year sentence, and no other guideline increases or decreases would apply. 3 At sentencing, the court determined that the statute required a mandatory minimum term of 60 months imprisonment. The government moved for downward departure based on Curiel's substantial assistance. Curiel's counsel additionally asked the court to consider that Curiel had spent the prior 14 months in a county jail, a facility far less accommodating than a federal facility. Counsel also suggested that Curiel receive 12 months credit for acceptance of responsibility. The court determined that the plea agreement in part recognized Curiel's assistance by providing for dismissal of the other drug charges. The court nonetheless departed downward and sentenced Curiel to 50 months imprisonment and three years supervised release. 4 On appeal, Curiel argues the district court erred in failing to credit his sentence with further reductions in recognition of his acceptance of responsibility and of the 14 months he spent in the county jail. He also argues the court improperly limited its departure based on an assumed benefit of the plea agreement without any supporting record or discussion. Curiel did not challenge below the district court's reliance on the assumed benefits of the plea agreement, and his other issues were presented below only in urging the court to depart downward pursuant to the government's substantial assistance motion. We believe the government correctly characterizes this as an attempt to circumvent our prior holding that the extent of a district court's departure is nonreviewable. United States v. Sharp, 931 F.2d 1310, 1311 (8th Cir. 1991) (citing United States v. Left Hand Bull, 901 F.2d 647, 650 (8th Cir. 1990)); see also United States v. Dutcher, 8 F.3d 11, 12 (8th Cir. 1993) (extent of departure nonreviewable regardless of district court's reasons for refraining from departing further).