Opinion ID: 3011278
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Record Support for the Departure

Text: Queensborough argues that the record does not support the finding of extreme conduct because both of the victims 16 stated that they only pretended to have sex with each other. That argument is a non sequitur. Being put in a position where the victim must pretend to have sex is degrading; extreme is defined by the guidelines to encompass degrading conduct. See U.S.S.G. S 5K2.8. Moreover, the court stated at sentencing that it was the order itself to have sex that was degrading. Queensborough then asserts that the District Court erred by failing to make any comparison between the degradation in this case and a typical sexual assault case. In essence, Queensborough argues that the District Court should have established a factual basis involving a typical sexual assault case, thereby providing a baseline against which to compare Queensborough's conduct. The comparison to which Queensborough alludes appears to be that which may be required when departing based on extreme psychological injury under U.S.S.G. S 5K2.3, which applies [i]f a victim or victims suffered psychological injury much more serious than that normally resulting from commission of the offense. Although rape is a particularly intrusive crime, probably more than any other, and the victim of a rape may suffer severe psychological damage for long periods, if not forever, the District Court did not depart on the basis of S 5K2.3 but under S 5K2.8. That section only requires that the court determine that the conduct involved was unusually heinous, cruel, brutal, or degrading. The District Judge, who had considerable experience presiding over criminal cases, did not err in characterizing the events as degrading and Queensborough's conduct as extreme. Given the repetitive number of instances of intrusive physical contact, the order that the two victims have sex, and the repeated death threats, the record amply supports a departure based on extreme conduct. See United States v. Johnson, 144 F.3d 1149, 1150-51 (8th Cir. 1998) (affirming departure under U.S.S.G. SS 5K2.8 and 5K2.3 based on defendant's conduct during rape and on severe psychological injury); Lewis, 115 F.3d at 1538-39 (affirming departure under U.S.S.G. S 5K2.8 based on number and nature of assaults). 17