Opinion ID: 762147
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mr. Wilson's Sentencing Challenge

Text: 34 Mr. Wilson claims that the court erred in sentencing him at an adjusted offense level of 20. 7 The mistake occurred when the court increased the base offense level by 3 points rather than 2 points for the number of firearms involved. The offense involved 7 firearms and, under § 2K2.1(b)(1)(B), that number of weapons deserves an increase of 2, not 3, levels. Neither the government nor defense counsel noticed the error at the time of sentencing. 35 The government agrees with Mr. Wilson's position and urges a remand. It notes that, although the actual sentence imposed by the district court, 37 months, is within the guideline range for level 19 (30-37 months), it is at the top of that range. According to the government, because the district court had determined to sentence Mr. Wilson in the mid-range, the case should be remanded to that court so that it can decide in the first instance whether it should choose again to resentence Mr. Wilson in the middle range of level 19 or at another sentence that it determines, in its discretion, is proper. 36 Notwithstanding the government's agreement with Mr. Wilson, we must evaluate independently Mr. Wilson's claim. See Griffin v. United States, 109 F.3d 1217, 1219 (7th Cir.1997); United States v. Locklear, 97 F.3d 196, 198 (7th Cir.1996). 8 Confessions of error by the [government] are, of course, entitled to and given great weight, but they do not 'relieve this Court of the performance of the judicial function.'  Sibron v. New York, 392 U.S. 40, 58, 88 S.Ct. 1889, 20 L.Ed.2d 917 (1968) (quoting Young v. United States, 315 U.S. 257, 258, 62 S.Ct. 510, 86 L.Ed. 832 (1942)). 9 Our review of the sentencing documents and the guidelines confirms that an error, perhaps a ministerial one but one of clear consequence, was made. We therefore remand Mr. Wilson's case to the district court for resentencing.