Opinion ID: 687659
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: denial of acceptance-of-responsibility reduction

Text: 23 Newson next asserts that the district court erred in failing to give him credit for acceptance of responsibility as recommended by the Probation Office. 24 The Sentencing Guidelines provide for a two-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility where a defendant clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his offense. U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1(a). Where the original offense level is greater than 16, the defendant gets an additional one-level reduction if he qualifies for the initial two-level reduction, and has assisted authorities in the investigation or prosecution of his own misconduct by timely providing complete information to the government, or has timely notified authorities of his intention to enter a plea of guilty. U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1. 25 The district court determined that Newson had admitted commission of the acts charged; but that, by attempting to withdraw his guilty plea, Newson had failed to admit the essential element of intent. The court, therefore, concluded that Newson had not clearly demonstrated acceptance of responsibility. 26 Newson argues that he was entitled to a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility because he admitted his role in the offense charged and stipulated to all of the facts submitted by the government, regardless of his subsequent attempt to withdraw the plea and rely on the defense of entrapment. Newson further submits that the district court's denial of a reduction in this case was based on a question of law, specifically the proposition that a defendant who asserts entrapment is not entitled to an acceptance-of-responsibility reduction, and, therefore, argues that we should conduct a de novo review of this issue. 27 Whether to grant a reduction for acceptance of responsibility is for the trial judge to decide. [T]he district court is in a unique position to evaluate a defendant's acceptance of responsibility. United States v. Furlow, 980 F.2d 476, 476 (8th Cir.1992) (en banc), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 2353, 124 L.Ed.2d 261 (1993). [E]ven a guilty plea does not guarantee a reduction. United States v. Clair, 934 F.2d 943, 946 (8th Cir.1991). We review a district court's findings of fact with respect to a denial of a motion for an acceptance-of-responsibility reduction under the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Miller, 951 F.2d 164, 165 (8th Cir.1991). 28 In this case, the district court made a specific finding of fact that the appellant had not demonstrated acceptance of responsibility because he continued to contend that he committed the offense ... only for the reason [that] somebody else tricked him into doing it. We disagree with the appellant's interpretation of this finding as a conclusion of law. The district judge based his denial of the reduction on the particular facts of the appellant's case and the appellant's continued denial of the essential element of intent. The court correctly applied Sec. 3E1.1, and its decision is not clear error.