Opinion ID: 392262
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: When Tolling Begins

Text: 20 Henrique's abscondence did not cause the Commission to add to the charges against him until September 27, 1979, when a charge of failing to report a residence change was added to the existing parole violation charges. Henrique argues that a formal charge is necessary to toll a sentence (conceding arguendo that tolling operates at all), and that the running of his sentence therefore was not tolled before it expired on March 31, 1978, simultaneously causing the Commission's jurisdiction to expire. 21 The Government responds that it is the act of absconding that tolls the statute, and not the filing of charges. This court has held, in a case involving an adult statute of limitation, that tolling begins whenever the suspect flees with the intent of avoiding prosecution, even if prosecution has not actually begun at the time of the flight. United States v. Ballesteros-Cordova, 586 F.2d 1321, 1323 (9th Cir. 1978). In older cases involving adult minimum sentences, this court similarly has looked to the misbehavior of the parolee, and not the actions of officials, in determining when the running of a sentence is tolled. Schiffman v. Wilkinson, 216 F.2d 589, 591 (9th Cir. 1954); Klinkner v. Squier, 144 F.2d 490, 491 (9th Cir. 1944). 22 The Government argues, in addition, that the Commission's mechanism for dealing with absconders does not contemplate a formal charge for absconding. Absconding is not per se a basis for revocation of parole; the nearest equivalent is the failure to report a change of address with which Henrique was eventually charged. Because absconding and parole violations are offenses of different sorts, carrying different penalties, the Government argues that it would make no sense to require a parole violation charge to initiate the tolling effect. We agree. Henrique's sentence was tolled as of the time he entered absconder status, and the Commission retained jurisdiction over him after the running of the original six-year term. The district court's judgment is AFFIRMED.