Opinion ID: 551551
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Prior Sentence

Text: 14 In assessing Gustavo's offense level, the district court determined that Gustavo had a record of criminal activity that placed him in category III on the criminal history scale. This determination was based in part on a finding that Gustavo was on probation as a result of a previous prosecution in Texas state court for possession of marijuana. In particular, Gustavo was serving what is called in Texas deferred adjudication probation. The question is whether this deferred adjudication probation counts as a prior sentence for purposes of calculating a defendant's criminal history score under the Sentencing Guidelines. 15 Section 4A1.2(a)(1) of the Sentencing Guidelines defines a prior sentence to include 16 any sentence previously imposed upon adjudication of guilt, whether by guilty plea, trial, or plea of nolo contendere, for conduct not part of the instant offense. 17 U.S.S.G. Sec. 4A1.2(a)(1). While it is clear under Texas law that deferred adjudication probation does not involve a finding of guilt by the state court, 1 that probation may nonetheless be counted as a prior sentence under the Guidelines. Section 4A1.2(f) of the Guidelines provides: 18 (f) Diversionary Dispositions 19 Diversion from the judicial process without a finding of guilt (e.g., deferred prosecution) is not counted. A diversionary disposition resulting from a finding or admission of guilt, or a plea of nolo contendere, in a judicial proceeding is counted as a [prior] sentence ... even if a conviction is not formally entered. 20 U.S.S.G. Sec. 4A1.2(f) (emphasis added). The Commentary to this section adds that diversionary dispositions [are counted] if they involved a judicial determination of guilt or an admission of guilt in open court. U.S.S.G. Sec. 4A1.2(f), Commentary 9. 21 The record before this Court affirmatively discloses that Gustavo entered a guilty plea in the state prosecution. 2 Accordingly, under the terms of Sec. 4A1.2(f), Gustavo's deferred adjudication probation could properly be counted as a prior sentence. The district court correctly calculated Gustavo's criminal history score.