Opinion ID: 751398
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standard of Proof for Upward Adjustment

Text: 6 Findings of fact under the Guidelines require only a preponderance of evidence. United States v. Wilson, 900 F.2d 1350, 1354 (9th Cir.1990). In United States v. Rafferty, 911 F.2d 227, 231 (9th Cir.1990), we specifically held that the preponderance of evidence standard articulated in Wilson applies to obstruction of justice adjustments under § 3C1.1. Nevertheless, Garcia argues that the Guidelines require a district court's findings of subornation of perjury to exceed a preponderance of evidence before applying an upward adjustment for obstruction of justice. Garcia relies on Application Note 1 under § 3C1.1, which provides: In applying this provision in respect to alleged false testimony or statements by the defendant, such testimony or statements should be evaluated in a light most favorable to the defendant. Id. § 3C1.1 cmt. 1 (emphasis added). 7 Assuming without deciding that Application Note 1 mandates a standard greater than a preponderance of evidence for a sentence enhancement for a defendant's own false testimony, it does not apply to the facts here. Garcia's upward adjustment was not based on his own perjured testimony, but rather on the fact that he suborned the perjured testimony of a witness. See United States v. Johnson, 968 F.2d 208, 216 (2d Cir.1992) (holding that Application Note 1 applies only to perjury by defendant, not subornation of perjury). This distinction between perjury and subornation of perjury is justified. A finding that a witness committed perjury does not involve the same concerns about inhibiting a defendant's right to testify that arise when finding that the defendant has committed perjury. See U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 cmt. 1. Therefore, the district court was only required to find by a preponderance of evidence that Garcia suborned Reyes's perjured testimony. 8