Opinion ID: 691069
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Use of the 1992 Version of the Guidelines

Text: 11 As a threshold matter, we must ask the district court to clarify its decision to employ the 1992 version of the Guidelines. 12 Mr. Brassell was sentenced in 1994. The district court used the 1992 version of the Guidelines, instead of the 1993 version that was in effect in 1994. Section 1B1.11(a) directs that [t]he court shall use the Guidelines Manual in effect on the date that the defendant is sentenced. However, [i]f the court determines that use of the Guidelines Manual in effect on the date that the defendant is sentenced would violate the ex post facto clause ..., the court shall use the Guidelines Manual in effect on the date that the offense of conviction was committed. U.S.S.G. Sec. 1B1.11(b)(1). 13 Mr. Brassell committed the tax conspiracy in February 1992, when the 1991 version of the Guidelines was in effect. Thus, although Mr. Brassell was sentenced in 1994 (1993 Guidelines in effect), and committed the crime in 1992 (1991 Guidelines in effect), the district court used the 1992 version of the Guidelines. The district court acknowledges this use in its sentencing memorandum, but provides no further explanation. We are unsure why the 1992 version of the Guidelines was used in this case. It is unclear what effect, if any, the use of the 1992 Guidelines had on Mr. Brassell's sentence. 14