Opinion ID: 659953
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: U.S.S.G. Sec. 5K1.1

Text: 20 Edward Fitzherbert argues that the district court misapplied section 5K1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines in denying a downward departure for providing substantial assistance to the government, the government having made the requisite motion pursuant to the plea bargain. Appellant argues that the district court failed to consider the circumstances of his assistance, including its significance, the truthfulness of the information and the danger to Edward resulting from the cooperation. This failure to consider, according to appellant, was not an exercise of discretion but rather was a misapplication of Sec. 5K1.1. 21 It is settled law in this Circuit that this Court lacks jurisdiction to review a district court's discretionary refusal to grant a downward departure, including a refusal after a government motion pursuant to Sec. 5K1.1. United States v. McHenry, 968 F.2d 1047, 1048 (10th Cir.1992); United States v. Munoz, 946 F.2d 729, 730 (10th Cir.1991). We reject appellant's attempt to evade this jurisdictional bar by characterizing the district court's refusal to depart as a misapplication of the guidelines rather than an as exercise of discretion. Citing Munoz, the district court noted its considerable discretion and stated that, in light of all of the factors in the case including the assistance, the sentencing guidelines fit this case rather accurately. Therefore, having already rejected the probation officer's suggestion for an upward departure, the district court refused to depart downward, and imposed instead a sentence within the guidelines. The district court clearly exercised its discretion in refusing to make a downward departure, and we lack jurisdiction to review this decision.