Opinion ID: 790692
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Departure from the Guidelines Range

Text: 94 The government argues that the district court overstepped its departure authority under the Guidelines when it granted Canova a downward departure based on public service and good works. Defendant submits that the government's failure to object to this departure ground in the district court waives the argument on appeal. We agree and specifically reject the government's attempt to excuse its omission by claiming lack of adequate notice to the challenged departure before sentencing. Nevertheless, because we remand this case for resentencing and because 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(5) contemplates consideration of policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission, including departure authority, United States v. Crosby, 397 F.3d at 112, it is appropriate for us briefly to explain why we reject the government's departure challenge on the merits. 28 95 Sentencing Guideline 5H1.11 states that [m]ilitary, civic, charitable, or public service; employment-related contributions; and similar prior good works are not ordinarily relevant in determining whether a sentence should be outside the applicable guideline range. As the government concedes, the guideline generally discourages departures on the stated grounds; it does not bar them absolutely. In such circumstances, even under a mandatory Guidelines system, a court was authorized to grant a downward departure if the [discouraged] factor is present to an exceptional degree or in some other way makes the case different from the ordinary case where the factor is present. Koon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81, 96, 116 S.Ct. 2035, 135 L.Ed.2d 392 (1996); accord United States v. Sprei, 145 F.3d 528, 534 (2d Cir.1998). 96 The record plainly demonstrates the exceptional degree of Canova's public service and good works. As a college student, he volunteered for the Marine Corps, in which he honorably served his country for six years, mostly in the active reserves. For seven years, he also served his Long Island community as a volunteer firefighter, sustaining injuries in the line of duty three times. On one such occasion, he risked his life by entering a burning building to rescue a three-year old hiding under a bed, but his efforts were to no avail; the child subsequently died in the hospital. While performing as a volunteer firefighter, Canova also participated in the successful delivery of three babies and administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to persons in distress. This military and volunteer service all occurred more than twenty years before sentencing; nevertheless, more recent incidents demonstrated that Canova's commitment to helping persons in distress was an instinctive part of his character. Notably, on three occasions, Canova acted as a Good Samaritan (1) administering CPR to an elderly man who experienced sudden cardiac arrest at a theme park, (2) administering CPR to a priest who suffered a heart attack on an airport rental car bus, and (3) assisting a woman who fainted on a public street until paramedics arrived. In each instance, other persons on the scene were so stunned by the distressful occurrence as to be rendered helpless. Only Canova rushed forward to address the emergencies. 97 Under these circumstances, we reject the argument that the district court, which had the opportunity to take Canova's measure throughout his trial and numerous court appearances, abused its discretion in granting a downward departure for extraordinary public service and good works. Accordingly, consideration of this factor on remand would not, by itself, render a resentence unreasonable. Cf. United States v. Rubenstein, 403 F.3d at 100-01. 29