Opinion ID: 170501
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sentencing in State and Federal Courts

Text: Mr. Eccleston pleaded guilty in federal and state court on the same day, May 3, 1996. The federal government did not promise, either in the draft of the negotiated plea agreement or in the final plea agreement, that Mr. Eccleston's federal sentence would run concurrently with the state sentence, nor did it promise where he would serve his sentences. During plea negotiations the United States Attorney's Office wrote Mr. Eccleston's counsel: No one can guarantee what sentence [the federal district court] would give under the GUIDELINES and no one can guarantee when your client would be transferred to the [BOP] if he received a concurrent sentence, but this offer would give him the chance to litigate the question of whether his federal and state sentences would be consecutive or concurrent. Aplee. Supp.App. at 108. The plea agreement signed by Mr. Eccleston disclaimed any agreement to a specific sentence, stating, There have been no representations or promises from anyone as to what sentence the court will impose. Id. at 24. When asked at the federal plea hearing whether his guilty plea had been induced by any promises or assurances other than what was contained in the plea agreement, Mr. Eccleston responded, No, Your Honor, Id. at. 31. During the sentencing hearing on October 29, 1996, Mr. Eccleston's lawyer did not mention concurrent sentencing or any concern about where Mr. Eccleston would serve his federal or state sentence. The district court imposed a sentence of 417 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence made no reference to any state sentence. Mr. Eccleston pleaded guilty in state court a few hours after pleading in federal court. The state plea agreement provided that Mr. Eccleston's state term of imprisonment would run concurrently with any federal term. On November 7, 1996, the state court sentenced Mr. Eccleston to life imprisonment, plus nine years. The sentence provided that it would run . . . concurrently with [the] Federal Prison Sentence defendant is now serving. Aplt. App. at 28.