Opinion ID: 629247
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Arson Guidelines Enhancement Level

Text: 32 U.S.S.G. Sec. 2K1.4 App. C (amend. # 330) establishes a base offense level for arson and directs that the base level be enhanced as follows: 33 (1) If the defendant knowingly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, increase by 18 levels. 34 (2) If the defendant recklessly endangered the safety of another, increase by 14 levels. 35 The district court determined that Markum had knowingly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury with respect to the video store fire and therefore imposed an 18-level enhancement under Sec. 2K1.4(b)(1). Markum argues that the district court erred in doing so because the fire was only a means to an ends, i.e. defrauding the insurance company. Markum argues that any endangerment to life or limb was at most reckless under Sec. 2K1.4(b)(2) and not knowing under Section 2K1.4(b)(1). 36 This court will give deference to the district court's application of the sentencing guidelines to the facts and review questions of law de novo. United States v. Shewmaker, 936 F.2d 1124 (10th Cir.1991), cert. denied, Shewmaker v. United States, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 884, 116 L.Ed.2d 788 (1992). Moreover, we will not disturb the trial court's factual finding that defendant's acts caused danger to others unless those findings are clearly erroneous. United States v. Grimes, 967 F.2d 1468, 1471-72 (10th Cir.1992). 37 In Grimes, the court held that the defendant created a substantial risk of injury or death when the firefighters who attempted to quell a fire set by the defendant were subject to danger of physical injury or death by the threat of a flashback explosion. Grimes, 967 F.2d at 1473 (citing United States v. Wilson, 927 F.2d 1188, 1190 (11th Cir.1991)). In Wilson, the court found that the defendant had knowingly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury when he set a fire with multiple points of origin that put surrounding businesses at considerable risk, where firefighters were substantially endangered, and an apartment complex was located only 35 feet from the fire. 38 Here, the fire was set with gasoline during business hours. Firefighters were put in severe jeopardy because of the ferocity of the fire and the risk of explosion. These circumstances more than justified the district court's finding that Markum, as a co-conspirator, knowingly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Markum's motive is irrelevant. The district court did not err in applying the 18-point enhancement under Sec. 2K1.4(b)(1) instead of the 14-point enhancement under Sec. 2K1.4(b)(2).