Opinion ID: 2977216
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Career Offender Calculation

Text: Hickman first challenges his sentence by arguing that the district court erred in computing his criminal history category. Hickman contends that his prior drug offenses were not related pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(a)(2) because they were part of a single common scheme or plan and should have been treated as one crime for sentencing purposes. Hickman did not object to his sentence at the sentencing hearing. Hickman’s argument that his two prior convictions should not be considered related for the purposes of sentencing is raised for the first time on appeal. We therefore review his claim for plain error. United States v. Caswell, 456 F.3d 652, 655 (6th Cir. 2006) (citing United States v. Oliver, 397 F.3d 369, 377-78 (6th Cir. 2005)). Plain error is established if there is: (1) an error; (2) that is plain; (3) that affects substantial rights; and (4) that seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id. (citing Johnson v. United States, 520 U.S. 461, 466-467 (1997). In applying the first prong of the plain-error test we must determine whether an error occurred. Oliver, 397 F.3d at 378. -4- No. 07-5503 United States v. Hickman A defendant is a career offender if (1) the defendant was at least eighteen years old at the time the defendant committed the instant offense of conviction; (2) the instant offense of conviction is a felony that is either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense; and (3) the defendant has at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(a). Here, there is no question that the first and second prongs of § 4B1.1(a) are met. The sole issue is whether, under the third prong, Hickman’s prior drug felonies may be deemed to have resulted in two prior convictions. Prior sentences imposed in unrelated cases are to be counted separately. Prior sentences imposed in related case are to be treated as one sentence. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(a)(2) (2006). “Prior sentences are considered related if they resulted from offenses that (a) occurred on the same occasion, (b) were part of a single common scheme or plan, or (c) were consolidated for trial or sentencing.” U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(a)(2) n.3 (2006). Hickman argues that the two felony convictions were related in that the convictions resulted from a common scheme or plan to earn money from the sale of drugs, as evidenced by the fact that the drug sales occurred in close proximity, and by the fact that he was sentenced for both offenses on the same date. In United States v. Irons, 196 F.3d 634, 637 (6th Cir. 1999), this Court concluded that crimes were part of the same scheme or plan only if the offenses were jointly planned, or, at least, that the commission of one offense necessarily required the commission of another. Hickman is, in essence, arguing that the offenses at issue were committed for the same purpose, to earn money from the sale of drugs. Even assuming, arguendo, that this is true, Hickman’s common goal of earning money by selling drugs does not meet the burden set forth in Irons for a common scheme -5- No. 07-5503 United States v. Hickman or plan. Crimes are not part of the same scheme or plan merely because each was committed with the same purpose or common goal. Id. at 639. Accordingly, Hickman must do more than show that he sold drugs to further his goal of earning money in order to meet the Irons common scheme or plan burden. Hickman fails to provide the necessary evidence to meet the Irons burden of common scheme or plan. Hickman failed to provide evidence that the two separate crimes of (1) selling diazepam and pentazocine in June 1992, and (2) selling marijuana on August 25, 1992 were planned at the same time or that the commission of one offense entailed the commission of the other. Specifically, Hickman failed to present evidence that at the same time he sold diazepam and pentazocine in June 1992, he decided that two months later he would sell marijuana. Nor did Hickman present evidence that he sold diazepam and pentazocine in order to later sell marijuana. Although Hickman was arrested on the same date for these crimes—February 4, 1993, and he was later sentenced on the same date— October 21, 1993, in the same courthouse, we do not find this sufficient evidence of joint planning. See United States v. Emberton, 47 F.App’x 292, 295 (unpublished) (noting “the fact that the arrest date is the same does not necessarily mean that the offenses are related.”). The similar motivation to earn money does not convert these separate convictions for the sale of drugs into related cases within the meaning of § 4A1.2(b). We therefore conclude that the district court properly determined that Hickman is a career offender under § 4B1.1(a).