Opinion ID: 668594
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Departure in Gibson's Sentencing

Text: 27 The district court recited a number of grounds to support a downward departure in sentencing Gibson. Many of the reasons provided were identical to those recited in support of Haversat's departure. The district court found that downward departure was warranted for Gibson because: Gibson had led an exemplary life filled with numerous charitable activities and contributions; Gibson assisted the court by entering a nolo plea that facilitated the disposition of the case; Gibson's participation in the crime was caused in part by the coercive economic influence of Stanley; and Gibson was of advancing age and his wife suffers serious health problems. The reasons we stated above for rejecting the first three of these grounds for departure in Haversat's case apply equally to Gibson's case. Thus, we find that the first three grounds do not support a downward departure for Gibson. 28 Gibson argues strenuously that his extraordinary family situation presents sufficient grounds for the district court's downward departure. 6 The district court stated in its final judgment that it was departing downward based, in part, on the fact that Gibson's wife had very severe mental health problems. (Appellant's Addend. at 4.) Family ties and responsibilities ... are not ordinarily relevant in determining whether a sentence should be outside the guidelines. U.S.S.G. Sec. 5H1.6, p.s. However, we have found that [e]xtraordinary family circumstances, i.e., outside of the 'heartland' of cases the Guidelines were intended to cover, can be the basis for a downward departure. United States v. Harrison, 970 F.2d 444, 447 (8th Cir.1992) (internal quotations omitted); see also Neil, 903 F.2d at 565 (policy statement that factor is ordinarily not relevant necessarily implies that the factor may be relevant in extraordinary cases). 29 We find that Gibson's truly exceptional family circumstances make this an appropriate case for a downward departure. Mrs. Gibson has suffered severe psychiatric problems, which have been potentially life threatening. (Gibson's Present. Rpt. at 10.) Mr. Gibson has been actively involved in her care. (Id.) Dr. Slovak, Mrs. Gibson's treating physician, has characterized David Gibson's participation as an irreplaceable part of Dr. Slovak's treatment plan for Mrs. Gibson. (Defs.' Jt.App. at 227-28.) Dr. Slovak depends on Mr. Gibson to identify the beginning of any regressions and to seek out immediate treatment to avoid a serious situation. (Id.) Dr. Slovak's opinion is that Mrs. Gibson would not do well if separated from the aid of her spouse, and I [Dr. Slovak] would have grave clinical concerns that her medical management could be safely continued without the ongoing presence of her spouse, even if that separation was only a matter of several weeks. (Id.) The totality of these factors make this a permissible basis for departing downward on Gibson's sentence. See United States v. Gaskill, 991 F.2d 82, 85-86 (3d Cir.1993) (finding circumstances merited a downward departure where, among other things, defendant's wife had 20-year history of mental illness and defendant provided care for her and his incarceration would jeopardize her well-being). 30 However, because the district court relied upon both permissible and impermissible factors in making its downward departure, Gibson's sentence is appropriate only if: (1) the district court would have imposed the same sentence had it not relied upon the invalid factor or factors, and (2) the departure is reasonable. Williams, --- U.S. at ---- - ----, 112 S.Ct. at 1120-21. There is really no dispute that the district court would have imposed the same sentence even if it had not relied on the impermissible factors. We find, however, that the district court abused its discretion by granting an unreasonable departure in this case. See Sweet, 985 F.2d at 445 (reasonableness of the departure reviewed under abuse of discretion standard). 31 The district court departed downward the equivalent of five offense levels and then declined to impose confinement or even probation. The Sentencing Commission has emphasized that the sentencing court should impose some confinement in all but the rarest criminal antitrust cases. See U.S.S.G. Sec. 2R1.1, comment. (backg'd.) (noting that in very few cases will the guidelines not require that some confinement be imposed). The Sentencing Commission also stated that it believes that the most effective method to deter individuals from committing [antitrust] crime is through imposing short prison sentences coupled with large fines. The controlling consideration underlying this guideline is general deterrence. Id. 32 This is not the rarest of cases where confinement should be avoided altogether. 7 The district court described this antitrust conspiracy as unusually long and harsh and well planned. (Tr. Gibson's Sent. at 195.) The Sentencing Guidelines provided the district court with the ability to craft a sentence that imposes some form of confinement to meet the expressed goal of U.S.S.G. Sec. 2R1.1 and that still takes into consideration Gibson's need to be available to render care to his wife. See U.S.S.G. Secs. 5B1.1(a)(1), 5B1.3(d), 5B1.4(b)(20), & 5F5.2 (1987). The failure to impose such a sentence and to depart all the way down to only a fine was unreasonable in this case. Hence, the only permissible reason for the departure, Gibson's exceptional family circumstances, does not justify the magnitude of the departure, Williams, --- U.S. at ----, 112 S.Ct. at 1121, and we set aside Gibson's sentence and remand for resentencing in accordance with the above text, see 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3742(f)(2)(B).