Opinion ID: 3056784
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: State Conviction and Sentence

Text: On October 21, 2010, Simmons was arrested on a Florida state charge of failing to return a leased vehicle. Simmons was convicted of that state offense on July 21, 2011. Because Simmons was a habitual felony offender under Florida law, the state court imposed an eight-year sentence. On August 12, 2011, 2 Case: 11-15440 Date Filed: 10/02/2012 Page: 3 of 10 Simmons was still serving this eight-year state sentence when he was arrested on the instant federal failure-to-surrender charge. C. Federal Plea and Sentencing On September 7, 2011, Simmons pled guilty in federal court to the failureto-surrender charge. The Presentence Investigation Report (“PSI”) calculated his total adjusted offense level as 9. The PSI scored 27 criminal history points based on Simmons’s extensive criminal history. In addition to his state conviction for failing to return a leased vehicle and his federal conviction for conspiracy to commit wire, mail and bank fraud, Simmons’s criminal history included numerous theft-related convictions (such as grand theft, robbery, burglary, forging checks and petit theft), trespass, battery and possession of marijuana. Simmons’s criminal history category of VI and total offense level of 9 yielded an advisory guidelines range of 21 to 27 months’ imprisonment. Simmons’s statutory maximum sentence was ten years. See 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b)(1)(A)(i). Simmons initially made one objection to the PSI’s criminal history score, but withdrew the objection after the PSI was revised. At sentencing, Simmons requested a 21-month sentence, at the low end of advisory guidelines range of 21 to 27 months, for his failure-to-surrender conviction. In mitigation, Simmons noted his: (1) history of mental health issues, 3 Case: 11-15440 Date Filed: 10/02/2012 Page: 4 of 10 including a commitment under the Baker Act at age 17, a major depressive disorder and a prescription for Zoloft; (2) fifteen-year history of drug addiction, as well as mental illness, which explained in part his extensive criminal history; (3) need to care for his wife and two young children; and (4) lack of new criminal conduct while out of prison. Simmons also addressed the district court and explained that he did not surrender for his federal fraud conspiracy sentence back in 2010 because he needed more time to make sure his family was “straight” and then turned himself in. Simmons’ counsel acknowledged that 18 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(2) required the district court to run his new federal sentence consecutive to his other, 21-month federal sentence for fraud conspiracy, but asked the district court to exercise its discretion under U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3 and run the new sentence concurrent to his undischarged eight-year state sentence. The district court inquired into the reason for the lengthy state sentence, and defense counsel suggested the sentence was because of Simmons’ extensive criminal record and habitual offender status. The district court then reviewed the undisputed factual allegations in the Presentence Investigation Report (“PSI”) relating to the state offense.1 1 According to the PSI, Simmons rented a vehicle on September 9, 2009 and then failed to return it to the rental agency on September 16, 2009. Despite attempts to contact Simmons, he never returned the vehicle, which was found abandoned on October 13, 2009. The vehicle was 4 Case: 11-15440 Date Filed: 10/02/2012 Page: 5 of 10 The district court sentenced Simmons to 21 months’ imprisonment, at the low end of the advisory range, to be served consecutive to both the eight-year state sentence and the 21-month federal sentence (on his fraud conspiracy conviction). The district court stated that it had “considered the statements of all parties, the presentence report which contains the advisory guidelines and the statutory factors.” Simmons filed this appeal.