Opinion ID: 76728
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Career Offender Under Section 4B1.1(a)

Text: 12 Section 4B1.1(a) provides that a defendant is a career offender if 13 (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. 14 U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(a). In this case, there is no dispute that Smith was at least eighteen years old when he committed the instant federal offense of conviction (bank robbery) or that his bank robbery offense was a crime of violence. What is in dispute is whether the state crimes, for which Smith was sentenced on December 4, 1997, constituted two prior felony convictions under § 4B1.1(a) of the guidelines. 15 Section 4B1.2(c) of the guidelines defines what constitutes two prior felony convictions. According to § 4B1.2(c) the term two prior felony convictions means, in relevant part, that the sentences for at least two of the [prior] felony convictions are counted separately under the provisions of the guidelines. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(c). Furthermore, the commentary pertaining to § 4B1.2 directs courts to look to § 4A1.2, as follows: The provisions of § 4A1.2 ... are applicable to the counting of convictions under § 4B1.1. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2, cmt. n.3. Therefore, we look to § 4A1.2 to determine whether Smith's state felony convictions are counted (1) together as related and, therefore, as one conviction, or (2) counted separately as at least two prior convictions.