Opinion ID: 715844
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sentence as Career Offender

Text: 57 Mr. Spring also challenges his sentence enhancement as a career offender under USSG § 4B1.1. Section 4B1.1 provides that a defendant is a career offender if (1) the defendant was at least eighteen years old at the time of the instant offense, (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. USSG § 4B1.1. Mr. Spring concedes he meets the first two elements of career offender status. He argues the district court erred in sentencing him under this guideline because he does not have two prior convictions for crimes of violence. 58 We review de novo the Guidelines definition of crimes of violence. United States v. Smith, 10 F.3d 724, 730 (10th Cir.1993). We review for plain error when, as here, the defendant failed to object. See United States v. Richards, 27 F.3d 465, 468 (10th Cir.1994). The Guidelines define burglary of a dwelling as a crime of violence for § 4B1.1 purposes. See USSG § 4B1.2(1)(ii). Mr. Spring argues that his prior convictions for burglary of a habitation do not qualify as burglary of a dwelling because habitation includes structures or vehicles. We disagree. The Texas Code defines as habitations only those structures or vehicles which have been adapted for the overnight accommodation of persons. That clearly connotes a dwelling. Indeed, habitation is generally defined to mean a dwelling place. Black's Law Dictionary 640 (5th Ed.1979). See United States v. Cruz, 882 F.2d 922, 923 (5th Cir.1989) (holding that burglary of a habitation qualified as a crime of violence under § 4B1.1). The district court did not err in sentencing Mr. Spring as a career offender.