Opinion ID: 554040
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Length of Fields' Sentence

Text: 11 Fields argues that under Sec. 924(e)(1) and the federal sentencing guidelines it was error to impose a sentence of more than fifteen years. This argument too is without merit. Under the sentencing guidelines Fields had an adjusted offense level of 13 and a criminal history score of 39, which placed him in criminal history category VI. For such a defendant the guidelines specify a sentence ranging from 33 to 41 months. The guidelines also provide, however, that when the maximum sentence within the guideline range is less than a statutorily required minimum sentence, then the statutorily required minimum sentence shall be the guideline sentence. U.S.S.G. Sec. 5G1.1(b). Since the maximum sentence in the guideline range was 41 months, and the minimum sentence called for by Sec. 924(e)(1) is fifteen years (180 months), 180 months became the guideline sentence. 12 The trial judge departed upwards from this guideline sentence, imposing a sentence of 17 years, or 204 months. Fields contends that this was error. The law is well settled, however, that the sentencing judge has broad discretion to depart from a guideline sentence when the circumstances warrant. United States v. Rivera, 879 F.2d 1247, 1254 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 554, 107 L.Ed.2d 550 (1989). A departure will be affirmed if 1) the judge provided acceptable reasons for the departure, and 2) the departure was reasonable. See 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3742(e)(3), (f)(2); United States v. Velasquez-Mercado, 872 F.2d 632, 637 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 187, 107 L.Ed.2d 142 (1989). Both of these requirements were met here. The district court gave an acceptable reason for departing from the guideline sentence, and the departure was reasonable. 13 The guidelines themselves acknowledge that a departure is in order when a defendant's criminal history score does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the defendant's past criminal conduct or the likelihood that the defendant will commit other crimes. U.S.S.G. Sec. 4A1.3. See also United States v. Harvey, 897 F.2d 1300, 130506 (5th Cir.1990); United States v. Geiger, 891 F.2d 512, 513-14 (5th Cir.1989), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 1825, 108 L.Ed.2d 954 (1990); Rivera, 879 F.2d at 1255. This was precisely the reason given by the sentencing judge for imposing a sentence of seventeen years instead of the fifteen year minimum sentence. The sentencing judge also noted that Fields' twelve prior felonies were four times as many as necessary to invoke the sentence enhancement provisions of Sec. 924(e)(1), and that each time Fields had been released on parole in the past he had promptly returned to criminal activity. In light of cases like Harvey, Geiger, and Rivera, supra, there can be little question that these reasons adequately justify an upward departure. 14 There also can be little question that the departure was reasonable. The sentencing judge added 24 months to a guideline sentence of 180 months; this Court has consistently upheld as reasonable departures as great or greater. See, e.g., Harvey, 897 F.2d at 1305-06 (guidelines recommended a sentence of 18 to 24 months; court upheld 60 month sentence imposed on the basis of defendant's excessively high criminal history score); Geiger, 891 F.2d at 513-14 (guidelines recommended a sentence of 21 to 27 months; court upheld 120 month sentence imposed because defendant's criminal history score did not adequately reflect seriousness of previous criminal conduct); Rivera, 879 F.2d at 1254-55 (guidelines recommended a sentence of 33 to 41 months; court upheld sentence of statutory maximum of 60 months imposed due to defendant's excessively high criminal history score). 15 Moreover, the sentence in this case was imposed under a specific statute which sets fifteen years as a minimum sentence; under Sec. 924(e)(1), the maximum sentence a defendant can receive is life in prison. United States v. Carey, 898 F.2d 642, 644 (8th Cir.1990); United States v. Williams, 892 F.2d 296, 304 (3d Cir.1989); United States v. Blannon, 836 F.2d 843, 845 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1010, 108 S.Ct. 1741, 100 L.Ed.2d 204 (1988); United States v. Jackson, 835 F.2d 1195, 1197 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 485 U.S. 969, 108 S.Ct. 1244, 99 L.Ed.2d 442 (1988). If the sentencing scheme enacted by Congress in Sec. 924(e)(1) is to be given effect--that is, if sentences of more than fifteen years are ever to be imposed--then the guidelines must be read to allow sentences in excess of fifteen years to be imposed in appropriate cases. Forbidding an upward departure from the guideline sentence of 180 months would have the effect of amending Sec. 924(e)(1), rewriting it to provide not for a sentence ranging from fifteen years to life, but rather for a fixed sentence of fifteen years. Accordingly, if the standards for departure from a guideline sentence are met, as they are here, it is proper for the sentencing judge to depart from that sentence, even when the usual guideline range has been supplanted by a statutorily mandated minimum sentence.