Opinion ID: 4555770
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mr. Muskett’s Federal Conviction

Text: On August 22, 2013, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment that charged Mr. Muskett with four counts: assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country under 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(3); aggravated burglary in Indian Country (based on New Mexico’s aggravated burglary statute by way of the federal Assimilative Crimes Act); using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); and negligent child abuse in Indian Country. On November 6, 2013, Mr. Muskett entered into a plea agreement pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1)(C). 2 Under that agreement, Mr. Muskett pleaded guilty only to the § 924(c) charge 3 (for using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence), and the government agreed to dismiss the three remaining counts. Pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(C), the parties agreed 2 Plea agreements reached under Rule 11(c)(1)(C) contain provisions requiring the government to “agree that a specific sentence or sentencing range is the appropriate disposition of the case, or that a particular provision of the Sentencing Guidelines, or policy statement, or sentencing factor does or does not apply (such a recommendation or request binds the court once the court accepts the plea agreement).” 3 To be convicted under § 924(c), a defendant need not be convicted of, or even charged with, a predicate crime of violence. Rather, a violation of § 924(c) is complete when a firearm is used, carried, possessed, or brandished in furtherance of a felony crime of violence “for which the [defendant] may be prosecuted in a court of the United States.” 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) (emphasis added). 3 that, contingent on the district court’s acceptance of the plea agreement, Mr. Muskett would be sentenced to an 84-month term of imprisonment. On March 11, 2014, the district court accepted Mr. Muskett’s plea and sentenced him to 84 months of imprisonment followed by a three-year term of supervised release. 4