Opinion ID: 2981720
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cocaine Possession with Intent to Resell

Text: Brown’s final argument regarding his predicate offenses— that there is insufficient proof that his conviction for possession of less than 0.5 grams of cocaine with intent to resell was subject to a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more—is of a kind with his other arguments. Tennessee sentencing courts must (1) determine the felony class of the crime of conviction (e.g., Class C), (2) determine what sentencing range applies (i.e., Range I, II, or III) under Tennessee Code sections 40-35-105–108, and (3) apply these findings to the sentencing provisions of Tennessee Code section 40-35-112. The judgment form for Brown’s cocaine conviction indicates that Brown was a multiple offender, which made him a Range II offender. See id. § 40-35-106. For a Range II offender who committed a class C felony, such as Brown, the maximum term of imprisonment is ten years. Id. § 40-35-112. The district court, in the current case, was permitted to determine whether Brown was sentenced as a Range II offender. See United States v. Rodriquez, 553 U.S. 377, 389 (2008). Therefore, Brown pleaded guilty to a state drug offense subject to “a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more.” In sum, Brown had three prior convictions that qualify as predicate offenses under the ACCA.