Opinion ID: 154021
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Same Course of Conduct or Common Scheme or Plan

Text: 30 The third requirement in the relevant conduct analysis requires a factual finding that the dismissed counts were either part of the same course of conduct or part of a common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction. See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(2). The district court rejected the contention that these offenses were part of a common scheme or plan. (R., Vol. V at 24). However, the court did find that these offenses were part of the same course of conduct. Id. 31 In United States v. Roederer, 11 F.3d 973, 978 (10th Cir.1993), we examined the distinction between same course of conduct and common scheme or plan and adopted the distinction drawn by the Second Circuit in United States v. Perdomo, 927 F.2d 111, 115 (2nd Cir.1991), and held that: 32 same course of conduct does not require a connection between the acts in the form of an overall criminal scheme. Rather, the guideline term contemplates that there be sufficient similarity and temporal proximity to reasonably suggest that repeated instances of criminal behavior constitute a pattern of criminal conduct. Thus, same course of conduct looks to whether the defendant repeats the same type of criminal activity over time. It does not require that acts be 'connected together' by common participants or by an overall scheme. It focuses instead on whether defendant has engaged in an identifiable 'behavior pattern' of specified criminal activity. 33 Roederer, 11 F.3d at 978-79 (internal quotations and citations omitted). See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3, comment. (n. 9(B)) (Offenses ... qualify as part of the same course of conduct if they are sufficiently connected or related to each other as to warrant the conclusion that they are part of a single episode, spree, or ongoing series of offenses. Factors ... to be considered ... include the degree of similarity of the offenses, the regularity (repetitions) of the offenses, and the time interval between the offenses.). 34 The record supports the district court's determination that the offenses were part of the same course of conduct. By pleading guilty to Count IV, Taylor admitted that he maintained a place for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine. A review of the dismissed counts establishes the same course of conduct, i.e., methamphetamine manufacturing: Count V charged Taylor with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and Count VI charge him with attempt to manufacture methamphetamine. 35 Accordingly, we hold that the evidence, when viewed in its entirety, establishes that Taylor was actively engaged in the same type of criminal activity, methamphetamine manufacturing, on March, 7, 1995, and July, 19, 1995. Taylor's conduct was sufficiently similar and the instances of manufacturing were temporally proximate.