Opinion ID: 597192
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Custody, Care, or Supervisory Control Enhancement

Text: 8 Merritt claims the district court erred by enhancing his sentence for the victim being in Merritt's custody, care, or supervisory control. See U.S.S.G. § 2A3.1(b)(3) (Nov. 1991). We review the district court's determination under a clearly erroneous standard, and give due deference to the court's factual findings. See 18 U.S.C. § 3742(e); United States v. Cornelius, 931 F.2d 490, 493 (8th Cir.1991). 9 The enhancement for situations in which the defendant has supervisory control of the victim applies because the defendant is a person the victim trusts or to whom the victim is entrusted and this situation represents the potential for greater and prolonged psychological damage. U.S.S.G. § 2A3.1, comment. (backg'd). 10 The district court found the enhancement applicable because Merritt was living with the victim's grandmother, and consequently Merritt was able to be alone with the victim when he abused her. Additionally, West testified at the sentencing hearing that Merritt had supervisory control over the victim when he picked her up from the home of relatives. Merritt had greater access to the victim because of his relationship with the victim's grandmother, and he used that access to sexually abuse the victim. The district court's determination that the sentencing enhancement applied is not clearly erroneous. Cf. United States v. Balfany, 965 F.2d 575, 585 (8th Cir.1992) (finding enhancement applied when defendant lived with victim's mother in same house as victim, and was left alone with victim).