Opinion ID: 780248
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Extreme Psychological Injury to the Victim

Text: 65 Hefferon also contends that the district court erred in departing upward based on the extreme psychological injury suffered by Alejandra. Section 5K2.3 provides, 66 If a victim or victims suffered psychological injury much more serious than that normally resulting from commission of the offense, the court may increase the sentence above the authorized guideline range. The extent of the increase ordinarily should depend on the severity of the psychological injury and the extent to which the injury was intended or knowingly risked. 67 Normally, psychological injury would be sufficiently severe to warrant application of this adjustment only when there is a substantial impairment of the intellectual, psychological, emotional, or behavioral functioning of a victim, when the impairment is likely to be of an extended or continuous duration, and when the impairment manifests itself by physical or psychological symptoms or by changes in behavior patterns. The court should consider the extent to which such harm was likely, given the nature of the defendant's conduct. 68 U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL, § 5K2.3 (2000). We have previously stated that [a] psychological injury is sufficiently severe where there exists (1) a substantial impairment of the intellectual, psychological, emotional, or behavioral functioning of a victim, (2) which is of an extended or continuous duration, and (3) which manifests itself by physical or psychological symptoms or by changes in behavior patterns. United States v. Anderson, 5 F.3d 795, 804 (5th Cir.1993). 69 Using this framework as a guidepost, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in departing upward for extreme psychological injury. At sentencing, it found credible the representation of Alejandra's treatment manager (Dr. Rotering) that the victim will suffer long-term psychological affects, such as lack of trust (especially of adults), that are excessively severe. Dr. Rotering testified that she has evaluated hundreds of victims of sexual abuse and that Alejandra's trauma was the most severe of anybody [she] ha[d] ever worked with. Additionally, the record demonstrates that the trauma suffered by Alejandra manifests itself physically. On several occasions, when Alejandra was asked to talk about the incident, she became physically ill. This physical manifestation (severe crying, vomiting, and fever) was described by Dr. Rotering as a symptom generally associated with a patient suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a disorder characterized by Dr. Rotering as having ongoing and severe symptoms. Family members also testified that Alejandra had become introverted and aggressive. The district court did not abuse its discretion in departing upward. 10