Opinion ID: 585693
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sentencing as a Career Offender

Text: 11 Nettles also contends that the district court improperly sentenced him as a career offender under section 4B1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines. Our review of the district court's interpretation is de novo. United States v. Lawrence, 916 F.2d 553, 554 (9th Cir.1990). 12 Section 4B1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines requires enhanced sentencing if: (1) Nettles was at least 18 years old at the time of the offense; (2) the offense is a felony and either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense; and (3) Nettles had at least two prior felony convictions for crimes of violence or controlled substances. The sole dispute here concerns whether possession of a firearm by a felon is a crime of violence. 13 In United States v. O'Neal, we held that this offense is by definition a crime of violence under section 4B1.2. O'Neal, 937 F.2d 1369, 1375 (9th Cir.1991). On November 1, 1989, after the sentencing reviewed in O'Neal but prior to Nettles' sentencing, the Sentencing Commission amended section 4B1.2. See U.S.S.G.App.C (amendment 268). The amendment deleted the reference to 18 U.S.C. § 16 and shifted the emphasis from the nature of the crime charged to the elements actually charged, or whether the specific charged conduct presented a serious risk of physical injury to another. United States v. Sahakian, No. 91-10199, slip. op. 5975, 5979-80 (9th Cir. May 26, 1992). As a result, we have discarded our O'Neal approach, and now consider whether the indictment charged conduct that involved the use of explosives ... or, by its nature, presented a serious potential risk of physical injury to another. Id. at 5980 (quoting U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2, comment (n.2)). 14 In this case, the indictment merely charged that Nettles had been convicted of selling a controlled substance and did knowingly possess a firearm, that is a Brazilian Cartridge Company, 20 gauge shotgun, serial number C955806, in and affecting commerce. The charged conduct does not include any element of actual, attempted, or threatened use of violence, and involves no serious potential risk of physical injury to another. See id. Accordingly, we conclude that Nettles did not commit a crime of violence, and enhancement was improper. 2 15 CONVICTION AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED AND CASE REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS OPINION.