Opinion ID: 437558
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 2 Ibarra complains that the Probation Office's presentence report improperly contains at least two damaging statements. First, the report includes the conclusions of a BATF agent that 3 the defendant shows a persistent determination to obtain a .22 caliber rifle, and that the .22 caliber rifle, purchased in the instant offense, has the appearance of a semiautomatic weapon which would intimidate. Therefore ... the defendant purchased the weapon to intimidate other people. 4 Presentence Report on Juan Manuel Ibarra, United States District Court, Southern District of California, at 4 (Oct. 11, 1983). 5 Second, the report includes a local deputy sheriff's comments about 6 the incidents of animal abuse in which the defendant shot a neighbor's dog about October 12, 1982, plus reported complaints from undocumented aliens in the area of Borrego Springs who allegedly claim the defendant intimidates them for small amounts of money. [The deputy] also recited an incident of reported burglary of a .22 caliber rifle from the home of a neighbor of the defendant, in which the defendant is the primary suspect. Therefore, he concluded that IBARRA is a danger to the community and an individual who keeps the Deputy Sheriff busy. 7 Id. at 10. 8 Ibarra argued that these statements were either incorrect or undocumented. The district court essentially agreed and rejected the BATF agent's conclusions and the deputy sheriff's allegations. Ibarra's counsel proposed a sentence of 8 months, the Probation Office 2 years, and the Government the maximum of 5 years. The district court imposed a 4-year term. Ibarra appealed.