Opinion ID: 1235169
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Masochism Enhancement

Text: Starr next argues that the district court erred in applying a four-level masochism enhancement. Starr asserts that sexual penetration of a minor with a foreign object in this instance should not meet the definition of violence. When calculating the Guidelines, the court should enhance the offense level by four levels [i]f the offense involved material that portrays sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.. . . U.S.S.G. § 2G2.1(b)(4). In determining that this enhancement should apply, the district court relied on United States v. Parker, 267 F.3d 839, 847 (8th Cir.2001), in which we held that self-penetration by a foreign object qualifies as violence. Also, in Parker we defined violence under this subsection using the dictionary definition of the term. Id. (stating that Webster's Dictionary defines `violence' as `exertion of any physical force so as to injure or abuse'). Starr concedes that E.M. was penetrated with a foreign object, but he attempts to distinguish Parker by arguing that Parker involved a very young child whereas the victim in question here was 17. He further contends that the absence of evidence of any pain or injury suffered on the part of E.M. prohibits the application of the enhancement. Starr's arguments are unpersuasive and Parker controls here. And, as we stated in Parker, [g]iven the plain meaning of `violence,' it is difficult to imagine that the sexual penetration with a foreign object of a minor female would not qualify as `violence' even if self-inflicted. Id.