Opinion ID: 159764
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Prior Conduct

Text: 16 By definition, Mr. Benally's sex offense could not be considered aberrant if he had a documented history of similar deviant conduct. The district court therefore appropriately considered whether there was any evidence Mr. Benally had before engaged in sexually deviant behavior. The logic or necessity of this initial inquiry into prior conduct does not, however, render the lack of any such documented history a permissible ground for departure under the aberrant behavior umbrella. 17 We have, on at least two occasions, upheld downward departures for aberrant conduct based, in part, on the fact the defendant had not been engaged in any prior criminal activity. See Tsosie, 14 F.3d at 1441; United States v. Pena, 930 F.3d 1486, 1494 (10th Cir. 1991). Those dispositions, however, preceded the refinement of our departure analysis brought about by Koon. Having now been squarely presented with the issue of whether the lack of prior criminal conduct is a permissible factor in this specific sentencing context, we hold that the factors supporting an aberrant behavior departure must involve something other than an act which is merely a first offense. Stated differently, the permissible factors in this context must illustrate some unique circumstance some element of abnormal or exceptional behavior beside the fact the defendant has never before committed the crime. See United States v. Carey, 895 F.2d 318, 325 (7th Cir. 1990). 18 This holding stays true to our commitment to evaluate all the unique circumstances relevant to the aberrant nature of the defendant's conduct (prior good deeds, efforts to mitigate the effects of the crime, pecuniary gain, charitable activities, etc.), rather than focusing on spontaneity and thoughtlessness. Compare Jones, 158 F.3d at 500, Pena, 930 F.2d at 1494, and Grandmaison, 77 F.3d at 562-63, with United States v. Andruska, 964 F.2d 640, 645-46 (7th Cir. 1992). Most important, it is consistent with our precedent prohibiting a sentencing court from using a lack of criminal history as a basis for downward departure. 3 United States v. Gallegos, 129 F.3d 1140, 1145 (10th Cir. 1997). If a departure based on lack of a criminal history is forbidden, we believe it is likewise impermissible to base an aberrant behavior departure, in whole or in part, on a lack of prior criminal conduct. Consequently, the district court erred by relying on the absence of prior documented information of any sexual deviancy when granting Mr. Benally a downward departure.