Opinion ID: 661525
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The First Adjustment

Text: 46 The district court increased Fontenot's base offense level by two levels for his refusal to submit to or cooperate in a court ordered psychiatric examination. U.S.S.G. Sec. 3C1.1 (1989) provides: 47 If the defendant willfully impeded or obstructed, or attempted to impede or obstruct the administration of justice during the investigation or prosecution of the instant offense, increase the offense level by 2 levels. 48 Fontenot contends that an adjustment under U.S.S.G. Sec. 3C1.1 is appropriate only where the evidence sought to be concealed or destroyed was material. He argues the benefit to the prosecution of the psychiatric testing here was, at best, wholly speculative and most likely of no value at all. Because the information would not have assisted in his prosecution, Fontenot concludes, he did not impede his prosecution. See United States v. Reyes, 908 F.2d 281, 290 (8th Cir.1990) (where a defendant refuses to comply with a court order ... thereby concealing or attempting to conceal material evidence, an enhancement is appropriate), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 908, 111 S.Ct. 1111, 113 L.Ed.2d 220 (1991). 49 The psychiatric testing which Fontenot refused was necessary for the prosecution to respond properly to his defense of diminished capacity. Fontenot claimed his diminished capacity was due to five brain surgeries which led to mental impairments that negated the specific intent necessary for a conviction. The psychiatric evaluation was material. The district court did not err in imposing a two-level increase under U.S.S.G. Sec. 3C1.1. Fontenot's base offense level at this point is 25. His 108-month sentence exceeds the range set for that level. Thus, we evaluate the remaining justifications the district court cited for the sentence.