Opinion ID: 672146
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Vulnerable victim due to age

Text: 25 The district court also determined that the six-month-old baby was not a vulnerable victim within the meaning of section 3A1.1. Section 3A1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines states: If the defendant knew or should have known that a victim of the offense was unusually vulnerable due to age, physical or mental condition, or that a victim was otherwise particularly susceptible to the criminal conduct, increase by 2 levels. The determination of vulnerability is a factual finding which is entitled to due deference on review. United States v. Rocha, 916 F.2d 219, 244 (5th Cir.1990), cert. denied, 500 U.S. 934, 111 S.Ct. 2057, 114 L.Ed.2d 462 (1991). 26 The PSR appropriately added two levels to Salemi's adjusted offense level because the victim in this case was a six-month-old baby. See U.S.S.G. Sec. 3A1.1. The district court declined to accept the PSR's recommendation because the court believed that Salemi's mental and emotional condition clouded his ability to perceive the baby's peculiar vulnerability. Moreover, since the baby was not harmed, the court declined to apply the enhancement. In reaching its conclusion, the district court erroneously relied more on Salemi's characteristics rather than the characteristics of the baby. The Guidelines clearly focus on the victim's unusual personal vulnerability. 27 In United States v. Creech, 913 F.2d 780, 782 (10th Cir.1990), the court held that section 3A1.1 should be utilized when the criminal act is directed against the young, the aged, the handicapped, or if the victim is chosen because of some unusual personal vulnerability. In United States v. Boise, 916 F.2d 497, 506 (9th Cir.1990), cert. denied, 500 U.S. 934, 111 S.Ct. 2057, 114 L.Ed.2d 462 (1991), the court upheld the vulnerable victim adjustment because the victim was six weeks old. In Rocha, 916 F.2d at 244-45, the court upheld the vulnerable victim adjustment because the victim was eighteen years old, and because the trial court observed during the trial that the victim was still terrified about the kidnapping ordeal. We agree with these decisions and reverse the district court's finding that the baby in this case was not a vulnerable victim.