Opinion ID: 747813
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Washman's Argument

Text: 12 The core of Washman's argument on appeal is that § 3553(f) violates his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination if it requires him to disclose relevant conduct unknown to law enforcement. It is true that this circuit has held that conditioning a sentence reduction on admissions of responsibility for conduct of which a defendant was not convicted could violate his Fifth Amendment rights. United States v. Piper, 918 F.2d 839, 840 (9th Cir.1990). 13 However, Piper was one of a line of cases dealing with the Fifth Amendment implications requiring an admission of responsibility for uncharged relevant conduct in order to obtain the Acceptance of Responsibility adjustment under a prior version of USSG § 3E1.1. See also United States v. Watt, 910 F.2d 587, 593 (9th Cir.1990) (holding that in determining a defendant's acceptance of responsibility, a sentencing court cannot consider against a defendant any constitutionally protected conduct such as refusing to make a statement to the police or assisting the police in gathering inculpatory evidence). 14 Section 3553(f)(5) does not raise constitutional concern because it does not mete out additional punishment if a defendant decides not to disclose under § 3553(f)(5). Other circuits have so held. See, e.g., United States v. Arrington, 73 F.3d 144, 149 (7th Cir.1996). 15 This resolution is consistent with the intent of Congress in enacting the safety valve provision of § 3553(f)--to remedy an inequity in the Guidelines whereby more senior operatives could obtain lighter sentences than less culpable lower-level operatives because the former had more information to offer than the latter and so could benefit from the Substantial Assistance downward departure under USSG § 5K1.1. See United States v. Ajugwo, 82 F.3d 925, 926 (9th Cir.1996). Section 3553(f) helps to remedy that inequity by allowing the sentencing court to disregard the statutory minimum in sentencing first-time nonviolent drug offenders who played a minor role in the offense and who 'have made a good-faith effort to cooperate with the government.'  United States v. Shrestha, 86 F.3d 935, 938 (9th Cir.1996). The intent of Congress would be thwarted if defendants could obtain the benefit of the safety valve yet not disclose their true roles. We conclude that the decision of the trial court did not violate Washman's Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. 16 The district court did not commit clear error in refusing to reduce Washman's sentence pursuant to the safety valve provision of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f). The defendant has the burden of proof with respect to any sentence reduction based upon a mitigating factor. United States v. Ajugwo, 82 F.3d at 929. Here, the defendant must show by a preponderance of the evidence, that [h]e qualified for the safety valve provisions. Id.; accord Shrestha, 86 F.3d at 940. 17 Washman did not carry his burden of proof on this issue. The evidence showed that when the arrest occurred, one of Washman's children told the authorities there were other instances that her father had transported marijuana in the same manner before. Washman neither confirmed nor denied that he was involved in any prior instances of transporting marijuana. The record is devoid of any attempt by Washman to either prove or assert that he has no knowledge of any other instances of marijuana transportation. 18 For these reasons, the district court should be affirmed. The dissent would dispose of the case differently on a theory of statutory interpretation. However, Washman did not raise that theory below, and issues not presented to the trial court generally cannot be decided on appeal. See, e.g., United States v. Flores-Payon, 942 F.2d 556, 558 (9th Cir.1991). Review is doubly barred because Washman failed to raise the issue on appeal. See, e.g., United States v. Martinez, 967 F.2d 1343, 1348 n. 1 (9th Cir.1992). We see no reason to depart from these well-established rules of appellate review. 19 AFFIRMED. 20