Opinion ID: 692303
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Escobar

Text: 50 Escobar argues that the district court erred in adjusting his BOL upward two levels for willful obstruction of justice under U.S.S.G. Sec. 3C1.1. The district court based this enhancement on its finding that Escobar threatened Vizcarra into refusing to testify. See U.S.S.G. Sec. 3C1.1, comment. (n. 3(a)). We review this determination for clear error only. United States v. Capps, 952 F.2d 1026, 1027 (8th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 2978, 119 L.Ed.2d 596 (1992). Escobar argues this increase was improper because no evidence was presented that established his specific intent to threaten Vizcarra. 51 We do not believe the district court clearly erred in its determination that Escobar threatened Vizcarra in an attempt to get him to refuse to testify at trial. The district court found credible Vizcarra's testimony that Escobar threatened Vizcarra and his family if Vizcarra testified and that Escobar made Vizcarra write a letter that retracted his prior statements to the police, claiming those statements were a result of police coercion. Accordingly, a two level upward adjustment was appropriate. See United States v. Adipietro, 983 F.2d 1468, 1479 (8th Cir.1993); Capps, 952 F.2d at 1026.