Opinion ID: 766772
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Government's Appeal of the Downward Departure

Text: 33 The government challenges the district court's decision to grant Bradley a downward departure. Specifically, the government argues that (1) Bradley's conduct did not constitute aberrant behavior; (2) the trial court failed to make adequate factual findings to support the downward departure; and (3) the extent of the departure granted was excessive and unsupported by the district court's findings. We agree with the government's position that the trial judge failed to make adequate factual findings to support the downward departure. 34 Whenever we review a district court's decision to grant a downward departure, our first order of business is to verify whether the district court has stated adequate grounds for departure. This is a question of law and is reviewed de novo. United States v. Hendrickson, 22 F.3d 170, 175 (7th Cir. 1994). In order to support a downward departure, the district court is required to make 'particularized findings,' for without them, we cannot fulfill our proper function as an appellate tribunal and determine whether the departure was 'reasonable.' United States v. Sherman, 53 F.3d 782, 785-86 (7th Cir. 1995) (quoting United States v. Carey, 895 F.2d 318, 324 (7th Cir. 1990)). In this case, our threshold analysis reveals that the trial court did not make adequate factual findings to support the downward departure. 35 At the sentencing hearing, the district court merely gave a capsule summary of each of several letters received on Bradley's behalf. Generally speaking, those letters all came from people that have known Bradley for many years and stated that Bradley is an upstanding and well-respected member of the community. Judge Riley also referenced a letter from a psychologist that had interviewed Bradley and concluded that Bradley was suffering from acute stress disorder when he fired the shots at Marshall's station wagon. After reviewing these letters, and a letter from Marshall about the effects the shooting incident have had on him, the district court summarily concluded: 36 it is the judgment of this court that the court will downwardly depart from the level contained in the presentence investigation to a level 8. The reason for the downward departure is that the court believes that in looking at the 40 plus years of service [Bradley has] given to the community, that this was indeed an aberrant occurrence. Yes, there are things that we can say were not aberrant about it, but I believe that on overall balance, this was an aberrant happening. 37 In short, the district court's statements on the record do not give us a sufficient basis upon which to review the downward departure. We have previously recognized that if a criminal act constitutes a single instance of aberrant behavior, a defendant may receive a downward departure under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. See United States v. Partee, 31 F.3d 529, 533 (7th Cir. 1994); United States v. Andruska, 964 F.2d 640, 646 (7th Cir. 1992); United States v. Carey, 895 F.2d 318, 325 (7th Cir. 1990). For conduct to qualify as aberrant behavior, it must be more than merely something 'out of character' or the defendant's first offense. Carey, 895 F.2d at 325. Rather, the criminal conduct must be something in the nature of a spontaneous, sudden, or unplanned act. Partee, 31 F.3d at 534; Andruska, 964 F.2d at 646. However, the district court's stated reasons for granting the downward departure because of aberrant behavior address none of these pertinent considerations. We therefore vacate Bradley's sentence and remand this case for resentencing.