Opinion ID: 567977
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Content of addendum: base offense level

Text: 28 We note that Blythe points out only one difference between the original presentence report and the addendum, namely the change in the sentencing recommendation from base level 12 to 24. Blythe asserts that the addendum falsely represented the government's recommended base level as 24 rather than 12, and that the government misled him by originally suggesting 12 as the appropriate guideline level. 29 We find this argument to be devoid of any merit. As was discussed above, the original plea agreement, signed by Blythe, recommended 24 as the appropriate offense level. The revised one, which omitted a recommendation after it was learned that Blythe was still dealing drugs, reiterated the recommended maximum sentence and gave no intimation that the government would propose a lower offense level. The defendant persisted in his guilty plea, nevertheless, and neither objected to the base level of 24 nor attempted to renegotiate the agreement. He was well aware of the government's objections to the original presentence report and its intention to recommend a level based on the figures to which Blythe had consented in the plea agreement. And yet, at the sentencing hearing, Blythe refused to withdraw or challenge the plea, even when the court advised him of his right to change his mind. We find nothing misleading in the government's treatment of Blythe. 1 30 We further find that the addendum to the presentence report neither misrepresented the government's position nor prejudiced the defendant. As was shown above, nothing in the addendum was new or surprising. The hearing transcript reflects that Blythe's attorney informed the court of the discrepancy in the base level recommendations, and the court considered the matter before ruling that 24 was the proper base level. There is no hint of error in the court's conduct. 31 We hold that no prejudice, substantial or otherwise, can be found in the court's consideration of the initial offense levels recommended in the presentence report, the addendum, and the hearing. Our review of the record reveals that the court sentenced Blythe on the basis of accurate information presented by both the defendant and the government, and committed no error at arriving at the base level of 24. 32 There are three other reasons that Blythe's claims concerning the addendum cannot succeed. The first is that Blythe had no right to the sentencing recommendation. Due process guarantees that a defendant see the presentence report in his case and have the opportunity to refute its contents before the district court; but there is no constitutional or statutory right to be informed of a particular sentencing recommendation made by the probation office to the district court. United States v. Heilprin, 910 F.2d 471, 474 (7th Cir.1990). Pursuant to Rule 32(c)(3) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the court is required to permit the defendant to read the presentence report exclusive of any recommendation as to sentence. Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(c)(3)(A). 33 Second, if Blythe believed that the suggested base offense level of 24 was inaccurate, he was obliged under Rule 32(c)(3)(D) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to inform the district court of any error in the presentence report prior to, or at, the sentencing hearing. When given the opportunity to challenge the report by the court, Blythe declined. By failing to raise his objection in a timely fashion, he has waived the right. United States v. Stout, 882 F.2d 270, 272 n. 3 (7th Cir.1989); United States v. Atehortua, 875 F.2d 149, 151 (7th Cir.1989). 34 And third, in any case a sentencing judge is not bound by the presentence report's recommendations concerning sentence. Heilprin, 910 F.2d at 475. The reasons given by the court for the sentence were well-founded and reflect no error whatsoever. Because we find that the Guidelines were correctly applied to findings of fact that were not clearly erroneous, we see no reason to disturb the sentence below. 18 U.S.C. § 3742(e). See United States v. Hassan, 927 F.2d 303, 306 (7th Cir.1991); United States v. Vopravil, 891 F.2d 155, 157 (7th Cir.1989). 35