Opinion ID: 181731
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Indictment, Plea Agreement, and Sentence

Text: On November 18, 2008, a federal grand jury indicted Regan on six counts of knowingly receiving visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2), 2252(b)(1), and 2256, and on one count of possessing a computer that contained such images in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(4)(B), 2252(b)(2), and 2256. Regan entered into a plea agreement and pled guilty to one count of receiving visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2), 2252(b)(1), and 2256. The plea agreement stipulated that the base level of the offense was 22, and that enhancements would apply because the contraband involved a prepubescent minor (an increase of two levels), the contraband portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence (an increase of four levels), and the offense involved the use of a computer (an increase of two levels). R. Vol. 1 at 12-13. Reductions applied to the total offense level because Regan's conduct was limited to the receipt of child pornography without an intent to distribute it (a decrease of two levels), and because Regan clearly demonstrated a recognition and affirmative acceptance of personal responsibility for his criminal conduct (a decrease of three levels). Id. The PSR's calculation of the Guideline range incorporated the stipulations in the plea agreement and further recommended a five-level enhancement under § 2G2.2(b)(7)(D) because Regan's offense involved in excess of 600 images. R. Vol. 2 at 13-14. Including the five-level enhancement, Regan's total offense level was 30. Id. at 15. Because Regan had no prior criminal history, his criminal history category was I. The Sentencing Guideline range for Regan's total offense level of 30 and criminal history category of I was 97 to 121 months. Id. at 22. In its pre-sentencing memorandum, the government requested a sentence of 97 months, arguing that such a sentence would be reasonable and appropriate in light of the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). R. Vol. 1 at 22. Regan requested a downward variance to a sentence of sixty months, the statutory minimum under 18 U.S.C. § 2252(b)(1). Id. at 39. Regan did not dispute the Guideline calculations, nor did Regan object to any of the recommendations in the PSR, including the five-level enhancement that applied for possessing upwards of 600 images. Rather, Regan argued that a Guideline sentence would be unreasonable, excessive, and overly harsh under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). On January 14, 2010, the district court held a sentencing hearing. The court accepted the plea agreement and indicated that Regan would be sentenced to 97 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of standard and special conditions of supervised release. R. Vol. 3 at 16-17. The judgment was entered on January 19, 2010, and Regan timely filed a notice of appeal on January 27, 2010.