Opinion ID: 152649
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: calculation of the criminal history category

Text: Wahid argues that his previous convictions should not have resulted in criminal history points and that he should have been placed in criminal history category I. Specifically, Wahid contends that his conviction for driving on a suspended license should not have counted because it was an uncounseled conviction for which he was sentenced to time in jail. He also contends that two other convictions for which he was sentenced simultaneouslydriving without a license and displaying a fraudulent licenseshould not have counted because they involved minor traffic offenses.
The district court's calculation of Wahid's criminal history category is reviewed de novo. Although his argument at sentencing was based on U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3(b)(1) and his current argument is based on U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2, Wahid's basic claim remains the same: his prior convictions are not serious enough to warrant his placement in criminal history category III. See United States v. Guzman-Padilla, 573 F.3d 865, 877 n. 1 (9th Cir.2009) (holding that claims, not arguments are preserved on appeal).
Wahid argues that his 1999 conviction under Cal. Veh.Code § 14601.1(a) should not have counted because he was uncounseled and sentenced to serve jail time. The PSR reflects that [a]ccording to court documentation, the defendant waived his right to counsel and pleaded nolo contendere. Wahid argues that counting this conviction was unconstitutional and contrary to U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2.
Wahid contends that the conviction should not count in light of the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of the right to counsel in criminal cases in which jail time may be imposed. See Scott v. Illinois, 440 U.S. 367, 373, 99 S.Ct. 1158, 59 L.Ed.2d 383 (U.S.1979) (holding that precedent warrants adoption of actual imprisonment as the line defining the constitutional right to appointment of counsel.) However, once the government establishes the fact of a conviction, the burden rests on the defendant to show that the conviction was unconstitutional. United States v. Newman, 912 F.2d 1119, 1121 (9th Cir.1990). [3] Wahid has not presented any evidence that he did not make a knowing and intentional waiver of his right to counsel or that his conviction otherwise was unconstitutional.
Wahid contends that the Commentary to U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2 precludes the district court from including in its criminal history calculation any uncounseled misdemeanor sentence for which imprisonment was imposed. The relevant language reads: Prior sentences, not otherwise excluded, are to be counted in the criminal history score, including uncounseled misdemeanor sentences where imprisonment was not imposed. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2 cmt. background. The Commentary is specific in saying that the criminal history calculation should include uncounseled misdemeanor convictions where imprisonment was not imposed. Wahid argues that under the doctrine of expressio unius est exclusio alterius ( expressio unius ), the commentators must have intended to exclude uncounseled misdemeanor convictions for which imprisonment was imposed. Wahid points out that the Commentary has been amended to exclude certain convictions even if such convictions were not obtained in violation of the Constitution. Before November 1, 1990, the Commentary provided that if to count an uncounseled misdemeanor conviction would result in the imposition of a sentence under circumstances that would violate the United States Constitution, then such conviction shall not be counted in the criminal history score. See United States v. Niven, 952 F.2d 289, 292 (9th Cir.1991). Wahid is correct that the amendment to the Commentary does appear to broaden the category of convictions that should not be counted in determining a criminal history score. However, taken to its logical extreme, Wahid's interpretation of the Commentary also would exclude counseled misdemeanor sentences for which imprisonment was not imposed. We decline Wahid's invitation to reach such a result.
Wahid also argues that he should not have been assessed a criminal history point for his 2006 convictions under Cal. Veh.Code §§ 12500(a) and 14610(a)(1), because the convictions are for minor traffic offenses as defined by U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(2). Wahid was sentenced simultaneously for violating these two statutes and was ordered to serve two years of probation and one day in jail. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(1) lists misdemeanor offenses that are to be counted in the criminal history score if either (A) the sentence included more than one year of probation or imprisonment for at least thirty days or (B) the prior offense was similar to the instant offense. An offense that is not listed may be counted if it is similar to an offense that is listed. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(2) lists offenses that never are to be counted in the calculation of the criminal history score, including minor traffic infractions. Offenses not listed also may be excluded if they are similar to an offense that is listed. Cal. Veh.Code § 12500(a) provides that [a] person may not drive a motor vehicle upon a highway, unless the person then holds a valid driver's license issued under this code, except those persons who are expressly exempted under this code. The PSR notes that Wahid was convicted of driving w/o license and sentenced to two years of probation and one day in jail. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(1) specifically lists [d]riving without a license or with a revoked or suspended license as a conviction that should be counted if the sentence imposed was more than one year of probation. Given the explicit language of U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(1) and the sentence of two years of probation, Wahid properly was assessed a criminal history point for this prior sentence. Nonetheless, Wahid argues that Section 14610(a)(1)entitled unlawful use of licenseis a minor traffic infraction under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(2). Based on that argument, he contends that no criminal history points should be assessed with respect to either Cal. Veh.Code § 12500(a) or § 14610(a)(1) because he claims that it is possible that he was sentenced to two years of probation only for his violation of Cal. Veh.Code § 14610(a)(1) and that the court cannot determine which offense resulted in which aspect of his sentence. Even accepting Wahid's argument that the violation of Cal. Veh.Code § 14610(a)(1) is similar to a minor traffic infraction for purposes of U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(2), it is clear from the record that he was sentenced simultaneously for the two offenses. Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(a)(2), [i]f there is no intervening arrest, prior sentences are counted separately unless (A) the sentences resulted from offenses contained in the same charging instrument; or (B) the sentences were imposed on the same day. The PSR indicates that the arrests for Cal. Veh.Code §§ 12500(a) and 14610(a)(1) occurred on the same day (March 14, 2006), so an intervening arrest was unlikely. The PSR also indicates that the sentences were imposed on the same day, July 6, 2006. In light of this uncontroverted evidence, Wahid's convictions under §§ 12500(a) and 14610(a)(1) do not count separately and should be considered a single sentence. Given the express language of U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(1), Wahid's conviction under Cal. Veh.Code § 12500(a) for driving without a license properly was counted toward his criminal history score if the sentence included more than one year of probation. Because the sentence for convictions under Cal. Veh.Code §§ 12500(a) and 14610(a)(1) is considered a single sentence, it is immaterial whether two years of probation was imposed with respect to both or only one of the convictions.