Opinion ID: 653666
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Villagrana's Sentence

Text: 29 Villagrana appeals his sentence of thirty-five years imprisonment. In arguing that we should remand his case for resentencing, he contends that his sentencing was flawed for essentially two reasons: i) at his sentencing hearing, the district court failed to allow him to present evidence to rebut the presentence investigation report, and ii) a written copy of the district court's findings made at the sentencing hearing was not attached to the presentence report when it was forwarded to the Bureau of Prisons. As a result of these errors, Villagrana contends his sentence was imposed without due process. 30 With regard to Villagrana's first contention, due process requires that the defendant be sentenced on the basis of accurate information. United States v. Tucker, 404 U.S. 443, 447, 92 S.Ct. 589, 592, 30 L.Ed.2d 592 (1972); United States v. Westbrook, 986 F.2d 180, 182 (7th Cir.1993). In recognition of this right, this court has focused upon the defendant's opportunity to rebut the government's evidence and the information in the presentence report. United States v. Agyemang, 876 F.2d 1264, 1270 (7th Cir.1989). Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(a) provides procedural safeguards aimed at protecting this right by requiring the district court to determine (1) whether the defendant has had an opportunity to read the [presentence investigation] report; (2) whether the defendant and defense counsel have discussed it; and (3) whether he or she wishes to challenge any facts in the report. United States v. Eschweiler, 782 F.2d 1385, 1388 (7th Cir.1986) (citing United States v. Rone, 743 F.2d 1169, 1174 (7th Cir.1984)). If, in response to the third inquiry, the defendant argues that the report contains factual inaccuracies, Rule 32(c)(3)(D) requires the court to make a finding as to allegations or indicate that no finding is necessary because the alleged inaccurate fact will not be relied on in sentencing. 31 In the case before us, the district court sentenced Villagrana and two other defendants involved in the conspiracy at the same hearing. Villagrana concedes that, as required by Rule 32(a), the district court properly verified that he had read his presentence report and discussed it with counsel. However, he argues that the district court failed to provide him an opportunity to present evidence to rebut the findings in the presentence report, the final requirement of Rule 32(a). 32 The transcript of the sentencing hearing belies Villagrana's assertion. The district court described the hearing process to the defendants as follows: 33 Let me just explain to all three defendants that if there are any things that you think were mistaken in the reports it's important that either you or your lawyers should tell us what those are, because then we can make any corrections that are necessary in the reports. And that's important because these reports are now going to be part of your lives, they go along with you. But you should not feel that's the only thing that you are able to say when you get the chance to speak, because you can talk about any things in the report that you would like to mention, even though they are correct.... 34 At the defendants' election, their counsel addressed the court first, followed by the defendants themselves. Villagrana's counsel objected to the several aspects of Villagrana's presentence report, including its conclusion that the conspiracy involved over 50 kilograms of cocaine, its recommendation of a four level enhancement for obstruction of justice, and its recommendation of a two level enhancement for a leadership role in the offense. He also argued to the court that Villagrana's conduct warranted a two level downward adjustment based on acceptance of responsibility. 35 In making these objections, counsel challenged both the factual accuracy of the presentence report, such as the amount of cocaine involved in the conspiracy, and its conclusions, such as whether the facts set forth in the report supported an upward adjustment based on Villagrana's role in the offense. The district court commented on each of these arguments as they were presented. Ultimately, counsel's contentions were rejected, and the district court accepted the recommendations contained in the presentence report. 36 At that point, Villagrana's counsel stated, Judge, I don't have anything else that I haven't already argued. Villagrana was then allowed to speak, but offered no additional challenges to the presentence report. After the government's brief response, the court heard from Villagrana and his counsel again, at which time no new arguments of substance were made. 37 The district court fully complied with Rule 32(a) by conducting a thorough sentencing hearing at which Villagrana twice was allowed to raise challenges to the presentence report. At no point in their extensive dialogue with the court did Villagrana or his counsel indicate that they wished to present witnesses or other evidence related to their objections to the presentence report. In the absence of any effort by Villagrana or his counsel to submit evidence at the sentencing hearing, the court was entitled to consider and rule on the arguments that were raised and proceed to sentence Villagrana. 38 In response to Villagrana's substantive challenges to those findings, we have reviewed the record and find it supports the district court's determinations. Consequently, we hold that Villagrana received an opportunity to challenge the accuracy of the presentence report and his sentence was based on accurate information. He was not denied due process. 39 Turning to Villagrana's second alleged violation of due process, when the defendant alleges that the presentence report contains a factual inaccuracy, Rule 32(c)(3)(D) requires the district court to make findings related to each alleged inaccuracy or determine that no such finding is necessary because the disputed matter will not be relied upon in sentencing. This provision further requires that a written record of those findings be attached to the presentence report. Both Villagrana and the government agree that to the extent it resolved challenges to the factual accuracy of the presentence report, the district court failed to comply with the second requirement of Rule 32(c)(3)(D) by neglecting to have a transcript of those findings attached to the presentence report. 40 We reject Villagrana's argument that this oversight deprived him of due process. The first requirement of Rule 32(c)(3)(D), that the district court make a finding related to any alleged factual inaccuracy, directly protects a defendant's right to be sentenced based on accurate evidence. United States v. Moran, 845 F.2d 135, 138 (7th Cir.1988) (citing Eschweiler, 782 F.2d at 1387). The record reveals that while no written findings were made, the court resolved each contention raised by Villagrana, as required to satisfy the protection of due process contained in Rule 32(c)(3)(D). The attachment of those findings to the presentence report provides a clear record of the disposition and resolution of controverted facts in the presentence report that aids appellate courts in their review of the sentencing hearings and administrative agencies, such as the Bureau of Prisons and Parole Commission, that use the report in their own decision-making process. Id. (citing Eschweiler, 782 F.2d at 1387). 41 In light of its purpose, a breach of this ministerial requirement is easily remedied by requesting the district court or its Probation Office to attach a transcript of the sentencing hearing to the presentence report. Id.; Eschweiler, 782 F.2d at 1390; Andrews v. United States, 817 F.2d 1277, 1280 n. 4 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 857, 108 S.Ct. 166, 98 L.Ed.2d 120 (1987). The United States Attorney has taken such action with respect to Villagrana's presentence report and the defect has been corrected. Thus, the district court's initial failure to ensure that Rule 32(c)(3)(D) was complied with was a ministerial defect which does not require resentencing. 42 Villagrana's other arguments are meritless and do not warrant discussion. Both defendants' convictions and sentences are AFFIRMED.