Opinion ID: 767443
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: U.S.S.G. S 2L1.1(b)(5)

Text: 40 Section 2L1.1(b)(5) instructs the district court to increase a defendant's offense level [i]f the offense involved intentionally or recklessly creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person . . . . U.S.S.G.S 2L1.1(b)(5). Furthermore, the Guidelines provide that reckless conduct to which the adjustment from section 2L1.1(b)(5) applies includes a wide variety of conduct, such as transporting persons in the trunk or engine compartment of a motor vehicle. U.S.S.G. S 2L1.1(b)(5), app. note 6. In this case, the PSR found that Dixon had transported Alejandre-Gutierrez and Nava-Moreno in the trunk of his vehicle, where they were without adequate oxygen and were unable to extricate themselves. The district court adopted the PSR's findings and increased Dixon's offense level under U.S.S.G. S 2L1.1(b)(5). 41 After reviewing the record, we hold that these findings by the district court are clearly erroneous. The PSR repeatedly stated that Alejandre-Gutierrez and Nava-Moreno were in the trunk of Dixon's car. In actuality, however, the aliens were transported in the hatchback area of the vehicle, which was evidenced by the pictures of the vehicle that Dixon presented to the district court. Although a hatchback area may serve the same purpose as a trunk (i.e., storage), a hatchback area and a trunk are, in fact, very different. Unlike a trunk, except for the lack of seat belts, the dangers of riding in the hatchback area of a car are not obvious. For example, a person hiding inside a locked trunk could not extricate himself, while a person hiding in a hatchback area easily could extricate himself by pushing up the lightweight, flimsy hatchback cover. Hence, the district court's findings that Alejandre-Gutierrez and Nava-Moreno were without adequate oxygen and were unable to extricate themselves from the hatchback area of the vehicle needed evidentiary support. After reviewing the record, however, we find that there was no evidence that: (1) the hatchback area was airtight, thereby depriving AlejandreGutierrez and Nava-Moreno of adequate oxygen; or (2) the aliens were unable to extricate themselves. 42 Because of this lack of evidence, we hold that the district court erred in increasing Dixon's offense level pursuant to U.S.S.G. S 2L1.1(b)(5). Accordingly, we reverse and remand for resentencing without the six-level increase in the offense level which had been imposed under U.S.S.G. S 2L1.1(b)(5).