Opinion ID: 151938
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 19

Heading: Any Error in Calculating Gonzalez's Guidelines Range on Counts 2B and 3 Was Harmless

Text: The district court used U.S.S.G. § 2J1.2 (obstruction of justice) as the base offense level for Gonzalez's convictions on Counts 2B and 3. Gonzalez claims a lower offense level was appropriate on both counts because he was not charged with obstructing justice. We need not resolve this purported guidelines issue, as the errors, if any, would not have affected the district court's sentence. United States v. Marsh, 561 F.3d 81, 86 (1st Cir.2009); United States v. Teague, 469 F.3d 205, 209-10 (1st Cir. 2006). After calculating Gonzalez's guidelines sentence, the district court explicitly stated that it considered a longer, 96-month sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to effectuate the goals of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), citing the seriousness of the offense, the need to promote respect for the law, the need for just punishment and the need for general and specific deterrence, as well as the need to protect the public from further crimes. The district court noted, in particular, that Gonzalez went to the Browns' prepared to intimidate, prevent and, if necessary, kill members of the [USMS] or other law enforcement officers should they attempt to enforce a lawful order and acquired weapons capable of delivering on his threats. The court observed that [i]t was only because of the restraint of the [USMS] that a significant number of individuals were not injured or killed. It cited Gonzalez's defiant attitude during trial and allocution and determined that he remains a serious danger to the community. Any error in the court's guidelines calculation would not have affected Gonzalez's sentence.