Opinion ID: 536231
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Enhancement of Thomas's Sentence

Text: 19 Thomas contends that enhancing his sentence under the sentencing guidelines for prior criminal activity violates the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment. Thomas argues that his sentence amounts to multiple punishment for offenses for which he has already been prosecuted and punished, and that this cumulative sentencing is not clearly authorized by Congress as required under Whalen v. United States, 445 U.S. 684, 100 S.Ct. 1432, 63 L.Ed.2d 715 (1979). 20 The double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment protects citizens from multiple punishments for the same offense. North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 717, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 2076, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969). However, the constitutionality of imposing more severe sentences upon defendants who are habitual offenders has been repeatedly upheld against constitutional challenge, including challenges under the double jeopardy clause. Oyler v. Boles, 368 U.S. 448, 451, 82 S.Ct. 501, 503, 7 L.Ed.2d 446 (1961); Gryger v. Burke, 334 U.S. 728, 732, 68 S.Ct. 1256, 1258, 92 L.Ed. 1683 (1948); Graham v. West Virginia, 224 U.S. 616, 623, 32 S.Ct. 583, 585, 56 L.Ed. 917 (1912). Habitual offender statutes do not subject a defendant to a second conviction or punishment for prior offenses. Rather, the repeat offender's prior convictions are considered to be an aggravating factor that justifies imposing a heavier sentence for his or her present offense. Gryger v. Burke, 334 U.S. at 732, 68 S.Ct. at 1258; Goodloe v. Parratt, 605 F.2d 1041, 1047 (8th Cir.1979). 21 The federal sentencing guidelines require courts to impose heavier sentences on defendants who have higher criminal history categories. U.S.S.G. Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Pt.A. (Sentencing Table). Courts must take convictions into account only at the time that a defendant is sentenced for his or her present offense, and not at trial. The defendant's criminal history is considered only for purposes of enhancement and is not also counted with the present offense in calculating the base offense level. In this regard, the guidelines operate no differently than other habitual offender statutes that have been upheld in the past. Consideration of Thomas's prior convictions in determining his punishment does not amount to multiple punishment, and does not violate the double jeopardy clause. 22 Thomas argues that Congress did not clearly permit misdemeanors to be counted as criminal history, and that counting his prior misdemeanor conviction under Sec. 4A1.2(c) of the guidelines violates the double jeopardy clause because Congress has not authorized this multiple punishment. Because this court has decided that Thomas's sentence does not impose multiple punishment upon him, we need not be concerned with whether Congress expressly stated that misdemeanors could be considered in enhancing sentences. Cf. Whalen v. United States. This court is satisfied that Congress, in 28 U.S.C. Sec. 994(d)(10), gave the sentencing commission the general authority to take relevant criminal history into account in developing the sentencing guidelines. 23 Accordingly, Gloria Lee Arnett's conviction and Gregory Wade Thomas's sentence are affirmed.