Opinion ID: 197184
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Verrill

Text: 49 Verrill argues that the district court erred in sentencing him as a career offender and as an armed career criminal. Under the guidelines, an individual is considered a career offender if (1) he was at least 18 years old at the time he committed the offense for which he is being sentenced; (2) the offense is a felony and either a crime of violence or a substance abuse crime; and (3) the defendant has at least two prior convictions for crimes of violence and/or substance abuse crimes. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1. Verrill argues, erroneously, that he does not meet the third requirement. 50 A crime of violence is defined, in relevant part, as a state or federal offense punishable by more than one year in prison that is burglary of a dwelling, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(1)(ii). Verrill's presentencing report lists ten prior offenses: three instances of entering a dwelling with intent to commit larceny, three instances of breaking and entering, one instance of breaking and entering a dwelling with intent to commit larceny, one instance of breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny, one instance of possession of a stolen vehicle, and one instance of escape. Six of the offenses, at least four of which were clearly crimes of violence, took place during a four month period when Verrill was only eighteen years old. He therefore argues that they should only count as a single offense. Verrill also argues that none of his later offenses (breaking and entering, breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny, possession of a stolen vehicle, and escape) were crimes of violence or involved a controlled substance. 51 Whether a particular offense qualifies as a predicate offense for career offender purposes is reviewed de novo. United States v. Winter, 22 F.3d 15, 18 (1st Cir.1994). This court takes a categorical approach and looks to the statutory definitions rather than the particular facts. Id; see also Taylor v. United States, 495 U.S. 575, 598, 110 S.Ct. 2143, 2158, 109 L.Ed.2d 607 (1990). It is therefore irrelevant that none of the facts underlying the prior offenses for which Verrill was convicted involved the use of physical force against another. Verrill was convicted of breaking and entering and breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny in violation of R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-4. On very similar facts, this court has held that violation of that statute constitutes a crime of violence for career offender purposes. United States v. Fiore, 983 F.2d 1, 4-5 (1st Cir.1992). After all, burglars may resort to violence if someone arrives while the burglary is in progress. United States v. Patterson, 882 F.2d 595, 604 (1st Cir.1989). Verrill's record shows, apart from his activities when he was eighteen, that he has the requisite two prior convictions to qualify as a career offender. 52 The district court's calculation of an offense level of 34 is correct if Verrill is either a career offender or an armed career criminal. Having determined that Verrill was correctly sentenced as a career offender, there is no need to reach the question of whether he also qualified as an armed career criminal. Nor is there a need to reach any of his other sentencing claims. 9 53 Affirmed.