Opinion ID: 76338
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Miranda's Sentencing

Text: 131 In the Presentence Investigation Report (PSI), the probation officer determined that U.S.S.G. § 2A3.2 (Attempted Sexual Abuse) was applicable because Miranda's conduct consisted of an attempted sexual act with his intended victims. The probation officer assessed Miranda a base level of 18, pursuant to § 2A3.2(a)(1) because the ages of the victims of the offense were less than 16 years old and because Miranda attempted to have sex with them. The probation officer also assessed Miranda a two-level specific offense enhancement, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A3.2(b)(2)(A)(i), because he had misrepresented his age as 35 years old in an attempt to induce the victims to have sex with him. 132 Miranda objected to the PSI, contending that U.S.S.G. § 2A3.4 (Attempted Sexual Contact) instead of § 2A3.2 (Attempted Sexual Abuse) applied because he did not plan to have sex with either of his intended victims. Miranda further argued that his statement to claudia13x that his age was 35, instead of his actual age of 40, was immaterial because the 5-year difference did not entice the victim into acting. 133 At the sentencing hearing, the district court agreed with Miranda's objections and applied § 2A3.4 (Attempted Sexual Contact). The district court also rejected the government's argument that Miranda's misrepresentation of his age warranted a two-level enhancement. The district court sentenced Miranda to 15 months' imprisonment. The government now appeals Miranda's sentence.