Opinion ID: 557842
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Consecutive Versus Concurrent Sentences

Text: 19 The court sentenced Brady to consecutive maximum terms for his two convictions. The court did not explain the decision to impose consecutive sentences. The decision to impose consecutive sentences violates the Guidelines requirements. 20 The Guidelines specify procedures for determining the sentences to be imposed in cases in which the defendant has been convicted of multiple counts. The Guidelines also specify whether the sentences should run concurrently or consecutively. First, whenever a defendant has been convicted of multiple counts, a combined adjusted offense level is calculated. 9 Next, an adjustment is made, if any, for the defendant's acceptance of responsibility. The resulting offense level is the total offense level. Using the total offense level and the defendant's criminal history category, the guideline range is determined from the sentencing table. Once the guideline range is established, Sec. 5G1.2 determines whether the sentence should run concurrently or consecutively. 21 In Brady's case, the combined adjusted offense level calculated in the presentence report is 26, not counting any adjustment for acceptance of responsibility. Neither party disputes this figure. Under the sentencing table, the guideline range indicated for an adjusted combined offense level of 26 is 63-78 months for a criminal history category of I, 70-87 months for a criminal history category of II, and 78-97 months for a criminal history category of III. 22 Subsections (c) and (d) of Sec. 5G1.2 determine whether the sentences imposed are to run consecutively or concurrently. The subsections focus on the notion of total punishment, defined in the commentary to the Guidelines as the combined length of the sentences as determined by the adjusted combined offense level. Subsections (c) and (d) state: 23 (c) If the sentence imposed on the count carrying the highest statutory maximum is adequate to achieve the total punishment, then the sentences on all counts shall run concurrently, except to the extent otherwise required by law. 24 (d) If the sentence imposed on the count carrying the highest statutory maximum is less than the total punishment, then the sentence imposed on one or more of the other counts shall run consecutively, but only to the extent necessary to produce a combined sentence equal to the total punishment. In all other respects sentences on all counts shall run concurrently, except to the extent otherwise required by law. 25 U.S.S.G. Sec. 5G1.2(c)-(d). The commentary elaborates on these requirements as follows: 26 Usually, at least one of the counts will have a statutory maximum adequate to permit imposition of the total punishment as the sentence on that count. The sentence on each of the other counts will then be set at the lesser of the total punishment and the applicable statutory maximum, and be made to run concurrently with all or part of the longest sentence. 27 U.S.S.G. Sec. 5G1.2, comment. 28 The concurrent-consecutive determination boils down to this: consecutive sentences are imposed only if no count carries an adequate statutory maximum to contain the sentence prescribed by the adjusted combined offense level. Id. In this case, the count with the highest statutory maximum, voluntary manslaughter, has a statutory maximum of 120 months. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1112. Under criminal history categories I, II, or III, and the sentencing ranges referred to above, any sentence set within the guideline range will necessarily fall within the 120 month statutory maximum for voluntary manslaughter. 29 The sentencing court thus erred by sentencing Brady to consecutive 10 and 5 year sentences (totaling 180 months) on his convictions for voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon. 10 The portion of the sentence attributable to the sentencing court's determination that the sentences should run consecutively is a drastic departure from the Guidelines and an unreasonable sentence. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3742(f)(2). We therefore set aside this portion of the sentence and remand for appropriate sentencing. 30