Opinion ID: 765266
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Sentence Under the Three Strikes Statute

Text: 5 Prior to sentencing, the defendant's Presentence Investigation Report indicated that the defendant met the criteria for a sentence under the federal three strikes statute, 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c). The government used two prior felonies to trigger life imprisonment without parole under the three strikes statute: (1) armed robbery in 1971 and (2) aggravated robbery in 1976. 6 Under the three strikes statute, a defendant receives mandatory life imprisonment if he is convicted of a serious violent felony and has been convicted of two or more serious violent felonies in the past. 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c)(1). The term serious violent felony specifically includes robbery, § 3559(c)(2)(F)(i), but a prior felony robbery conviction does not serve as a strike if a defendant can prove by clear and convincing evidence that it was non-qualifying: 7 (3) Non-qualifying felonies.-- 8 (A) Robbery in certain cases--Robbery, an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit robbery; or an offense described in paragraph (2)(F)(ii) shall not serve as a basis for sentencing under this subsection if the defendant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that- 9 (i) no firearm or other dangerous weapon was used in the offense and no threat of use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon was involved in the offense; and(ii) the offense did not result in death or serious bodily injury... to any person. § 3559(c)(3)(A) (emphasis added). 10 The defendant provided no proof that any of his previous robbery felonies were non-qualifying. The defendant alleged only that he could not locate witnesses who recalled the circumstances surrounding the crimes. It is possible that the defendant committed aggravated robbery in 1976 without a dangerous weapon or death or injury to the victim because his conviction was under an Arkansas statute that also criminalized attempts to inflict death or injury while committing robbery. 1 Thus the parties' burden of proof may be decisive in this case. If the defendant's conviction was based only on an attempt, the strike for aggravated robbery in 1976 would not be valid. 11 The District Court sentenced the defendant to life in prison under the three strikes statute without consideration of the fact that it is possible to violate the Arkansas aggravated robbery statute without acts that constitute a strike under the federal statute.