Opinion ID: 679578
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The government's cross-appeal regarding Martinson's acceptance of responsibility

Text: 18 The government argues that the district court committed clear error when it found that Martinson accepted responsibility for his actions and, therefore, reduced Martinson's offense level by two pursuant to U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1. It relies on Martinson's failure to plead guilty and his vehemence in denying any criminal intent, even after his conviction, during sentencing and on appeal to this court. We agree with the government and find that the district court's finding that Martinson accepted responsibility for his crime is clearly erroneous. 19 Acceptance of responsibility means that the defendant clearly demonstrates a recognition and affirmative acceptance of personal responsibility for his criminal conduct. U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1(a). A defendant may demonstrate this by performing any number of expiatory acts. United States v. Beserra, 967 F.2d 254, 255 (7th Cir.1992); U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1, comment. (n. 1). Except in rare circumstances, a plea of guilty is a necessary, if not a sufficient, condition for acceptance of responsibility. U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1, comment. (n. 2). Application Note 2 states: 20 This adjustment is not intended to apply to a defendant who puts the government to its burden of proof at trial by denying the essential factual elements of guilt, is convicted, and only then admits guilt and expresses remorse. Conviction by trial, however, does not automatically preclude a defendant from consideration for such a reduction. In rare situations a defendant may clearly demonstrate an acceptance of responsibility for his criminal conduct even though he exercises his constitutional right to a trial. This may occur, for example, where a defendant goes to trial to assert and preserve issues that do not relate to factual guilt (e.g., to make a constitutional challenge to a statute or a challenge to the applicability of a statute to his conduct). In each such instance, however, a determination that a defendant has accepted responsibility will be based primarily upon pre-trial statements and conduct. 21 We must also note that even if a defendant does plead guilty, without more he is not entitled to a reduction. U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1, comment. (n. 3). 22 As the government strongly argues, Martinson refused to plead guilty and has steadfastly maintained at every phase of this prosecution that he lacks any criminal intent. The district court based its finding on Martinson's statements that he took the money from the canneries and his acknowledgment that he still owes it to them. The district court finds further reliance on Martinson's (overblown) statement that he refuses to file for bankruptcy. But Martinson's statements regarding this whole scheme indicates that he is not a man in whom we can detect glimmerings of conscience. 23 Martinson continues to blame every other party in this deal but himself. His attempts to shift the blame travel from the ridiculous to the sublime: He blames Schneringer for fouling up the deal at every turn (even though the canneries hold Martinson responsible and continue to do business with Schneringer), the canneries for refusing to ask him for the money back (if only it was that easy!), and he implicitly blames his local lending institution for forcing him to improperly convert the canneries' funds because it refused to make him a loan to renovate his bar. Martinson still claims he is innocent of criminal charges. He has never once said: I did it; I was wrong. This is not one of those rare instances in which a defendant has put the government to its proof and may still maintain that he has accepted responsibility. Martinson has obviously not accepted responsibility for his crime and is undeserving of a reduction of his offense level.