Opinion ID: 779015
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Downward Departure in Criminal History

Text: 34 The district judge departed downward in Criminal History from Level VI to Level IV, finding that Cooper's previous convictions over-represented the likelihood that Cooper would again engage in criminal activity. Because we have concluded that Cooper was an armed career criminal under § 924(e), he must be sentenced under § 4B1.4 of the Guidelines. Whether or not a departure is warranted after calculating Cooper's sentence under § 4B1.4, we leave to the district judge's discretion. We note, however, that if the district judge again determines that a two level downward departure in criminal history is warranted, he must provide further explanation of the inadequacy of a one level departure. A decision to depart two category levels is examined more closely than a one level departure. United States v. Lassiter, 929 F.2d 267, 270 (6th Cir.1991). The Sixth Circuit has held that an upward departure in criminal history category of 3 categories (from III to VI) was an abuse of discretion where the sentencing court only mentioned Category IV as a potential stopping point, but failed to say why stopping there would be inadequate, and did not even mention Category V as a possibility. United States v. Schultz, 14 F.3d 1093, 1102 (6th Cir.1994). The court held that sentencing courts must move stepwise up the ladder of criminal history categories, and make specific findings, articulated in language relating to the guidelines, concerning the inadequacy of any sentencing categories passed over. Id. The reasoning of Schultz applies equally to downward departures. If the district judge departs because Cooper's criminal history score is overstated, he must move stepwise down the ladder, explaining why each intervening level is inappropriate, in order to provide an opportunity for meaningful review of his exercise of discretion.