Court Opinion

ID: 9496634
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 16:31:20.109816+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:57:41.791201
License: Public Domain

NOONAN, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
On remand to the district court after a successful appeal to this court, the district court doubled Peyton’s sentence. In disregard of the Supreme Court and our own circuit precedent, the court sustains a portion of this presumptively vindictive sentence.
Applying North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969) and Wasman v. United States, 468 U.S. 559, 104 S.Ct. 3217, 82 L.Ed.2d 424 (1984), we recently stated:
We have held that no reasonable likelihood of vindictiveness exists unless there is some “triggering event,” such as a reversal and remand. Bono v. Benov, 197 F.3d 409, 417-18 (9th Cir.1999).
When the Pearce presumption applies, it is rebutted only by “objective information concerning identifiable conduct on the part of the defendant occurring after the time of the original sentencing proceeding.” 395 U.S. at 726, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656; see also Wasman v. United States, 468 U.S. 559, 565, 104 S.Ct. 3217, 82 L.Ed.2d 424 (1984) (holding that the reasons must be based on “objective information in the record justifying the increased sentence”). The State bears the burden of rebutting the presumption. Wasman, 468 U.S. at 569, 104 S.Ct. 3217, 82 L.Ed.2d 424. If it fails to do so, we may vacate the sentence and grant habeas relief. See Pearce, 395 U.S. at 726, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656.
Nulph v. Cook, 333 F.3d 1052, 1057-58 (9th Cir.2003).
If Pearce is the law governing a habeas petition challenging a state sentence, it is a fortiori the law governing federal sentencing. See Wasman, 468 U.S. at 564-65, 569, 104 S.Ct. 3217. Pearce requires identifiable conduct by the defendant after the time of the original sentencing. No identifiable conduct by Fatima Peyton has occurred since her first sentencing. Therefore under Pearce the district court has acted vindictively. No more need be said.
The Apprendi confusion of the district judge has disappeared. This court claims that the Apprendi confusion was the only reason for his first sentence bearing on the loss. But, in the very passage quoted in the majority opinion, the judge said, “Another reason why” and went on to say in so many words, “I never really did see much quantification.... I’ve never been made privy to any of it.” Contrary to the majority opinion, the district court distinguished the Apprendi reason and the evidence before him. In the passage quoted, he addressed the United States Attorney, “And I don’t feel that ... even if you’re right that the Court could enhance beyond what the jury saw, ... I don’t feel sufficiently apprised as to what that all amounts to. And so, I’m not going to go that route.”
The government did not present new evidence as to the loss. Why did the district court find there was now a preponderance of evidence justifying the higher sentence on the second round? We have no idea. The presumption of vindictiveness applies.
The presumption arises when reasons for a harsher sentence after a successful *1093appeal do not affirmatively appear, unless there is no reasonable likelihood of vindictiveness. Alabama v. Smith, 490 U.S. 794, 798-99, 109 S.Ct. 2201, 104 L.Ed.2d 865 (1989). We have gone beyond Pearce to permit resentencing to correct a mathematical error made by the probation officer. United States v. Garcia-Guizar, 234 F.3d 483 (9th Cir.2000). But in that case there was no presumption of vindictiveness. Here, the contrary is the case.
Not surprisingly, this court has found it reasonably likely that the district court acted with actual vindictiveness when it sentenced for obstruction of justice — a hard but true conclusion to reach about a federal court. How was the judge’s vindictive frame of mind different when he sentenced on the basis of a higher loss? The district judge was engaged in a single sentencing session. He could scarcely have been a vindictive judge and an impartial judge in the same short space of time.
A British appellate judge was once reputed to discourage appeals by exercising his court’s prerogative of increasing, even doubling, the sentences of appellants who lost their appeal. It was an effective tactic for reducing appeals. It was not a glory of British jurisprudence. In our case, appeal has been discouraged by the action of the district judge given a stamp of approval by this court. ifWin your appeal and double your sentence.” That cannot be our motto or that of any judicial body interested in doing justice. The motto is not any better if it reads: Win your appeal and increase your sentence 40 percent.”
The process due every defendant has been violated by the district court in violation of the Fifth Amendment. The decision of the district court requires reversal.