Court Opinion

ID: 59399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 03:15:47+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:49.111706
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                       FILED
                         FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                           ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                               FEBRUARY 11, 2008
                                 No. 07-13607                  THOMAS K. KAHN
                             Non-Argument Calendar                  CLERK
                           ________________________

                         D. C. Docket No. 07-00045-CR-4

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                   Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                       versus

RANDY ANTONIO MARTIN,

                                                              Defendant-Appellant.

                           ________________________

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Southern District of Georgia
                         _________________________

                                (February 11, 2008)

Before BARKETT, MARCUS and WILSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

      Randy Antonio Martin appeals his 168-month sentence for conspiracy to

possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base
(“crack”) and a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§§ 841(a)(1) and 846. On appeal, Martin argues that the district court erred in

applying the two-point enhancement to his sentence for reckless endangerment,

pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.2, arguing that he was unaware that he was being

pursued by law enforcement officers prior to his arrest.

      We review the district court’s factual findings for clear error, and its

interpretation of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo. United States v. Cook, 181

F.3d 1232, 1233 (11th Cir. 1999). A district court may enhance a defendant’s

sentence for reckless endangerment “[i]f the defendant recklessly created a

substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person in the course of

fleeing from a law enforcement officer.” U.S.S.G. § 3C1.2. Although we have

held that a defendant must actually be fleeing a law enforcement officer in order

for this enhancement to apply, United States v. Sawyer, 115 F.3d 857, 859 (11th

Cir. 1997), it has not decided whether the defendant must be aware that the person

from whom he is fleeing is an officer, id. at 859 n.1 (expressly reserving judgment

on this issue). Assuming knowledge of the law enforcement officer is required, it

“can be based upon inferences from the surrounding circumstances.” United States

v. Peart, 888 F.2d 101, 104 (11th Cir. 1989).

      The Guidelines define recklessness, under § 3C1.2, as “a situation in which

the defendant was aware of the risk created by his conduct and the risk was of such

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a nature and degree that to disregard that risk constituted a gross deviation from the

standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in such a situation.”

U.S.S.G. §§ 2A1.5, comment 1, 3C1.2, comment 2. “Driving a car at a high rate of

speed in an area where people are likely to be found constitutes reckless disregard

for others’ safety.” United States v. Washington, 434 F.3d 1265, 1268 (11th Cir.

2006). Under § 3C1.2, the person endangered by the defendant’s reckless conduct

may be “any person, except a participant in the offense who willingly participated

in the flight.” U.S.S.G. § 3C1.2, comment 4.

      Upon review of the presentence investigation report and sentencing

transcript, and the briefs of the parties, we find no reversible error. The

circumstances surrounding his arrest demonstrated that he was aware of the law

enforcement officers pursuing him because, according to the testimony of an

officer, Martin veered around another officer’s vehicle, which had its blue lights

activated, struck a parked vehicle, continued driving at a high rate of speed until he

hit a curb and blew a tire, and fled on foot into a female’s nearby apartment.

Under these circumstances, the district court did not plainly err in finding that he

acted recklessly, and enhancing Martin’s sentence for reckless endangerment.

      AFFIRMED.

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