Court Opinion

ID: 2684975
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-21 21:00:28.976055+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:14:38.615965
License: Public Domain

FILED
                            NOT FOR PUBLICATION                                 JUL 21 2014

                                                                            MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                          U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

                            FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                         No. 13-30094

              Plaintiff - Appellee,               D.C. No. 1:12-cr-00155-BLW-11

  v.
                                                  MEMORANDUM*
MICHAEL DENNIS MORRIS,

              Defendant - Appellant.

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                              for the District of Idaho
                  B. Lynn Winmill, Chief District Judge, Presiding

                              Submitted July 9, 2014**
                                Seattle, Washington

Before: ALARCÓN, KLEINFELD, and MURGUIA, Circuit Judges.

       Michael Morris challenges the 156-month sentence imposed following his

jury-trial conviction for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute

        *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
        **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. We have

jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

      Morris challenges his sentence in four ways. First, he argues that he was

deprived of due process because the district court relied on unreliable evidence to

impose a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice under U.S. Sentencing

Guidelines (“U.S.S.G.”) § 3C1.1. The district court “may consider relevant

information without regard to its admissibility under the rules of evidence

applicable at trial, provided that the information has sufficient indicia of reliability

to support its probable accuracy.” U.S.S.G. § 6A1.3(a); see also United States v.

Vanderwerfhorst, 576 F.3d 929, 935 (9th Cir. 2009). We review the district

court’s determination of reliability for abuse of discretion. United States v. Felix,

561 F.3d 1036, 1040 (9th Cir. 2009).

      The district court based its decision to impose the enhancement on the trial

testimony of Morris’s co-conspirator, Kristopher Hensley. Hensley testified that

while he and Morris were in jail, Morris threatened to stab him if he testified

against Morris. The district court did not abuse its discretion in finding that

Hensley’s testimony was sufficiently reliable. The sentencing judge heard Hensley

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testify under oath and was able to assess his credibility. Morris’s lawyer had the

opportunity to cross-examine Hensley. Further, Hensley’s testimony was

supported by an affidavit from his lawyer, which stated that Hensley reported the

threat to him a day after it happened. See United States v. Chee, 110 F.3d 1489,

1492 (9th Cir. 1997) (holding that a crime victim’s statements were sufficiently

reliable in part because they were made immediately after the crime). Though the

affidavit is hearsay, a sentencing court may consider hearsay that “has sufficient

indicia of reliability.” U.S.S.G. § 6A1.3(a); see also Chee, 110 F.3d at 1492.

      Morris cites United States v. McGowan, 668 F.3d 601 (9th Cir. 2012), where

we held that an inmate’s allegations that a prison guard used methamphetamine

and smuggled drugs into prison were unreliable. In McGowan, however, the

district court did not have an opportunity to observe the inmate testify, defense

counsel did not have an opportunity for cross examination, and we saw no reason

why the inmate’s serious and uncorroborated claims had to be believed. Id. at

607–08. This case is distinguishable on all three grounds. We conclude that the

district court did not abuse its discretion in finding that Hensley’s testimony and

his lawyer’s affidavit were sufficiently reliable to demonstrate, by a preponderance

of the evidence, that Morris threatened Hensley.

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      Second, Morris contends that the district court should have granted him a

two-level minor-role reduction under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b). We review for clear

error. United States v. Cantrell, 433 F.3d 1269, 1282 (9th Cir. 2006). Even though

Morris was charged only for the drugs with which he was personally involved, he

was not precluded from consideration for a minor-role reduction in light of the

overall conspiracy. § 3B1.2, cmt. n.3(A). Nonetheless, Morris did not meet his

burden of proving that he is “substantially less culpable” than the average

participant. See id.; Cantrell, 433 F.3d at 1282–83. The district court properly

considered the amount of methamphetamine Morris purchased from his co-

conspirators; the frequency of his purchases; that he had methamphetamine, scales,

and packaging materials in his home when he was arrested; and that he sold

methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Because these facts showed that

Morris’s involvement was similar to other mid-level dealers in the conspiracy, the

district court did not clearly err by denying the adjustment.

      Third, Morris argues that the district court erred by failing to apply a two-

level reduction for acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. §3E1.1. A

defendant is entitled to the reduction only if he “clearly demonstrates acceptance of

responsibility for his offense.” United States v. Rosas, 615 F.3d 1058, 1067 (9th

                                           4
Cir. 2010) (quoting § 3E1.1). The district court correctly noted that granting

Morris the reduction would be inconsistent with its finding that Morris obstructed

justice. Id.; § 3E1.1, cmt. n.4 (“[C]onduct resulting in an enhancement under §

3C1.1 (Obstructing or Impeding the Administration of Justice) ordinarily indicates

that the defendant has not accepted responsibility for his criminal conduct.”).

Thus, the court’s finding that Morris threatened Hensley, “by itself, renders the . . .

decision to deny an acceptance of responsibility reduction reasonable absent an

extraordinary case.” Rosas, 615 F.3d at 1067.

      Morris has not demonstrated that he has an extraordinary case. At the

sentencing hearing, Morris argued that he tried to plead guilty but that he and the

government disagreed over the quantity of drugs he would admit to possessing.

The prosecution said that they offered Morris a plea agreement, which he refused,

and the parties never discussed quantity. Given the lack of certainty over the

parties’ communications and the charges to which Morris was willing to plead to,

the district court did not err in finding that Morris did not clearly demonstrate

acceptance of responsibility. The court’s conclusion is further supported by its

finding that Morris attempted to illegally distribute steroids after his conviction.

See United States v. Mara, 523 F.3d 1036, 1038–39 (9th Cir. 2008) (noting that

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consideration of unrelated criminal conduct “can shed significant light on the

genuineness of a defendant’s claimed remorse”).

      Fourth, Morris argues that his 156-month sentence is substantively

unreasonable. The district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing Morris’s

sentence. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). The sentence, which

is in the middle of the advisory Guidelines range, is substantively reasonable in

light of the totality of the circumstances and the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing

factors, including Morris’s criminal history and post-offense conduct. See id.

      AFFIRMED.

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