Court Opinion

ID: 168384
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 16:28:10+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:57.372187
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                   United States Court of Appeals
                                                                           Tenth Circuit
                      UNITED STATES CO URT O F APPEALS
                                                                       November 13, 2006
                                   TENTH CIRCUIT                       Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                           Clerk of Court

 U N ITED STA TES O F A M ER ICA,

          Plaintiff - Appellee,

 v.                                                       No. 05-5200
                                                        (N. D. Oklahoma)
 GARY O BRY TAYLOR,                               (D.Ct. No. 05-CR-47-01-CV E)

          Defendant - Appellant.

                              OR D ER AND JUDGM ENT *

Before H E N RY, BR ISC OE, and O’BRIEN, Circuit Judges.

      After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of

this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is

therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

      Gary Obry Taylor appeals an armed career criminal sentence imposed after

his plea of guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of

      *
         This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the
citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under
the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(e). W e exercise jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and affirm.

      On M arch 10, 2005, Taylor was indicted on four counts: possession of a

firearm by a convicted felon (Counts 1 and 3), and possession of a stolen firearm

(Counts 2 and 4). 12 The indictment listed multiple prior felony convictions as part

of Counts 1 and 3.

      Taylor pled guilty to all counts. During the change of plea hearing, the

district court informed Taylor that Counts 1 and 3 included the enhanced penalties

set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). The

district court also advised Taylor of the mandatory minimum fifteen-year sentence

for these counts and ensured he understood the effect of his jury trial waiver.

      A presentence report (PSR ) was prepared, showing a base offense level of

24. Two levels were added under U SSG § 2K2.1(b)(4) because the firearms were

stolen. The PSR also identified more than three violent felonies and therefore

categorized Taylor as an armed career criminal for sentencing purposes on Counts

1 and 3, pursuant to USSG § 4B1.4. This resulted in a base offense level of 33.

Taylor received a reduction of three levels for acceptance of responsibility,

resulting in a total offense level of 30. His criminal history category was VI.

      1
         Taylor is not challenging his sentence on Counts 2 and 4. Those counts involved
violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(j) and 924(a)(2).

                                           -2-
The sentencing guideline range was 168 to 210 months.

      Taylor objected to the sentence being increased under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e).

During the sentencing hearing on October 6, 2005, the district court reviewed

Taylor’s objections and overruled them. The district court acknowledged the

advisory nature of the guidelines and considered them along with the factors set

forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). The court found “a sentence at the high end of the

guideline range is reasonable in this case due to [Taylor’s] extensive criminal

history that includes several violent offenses and spanning [Taylor’s] entire adult

life.” (R. Vol. IV at 12.) The court sentenced Taylor to 210 months on Counts 1

and 3, and 120 months on Counts 2 and 4, with all terms running concurrently.

      On appeal, Taylor challenges his sentence on Counts 1 and 3. He argues

the Fifth and Sixth Amendments prohibit increasing his sentence under the ACCA

unless a jury finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the prior convictions were for

violent felonies. Taylor does not challenge the existence of the prior convictions;

he acknowledges that by pleading guilty he admitted to have committed those

felonies set forth in the indictment. Instead, Taylor challenges what he deems the

district court’s factual finding that they were violent felonies as defined by the

A CCA.

      Taylor’s argument is precluded by our decision in United States v. M oore,

which he acknowledges. 401 F.3d 1220 (10th Cir. 2005). In M oore, we held the

determination as to w hether a particular felony constitutes a violent one is a

                                         -3-
question of law. Id. at 1224-26. Therefore, “the Sixth Amendment does not

require that determination to be made by a jury.” Id. at 1225. Taylor’s argument

recasting the finding as a question of fact, in an attempt to create a Fifth or Sixth

Amendment violation, is without merit.

      A FFIR ME D.

                                        Entered by the C ourt:

                                        Terrence L. O ’Brien
                                        United States Circuit Judge

                                          -4-