Court Opinion

ID: 9496713
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 16:33:45.343837+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:57:45.538970
License: Public Domain

BYE, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I agree we should reverse the district court, vacate Cole’s sentence, and remand for resentencing. I differ, however, over the majority’s implicit conclusion an upward departure may appropriately be based on the fact Cole issued his empty threat when the public was especially sensitive.
I would hold the district court erred in departing upward based on the timing of Cole’s threat. As the majority acknowledges, there is no evidence to suggest law enforcement responded in a way to endanger public safety or disrupt public services. Nor is there evidence Cole sought to engender broad alarm in the public by threatening the spread of anthrax. On the contrary, the district court adopted the Presentence Investigation Report, which document indicates Cole sought to scare only his wife. The only feature of this case to distinguish it from the run-of-the mill threat conviction is the fact the public was particularly susceptible to fear at the time. In my view, unfocused public fear standing alone does not warrant a departure under the Guidelines.
I also strongly disagree with the majority’s suggestion the district court may take more evidence to support factfinding which would in turn warrant a departure. The government failed to present such evidence at the original sentencing despite having every opportunity to do so. I see no reason to provide a second opportunity to produce it now as Cole has spent more than a year in prison, some of that time seemingly contrary to law.
I note finally the district court is encouraged to give consideration to a motion for release pending resentencing under Rule 46(c) and 18 U.S.C. § 3143(a). It appears from the record Cole has served 20 months in prison on this and related state charges.3 The sentencing range for Cole’s crime of conviction is 6 to 12 months. It is not clear from the record whether any of this time is attributable to an actual state conviction. If it is not, or if the sentences properly are served concurrently, it seems likely Cole will already have completed any sentence the district court may impose on remand.

. Cole was first arrested on November 2, 2001, and released pending trial on March 8, 2002. State authorities arrested him again on September 10, 2002. He remained incarcerated, according to the Presentence Investigation Report, at the time of his sentencing.