Court Opinion

ID: 9486500
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 11:50:22.902607+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:51:45.564710
License: Public Domain

MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I agree with all of the court’s opinion in this case except so much of it as reverses the assessment of a two-level penalty for the obstruction of justice. Appellant admits that he did not at first tell the probation officer the truth about the amount of cocaine that he distributed, and thus he stands convicted out of his own mouth. The amount of drugs that appellant dealt is the single most important datum in the determination of a sentence for drug dealing. The statement was therefore quite clearly one that, “if believed, would tend to influence or affect the issue under determination,” U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, Application Note 5, since “the issue under determination” was the amount of drugs that appellant distributed. It is therefore impossible for me to conclude that the trial court erred in awarding the enhancement.
I respectfully dissent and would affirm the trial court in all respects.