United States v. Bernard Adams

PROPST, District Judge,

dissenting:

I believe that the quoted language of the district court at the sentencing hearing reflects the type of ambivalence noted in United States v. Webb, 139 F.3d 1390, 1395 (11th Cir.1998), and, thus, that we should “resolve the ambiguity ... in favor of the defendant and hold that the court’s decision was based on its belief that it lacked the discretion to grant [Adams’] request for departure.” Id. at 1395 .

I base this on, inter alia, the following portions of the district court’s language at sentencing.

And let me preface my remarks by saying that part of this is a legal analysis. I recognize that the law ordinarily is that a discretionary determination not to depart is not reviewable, but part of my analysis is based on this legal analysis, which seems to me is a legal issue of the kind that ordinarily is reviewable.

... And so, if I look at this and I say, “I’m going tó compare the defendant to the ordinary category of Criminal History Category VI,” then what I have done essentially is to override essentially the legislative determination that somebody with two qualifying offenses should be treated more harshly.

So, if I’m wrong about that, then, Mr. Gray, it seems to me the Eleventh Circuit ought to tell me I’m wrong in that *1200 approach, and I will be happy to look at the question of whether I would depart downward for Mr. Adams, because I think his criminal history is not as substantial as the heartland defendant who has a Category VI.

So, if I look at Mr. Adams and I say, “How is Mr. Adams’ criminal history compared to most people I see who are Category VI?” it’s a lesser history. He got three points. People in Category VI got 12 or more. They usually have a more extensive — they do have a more extensive criminal history.

The majority states that “the district court expressly noted its discretion to depart in three separate statements.” In Webb , the court quoted the following from the district court sentencing hearing:

Mr. Vineyard [the prosecuting attorney]: I want to make sure the record is clear the court recognizes it has the authority to downwardly depart but chose not to do so.

The Court: That’s what I said.

Id. at 1392 .

Notwithstanding that position of the district court, the Webb court stated:

... As noted, the record is far from clear as to the rationale underlying the court’s denial of Webb’s request for downward departure; on balance, however, the record more strongly suggests that the court believed that it was not authorized to depart downward in this case. We therefore resolve the ambiguity reflected in the record with respect to this issue in favor of the defendant and conclude that the court’s decision was based on its belief that it lacked the discretion to grant Webb’s request for a departure. See United States v. Hadaway, 998 F.2d 917, 919 (11th Cir.1993) (“Although the record is somewhat ambiguous, it appears that the district court declined to depart downward because it lacked the authority to do so rather than because it determined that the facts did not warrant a departure”).

Id. at 1395.

It is apparent that the district court felt that, once it determined that Adams was in a career offender status, it could not depart downward because Adams had been placed in Category VI merely because of his career offender status just like other career offenders. At least, the district court was ambivalent in this regard. That approach was too restrictive and the district court’s review should have been based on a consideration of whether Adams’ Category VI generally overrepresented the seriousness of his criminal history. Limiting the analysis to a comparison to other career offenders might result in downward departures never being granted to career offenders. We should remand the case as to Adams for a further sentencing hearing. 1 As in Webb , “[I] express no view as to whether a downward departure should, in fact, be granted in [Adams’] case, but [I would] hold that the district court may exercise its discretion to decide whether *1201 such a departure is warranted with respect to [Adams].” 139 F.3d at 1396 .

I also question the holding in Rucker, cited by the majority, to the extent, if any, that it suggests that the nature of the convictions qualifying for career offender status cannot be considered in any way with regard to downward departure determinations. I do not believe that it so holds. The Rucker case merely holds that the district court cannot consider the quantity of the controlled substance involved in an otherwise qualifying conviction. United States v. Govan, 293 F.3d 1248 (11th Cir.2002), also involved the reversal of a downward departure based on a consideration of the quantities of drugs.

I am not aware of any cases which hold that the district court, in determining whether to downwardly depart in a career offender case, cannot consider the type of charges resulting in qualifying convictions. Surely, two murder or two kidnapping convictions would be deemed to be more serious than two concealed weapons convictions. I suggest that the district court should be able to consider such disparate conduct. If not, common sense has been barred from the analysis. If carrying a concealed weapon is not less “serious” than murder or kidnapping, the word has lost its meaning. Since this issue has not been addressed by the parties on this appeal, I would hold that the district court can, on remand, first address whether such a basis for downward departure is permissible under the holdings of this court.

I farther reference the following cases which suggest that whether the facts of a purported career offender-type violation can be considered may depend upon whether the crime is one that is specifically listed under §§ 4B.1 and 4B.2 as a crime of violence. Having a concealed weapon is not so listed. See United States v. Garcia, 42 F.3d 573, 577 (10th Cir.1994) (“The language used by the Commission indicates that, for purposes of determining whether an individual is a career offender under USSG § 4B1.1, the fact he has been convicted of an offense such as ‘burglary of a dwelling’ that is specifically listed as a ‘crime of violence’ forecloses further inquiry by the sentencing court.”); United States v. Telesco, 962 F.2d 165, 166 (2d Cir.1992) (“Application note 2 to this section lists additional crimes that are ‘categorically classified]’ as ‘crimes of violence.’”); United States v. Wright, 957 F.2d 520, 521 (8th Cir.1992) (“Because use or threatened use of force is an element of robbery, a person convicted of robbery has been convicted of a crime of violence.... The guideline note’s statement that ‘ “[c]rime of violence” includes ... robbery’ supports our view.”) (citation omitted); United States v. Parson, 955 F.2d 858, 871-72 (3d Cir.1992) (same); United States v. Wilson, 951 F.2d 586, 588 (4th Cir.1991) (same); United States v. McAllister, 927 F.2d 136, 139 (3d Cir.1991) (same); and United States v. Terry, 900 F.2d 1039, 1042 (7th Cir.1990) (same). To the extent that Eleventh Circuit law is to the contrary, I think that it should be reexamined. At the very least, a district court should be able to determine if the possession of a concealed weapon actually involved any potential violence. This would not be the same as determining guilt or innocence of the offense.

I further question whether § 4B1.1 career offender status should be based at all upon convictions for the offense of merely carrying a concealed weapon. 2 Such convictions do not clearly fit either of the *1202 following § 4B1.2 definitions of a “crime of violence:”

The term “crime of violence” means an offense under federal or state law, punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, that: (1) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another, or (2) is burglary of a dwelling, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.

The carrying of a concealed weapon is not one of the offenses specifically listed in the Application Notes to § 4B1.2. 3 Apparently, however, United States v. Gilbert, 138 F.3d 1371 (11th Cir.1998), has resolved that issue. 4 It is ironic, as argued by Adams’ counsel, that carrying a concealed weapon by a non-felon is a crime of violence, but possession of a firearm by a felon is not. Compare Gilbert, 138 F.3d at 1372 (carrying a concealed weapon), with Stinson v. United States, 508 U.S. 36, 47 , 113 S.Ct. 1913 , 123 L.Ed.2d 598 (1993) (possession of a firearm by a felon).

The initial harshness of including all concealed weapon violators as violent offenders is exacerbated by the restrictions placed on downward departures by cases such as Rucker. I recommend that the holdings including all concealed weapon violations under the umbrella of career offender analysis be reviewed by this court en banc under a plain error analysis. What type of “weapons” are considered: firearms only, knives, scissors, others? 5 What if kept for protection or self-defense? Is there no exception?

In United States v. Whitfield, 907 F.2d 798, 800 (8th Cir.1990), the court stated:

Whitfield also claims his conviction of carrying a concealed weapon under Mo. Ref. Stat. § 571.030(1) (1985) is not a violent felony. We agree. Although carrying an illegal weapon may involve a continuing risk to others, the harm is not so immediate as to “present[] a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.” 18 U.S.C. § 924 (c)(2)(B)(ii); see also United States v. Johnson, 704 F.Supp. 1403, 1407 (E.D.Mich.1989) (carrying a concealed weapon is not a violent felony), aff'd per curiam, 900 F.2d 260 (6th Cir.1990).

In United States v. Chapple, 942 F.2d 439, 442 (7th Cir.1991), the court stated:

The district court in our case concluded that “carrying a handgun in *1203 one’s belt in a city while using public transportation has a great potential for serious injury to the public.” The government also emphasized the inherent danger of this concealed weapon. While we agree that the potential for a dangerous, violent act is enhanced by the possession of any weapon-brass knuckles, black jacks, knives, chains or handguns-unless the use of the weapon is overtly implied it is not a crime of violence under the Sentencing Guidelines.

In this case Chappie was riding in a Chicago taxi in daylight hours with a handgun tucked in the waistband of his pants. The gun was not displayed or brandished. There is no evidence that even any touching, gesturing or reference to the gun occurred. Nothwith-standing the deference we must give the district court in its application of the Guidelines, the threat posed by simple possession of a weapon, without more, does not rise to the level of an act that “by its nature, presented a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.”

In United States v. Frazier-El, 204 F.3d 553, 563 (4th Cir.2000), the court noted the split between the Eleventh and Eighth Circuits.

In summary, I believe that there are a number of reasons why this court should consider these issues en banc. An en banc guide on all these issues would be beneficial to the district courts. In any event, I feel that the case should be remanded for resentencing.

. See United States v. Spencer, 25 F.3d 1105, 1112 (D.C.Cir.1994) ("However, we may rule on Spencer's claim that the district court misconstrued the scope of its discretion under XJ.S.S.G. § 4A1.3.”); United States v. Beckham, 968 F.2d 47, 53 (D.C.Cir.1992) ("Although a refusal to depart downward where there is authority to do so is within the unre-viewable discretion of the district court ..., we will remand a case for resentencing when the district court indicates erroneously that 'his discretion was constrained in a way that it actually was not.’ ") (Emphasis in original; citations omitted); United States v. Pinckney, 938 F.2d 519, 521 (4th Cir.1991) (“ ' "[c]areer offender” is a type of, not an alternative to, criminal history' and the flexibility authorized by § 4A1.3 applies to career offender status, as it does to other criminal history categories”) (citing United States v. Adkins, 937 F.2d 947, 952 (4th Cir.1991)).

. I agree with Judge Cox’s dissent in United States v. Hall, 77 F.3d 398, 402-03 (11th Cir.1996).

. Application Note 1 includes the following:

"Crime of violence” includes murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, aggravated assault, forcible sex offenses, robbery, arson, extortion, extortionate extension of credit, and burglary of a dwelling. Other offenses are included as "crimes of violence” if (A) that offense has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another, or (B) the conduct set forth (i.e., expressly charged) in the count of which the defendant was convicted involved use of explosives (including any explosive material or destructive device) or, by its nature, presented a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.

. It should be noted that Gilbert stated: "Gilbert is correct that the district court could have departed downward if it had found Gilbert's criminal history to be overrepresented. See U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3 (policy statement) (downward departure may be appropriate for defendant with extensive history of petty crime.)” 138 F.3d at 1373 (citing United States v. Lindia, 82 F.3d 1154, 1165 (1st Cir.1996)). The court in Gilbert based its decision, at least in part, on the fact that "the district court did not suggest that Gilbert's criminal history did not adequately reflect the seriousness of his conduct.” 138 F.3d at 1373 . The district court here did so suggest.

. This judge was recently required to relinquish some scissors at the Birmingham Airport.