United States v. Blaine Travis FifieldUnited States v. Blaine Travis Fifield
Blaine Fifield pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of
On appeal, Fifield presents three questions relating to the district court’s decision to make the federal sentences run consecutively to the state sentences. First, he argues that under
We disagree with all three procedural contentions. We do, however, remand under
United States v. Ameline,
I.
Blaine Fifield was sentenced in Montana state court, on March 13, 2003, for Assault with a Weapon, a felony under Montana law. The sentence, according to the presentence report, was “5 years deferred.” Under state law, such a sentence means
Shortly thereafter, on March 20, 2003, Fifield’s probation officer and local law enforcement officers searched Fifield’s home and found six firearms, as well as methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug lab paraphernalia. Fifield tested positive for the use of methamphetamine and marijuana and admitted to use of these drugs.
The events of March 20 resulted in the revocation of Fifield’s probation for his Montana Assault with a Weapon conviction. In addition, Fifield pleaded guilty in 2003 in state court to Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs, in violation of Montana law, for the drugs found during the March 20 search. In 2004, Fifield pleaded guilty in federal court to two additional offenses arising out of the March 20 events: (1) felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of
On August 14, 2003, Fifield was sentenced in Montana court to a term of imprisonment of twenty years with twelve years suspended for his prior Assault with a Weapon conviction. 1 In addition, he was sentenced to a suspended term of five years for his Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs conviction. The Montana court ordered that the two sentences run concurrently with each other.
On July 6, 2004, the district court sentenced Fifield for the two federal offenses, applying the 2003 edition of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“Guidelines”) and treating them as mandatory. 2 The district court determined that under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(4)(A), Fifield’s base offense level was twenty, as he committed the offenses at issue after he was convicted of Assault with a Weapon, a “felony conviction of ... a crime of violence.”' U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(4)(A). In addition, the district court increased Fifield’s offense level by two levels, pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(l)(A), because his offense involved six firearms. The court then adjusted downward three levels for acceptance of responsibility to reach a total offense level of nineteen. It determined that Fifield had a criminal history category of IV, and that the applicable Guidelines range was therefore forty-six to fifty-seven months.
The district court sentenced Fifield to fifty-four months imprisonment on each count. The court ordered that these sentences run concurrently with each other but consecutively to the Montana sentences for Assault with a Weapon and Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs. 3
II.
Fifield first contends that the district court violated
The record establishes that Fifield received no specific notice that the court was considering imposing consecutive sentences, and the government does not so contend. The presentence report prepared by the United States Probation Office did not discuss whether the sentences should be concurrent or consecutive, neither party addressed the issue, and the court did not mention the issue prior to the announcement of the sentence at the sentencing hearing. Fifield’s argument is, however, meritless, because
A.
First, no section of
Section (h), the only section of
Section 5G1.3 of the Guidelines divides cases in which defendants are, at the time of sentencing, subject to an existing undischarged term of imprisonment into three categories, providing for consecutive sentences for cases falling under § 5G1.3(a), concurrent sentences for cases falling under § 5G1.3(b), and concurrent, partially concurrent, or consecutive sentences for cases falling under § 5G1.3(c).
6
See
U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3. The imposition of consecutive sentences is thus a departure from the Guidelines only in cases that fall under § 5G1.3(b).
7
See United States v.
The present case falls under § 5G1.3(c), not § 5G1.3(b). Application Note 3(C) states that “[s]ubsection (c) applies in cases in which the defendant was on federal or state probation, parole, or supervised release at the time of the instant offense and has had such probation, parole, or supervised release revoked.” Id. § 5G1.3 cmt. n. 3(C). Fifield committed the federal offenses while he was serving a five-year period of probation. Because the conduct underlying the federal crimes violated the terms of his probation, the Montana court revoked his probation and sentenced him to the twenty-year term with twelve years suspended. Under application note 3(C), therefore, § 5G1.3(c) applies to Fifield’s case.
Fifield contends that § 5G1.3(b) applies because his offense level was increased on the basis of one of his state convictions, but this contention is incorrect. Section 5G1.3(b) applies when
subsection (a) does not apply, and a term of imprisonment resulted from another offense that is relevant conduct to the instant offense of conviction under the provisions of subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) of § 1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct) and that was the basis for an increase in the offense level for the instant offense under Chapter Two (Offense Conduct) or Chapter Three (Adjustments) ....
U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(b). Application note 2(B) clarifies that
[sjubsection (b) does not apply in cases in which the prior offense increased the Chapter Two or Three offense level for the instant offense but was not relevant conduct to the instant offense under § lB1.3(a)(l), (a)(2), or (a)(3) (e.g., ... the prior offense was a crime of violence for which the defendant received an increased base offense level under § 2K2.1 ...).
Id. § 5G1.3 cmt. n. 2(B).
Fifield’s two undischarged state sentences were for Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs and Assault with a Weapon. As for the former offense, neither the fact of conviction for Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs nor the conduct underlying the conviction was the basis for increasing Fifield’s offense level for the federal offenses. As for the latter offense, while the fact of conviction for Assault with a Weapon was the basis for an increase in Fifield’s offense level pursuant to § 2K2.1(a)(4)(A), application note 2(B) of § 5G1.3 makes clear that § 5G1.3(b) does not apply, because the Assault with a Weapon conviction was not relevant conduct under § 1B1.3.
Nor was the
conduct
underlying the Assault with a Weapon conviction relevant conduct to the instant offense. The Assault with a Weapon offense was committed well before the federal offense in which Fifield possessed six firearms and was based on events that were completely separate from the events that were the basis for the federal convictions. True, the March 20 possession of firearms resulted in an increased offense level. The discov
We conclude, therefore, that § 5G1.3(c) applies to Fifield’s sentence. Because § 5G1.3(c) states that a district court may make the federal sentence “run concurrently, partially concurrently, or consecutively to the prior undischarged term of imprisonment,” the district court’s decision to impose consecutive sentences was not a departure from the Guidelines. Consequently, section (h) of
B.
We have held that there is an implicit notice requirement in
In the present case, both
III.
Fifield next argues that the district court violated
I find that, in my view, a sentence at the low end of the guidelines would be inappropriate. On the other hand, I’m not sure that a sentence at the high end of the guidelines, given the state sentence, and given the fact that I do believe there is an opportunity for you to participate in the 500-hour drug treatment program, that the extreme high end would be appropriate.
The sentence that I have fashioned takes into account the need for punishment, for the offense of conviction. It takes into account the need to protect the community. I do believe that you need to get the lesson about recidivism. You can’t engage in the kind of behavior that you’ve been involved in. Unfortunately or fortunately, whatever happened in the state court, my guess is if the judge up there had whacked you right off the bat, you may have changed your behavior. But you got a breaks [sic]. And like all people who get breaks, very few of you take advantage of it. And it didn’t take you long to get back into drugs and guns.
I do think, though, based on the PreSentence Report, there is some, perhaps, minimal hope that you can turn things around and I hope that you do.
Pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, it is my judgment that the defendant, Blaine Travis Fifield, be committed to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for a term of 54 months on each count. Those counts will run concurrent.
This sentence will be consecutive with DC 313103, which is criminal possession of drugs, and consecutive to DC 02554, assault with a dangerous weapon.
We hold that this statement was sufficient under §§ 3553 and 3584.
Section 3553(c) requires that a court “state in open court the reasons for its imposition of the particular sentence” at the time of sentencing.
United States v. Steffen,
I’m satisfied — because of the nature of the offense, the significant amount of fraud that was perpetrated on the victims in this case both monetarily and the nature and circumstances of the fraud and the relatively elaborate scheme thatwas involved in defrauding the victims over the period of time involved here satisfy the Court that — and coupled with the fact that the defendant is not a stranger to the criminal justice system and in fact has come very close to being classified as a career criminal in connection with fraudulent conduct satisfy the Court that the sentence at the higher end of the guideline range is appropriate, and I think the recommendation of the department is proper. It will therefore be the order and judgment of the Court that the defendant is sentenced to a term of 70 months, 70 months on Count III concurrent to the 60 months on Counts I and II. All will be concurrent with each other and consecutive to the sentence imposed in Case CR95383-01.
Id. at 1278-79. As in Fifield’s case, the explanation in Steffen did not specifically justify the choice between concurrent and consecutive sentences, but did discuss the § 3553(a) factors. Under Steffen, consequently, the district court’s explanation in this case was adequate. 9
Fifield contends that
United States v. Conkins,
Our understanding of
Conkins
and
Steffen
is bolstered by the language and legislative history of
In sum, Fifield’s reliance on
Con-kins
notwithstanding, the holding of
Steffen
and the language of
IV.
Fifield next contends that his Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial was violated at sentencing. He argues that the decision that his federal sentences should run consecutively to his state sentences was made on the basis of facts neither found by a jury nor admitted. Fifield’s Sixth Amendment argument is rooted not in the unconstitutionality of the then-mandatory Guidelines, but rather in what he claims is the unconstitutionality of the court’s imposition of consecutive sentences under
Fifield is correct that
Because, under
y.
Fifield also requests that we issue a limited
Ameline
remand in the event that we find none of the preceding arguments availing. Fifield was sentenced before
Booker.
Because it is not “possible to reliably determine from the record whether the sentence imposed would have been materially different had the district court known that the Guidelines were advisory,”
Ameline,
In conclusion, we remand for a determination of whether the district court would have imposed a materially different sentence had it known the Guidelines were advisory. We affirm the sentence on all other grounds.
REMANDED.
Notes
.
See
. Unless otherwise indicated, all citations in this opinion are to the 2003 edition of the Guidelines, which became effective November 1, 2003.
. There is a discrepancy between the sentence pronounced at the sentencing hearing and the written judgment. At the sentencing hearing, the district court ordered that the federal sentences run consecutively to both Montana sentences. The judgment, however, states that the federal sentences should run consecutively to the Assault with a Weapon sentence
When there is a discrepancy between an unambiguous oral pronouncement of a sentence and the written judgment, the oral pronouncement controls. See
United States v. Bergmann,
. As pertinent here,
(h) Notice of Possible Departure from Sentencing Guidelines. Before the court may depart from the applicable sentencing range on a ground not identified for departure either in the presentence report or in a party's prehearing submission, the court must give the parties reasonable notice that it is contemplating such a departure. The notice must specify any ground on which the court is contemplating a departure.
(i) Sentencing.
(1) In General. At sentencing, the court:
(A) must verily that the defendant and the defendant's attorney have read and discussed the presentence report and any addendum to the report;
(B) must give to the defendant and an attorney for the government a written summary of — or summarize in camera — any information excluded from the presentence report underRule 32(d)(3) on which the court will rely in sentencing, and give them a reasonable opportunity to comment on that information;
(C) must allow the parties' attorneys to comment on the probation officer's determinations and other matters relating to an appropriate sentence; and
(D) may, for good cause, allow a party to make a new objection at any time before sentence is imposed.
(4) Opportunity to Speak.
(A) By a Party. Before imposing sentence, the court must:
(i) provide the defendant’s attorney an opportunity to speak on the defendant’s behalf;
(ii) address the defendant personally in order to permit the defendant to speak or present any information to mitigate the sentence; and
(iii) provide an attorney for the government an opportunity to speak equivalent to that of the defendant's attorney.
. We do not decide in this case whether the notice requirement in
. Section 5G1.3 provides, in full:
(a) If the instant offense was committed while the defendant was serving a term of imprisonment (including work release, furlough, or escape status) or after sentencing for, but before commencing service of, such term of imprisonment, the sentence for the instant offense shall be imposed to run consecutively to the undischarged term of imprisonment.
(b) If subsection (a) does not apply, and a term of imprisonment resulted from another offense that is relevant conduct to the instant offense of conviction under the provisions of subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) of § 1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct) and that was the basis for an increase in the offense level for the instant offense under Chapter Two (Offense Conduct) or Chapter Three (Adjustments), the sentence for the instant offense shall be imposed as follows:
(1) the court shall adjust the sentence for any period of imprisonment already served on the undischarged term of imprisonment if the court determines that such period of imprisonment will not be credited to the federal sentence by the Bureau of Prisons; and
(2) the sentence for the instant offense shall be imposed to run concurrently to the remainder of the undischarged term of imprisonment.
(c)(Policy Statement) In any other case involving an undischarged term of imprisonment, the sentence for the instant offense may be imposed to run concurrently, partially concurrently, or consecutively to the prior undischarged term of imprisonment to achieve a reasonable punishment for the instant offense.
U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3.
. At oral argument, Fifield’s counsel stated that § 5G1.3 was amended in 2004 and that the current version of § 5G1.3 is different from the 2003 version. This statement is incorrect. See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3 hist. n. (2005) (noting that the most recent amendment to § 5G1.3 became effective November 1, 2003). It may be that Fifield’s counsel mistakenly thought that the "2003 edition" of the Guidelines referred to the edition that became effective November 1, 2002. The spine of each official Guidelines manual, however, refers to the year the version became effective. For example, the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual denominated "2004” on its spine states, on the cover, that it ”[i]ncorporat[es] guideline amendnients effective November 1, 2004."
Even under the 2002 edition of the Guidelines, however, Fifield’s argument that the imposition of consecutive sentences was a departure from the Guidelines fails. The 2002 edition of the Guidelines would have called for the imposition of consecutive sentences.
See
U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3 cmt. n. 6 (2002) ("If the defendant was on ... state probation ... at
. These factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need for the sentence imposed; (3) the kinds of sentences available; (4) the kinds of sentences and the sentencing range established by the Sentencing Guidelines; (5) pertinent policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission; (6) the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants who have similar criminal records and have been found guilty of similar conduct; and (7) the need to provide restitution to victims.
.
United States v. Pedrioli,