*1 978 timely
responsibility and notification of intent correctly We find that the Anders brief plead guilty. to possible characterizes the for appeal issues independent without merit. Our review if Aguilar-Muniz Even had not fails to disclose other non-frivo- record sentence, appeal appeal waived his appeal. lous issues Counsel’s motion Eighth on based Amendment would fail. GRANTED, withdraw is therefore and the context, penalty Outside of the death conviction and sentence are AFFIRMED. Eighth only by Amendment is offended sen “grossly disproportionate” tences that are Michigan,
the crime. See Harmelin v. 501 959, 957, 2680, S.Ct. L.Ed.2d (1991); Bland, v. 961 F.2d United States Cir.1992).
123, 129 Longer sentences on drug similar violations have been Eighth not to
held violate the Amendment. Winrow,
See United States Van 951 F.2d (9th Cir.1991) (holding life America, UNITED STATES of parole sentence without for defendant con Plaintiff-Appellee, possession
victed of with intent distribute grams of 151.9 cocaine does not violate Amendment). Eighth CONNELLY, Charles Defendant- evaluating In addition to the issues raised Appellant. brief, independently the Anders we have No. 97-30233. appealable
examined the record errors. Ohio, 75, 82-83, See Benson v. 488 U.S. Appeals, States Court (1988). S.Ct. L.Ed.2d Counsel Ninth Circuit. possible appellate did address issues aris- Aguilar-Muniz’s right waiver of the Argued April and Submitted 1998. hearing government’s to a motion to plea agreement. withdraw the first Sept. Decided plea After a agreement has been ac court,
cepted entered the court
may not plea agreement rescind the
government’s motion unless the defendant agreement. breached See United v. Sandoval-Lopez, 122 F.3d
(9th Cir.1997); United States Partida-
Parra, (9th Cir.1988). Aguilar-Muniz advised he oppose government’s could mo-
tion to plea agreement, withdraw the if
successful, original agreement enforce the Aguilar-Muniz
under which would re- have ten-year
ceived sentence rather than a
fourteen-year sentence. The defendant ini-
tially appeared not to understand court’s
explanation. problem The court called the counsel,
the attention defense and after defendant,
counsel conferred with the found
that the knowing voluntary. waiver was review,
On novo de we find error in no
district court’s determination.
981 *3 On were dishonored. Defender, accounts tablished Gallagher, Federal Anthony R. attempted to cash 13,1996 Defendant August MT, defendant-appellant. Falls, Great Bank $12,500 the Norwest cheek Atty., Rostad, Great Asst. E. Carl Montana; alert- the teller Billings, branch MT, Falls, plaintiff-appellee. arrested. was and Defendant police ed De- arrest and his deposit his first Between $12,169.80 the Nor- withdrew fendant accounts. west BELOW PROCEEDINGS *4 HUG, Judge, Chief Before: bank guilty to the Montana pled Defendant REED,* REINHARDT, Judge, and Circuit 21,1997. Pursuant January charge on fraud Judge. District in federal pled guilty he to Fed.R.Crim.P. Ohio,credit to the in Montana court district REED, Judge: District At that July 1997. charge on fraud card (hereinafter, “Defen- Connelly Charles 60 months of to terms he was sentenced time in occasions dant”) separate on pled guilty concurrently, followed to run charge, each for under 18 fraud of bank to one count The release. supervised of years by five credit card count of and one § 1344 U.S.C. requested two-level denied court district 1029(a)(2). Depart- § under 18 U.S.C. fraud of re- acceptance for adjustment downward requested down- denying a upward, and court’s ob- largely on sponsibility, responsi- acceptance of for adjustment ward sentencing. servations him to 60 sentenced court bility, the concur- be served charge, to for each months on upward departed Additionally, challenges his sentence. now rently. He history criminal that Defendant’s ground § 1291 28 U.S.C. under jurisdiction We have the seri- reflect “adequately did category we affirm. and con- criminal past of the defendant’s ousness will the likelihood duct FACTS § 4A1.3. U.S.S.G. crimes.” commit in guilty approached pled January 1996 Defendant in 1990 Defendant Specifically, In theft, Husarick, in the state for of counts Richard to three acquaintance, state court Ohio him that falsely sentences represented concurrent and three of Ohio received he which bank. a local with were officer the convictions a loan Because he was months. of 18 help would he “relat- they were Persuading sentencing, Husarick Mr. consolidated of a line and obtain were there- his loans and consolidate 4A1.2 him under U.S.S.G. ed” months, Ex- an American credit, acquired of 18 Defendant as one sentence counted fore sub- He name. history points; in Mr. Husarick’s press card criminal resulting in three $22,274.14 in unautho- each sequently separately incurred sentenced he been had charges. crimi- six count, rized have received would more he Smith, v. States United history points. nal Nor- representing after August In Cir.1993) (9th (citing 1468, 1473 Bozeman, that he was Montana in Bank west 4A1.2). Second, 1993 Defen- U.S.S.G. Company Pittsburgh Glass an heir court to one state guilty Ohio pled dant savings account fortune, opened Defendant property receipt of stolen attempted of $16,500. count totalling deposited two checks and he was for which forgery, of one count checking ac- opened a he days later A few con- in a probation years’ three sentenced Bank branch Norwest same count sen- This proceeding. sentencing $21,500. solidated All totaling two checks deposited point; history in one resulted tence fraudulently es- written checks were four * designation. Reed, Jr., by Senior United C. Edward Honorable Nevada, sitting Judge, of District States District weighs against finding had the two convictions not been tion and remorse of consolidated acceptance sentencing, responsibility, “implicit would have one he received of because acceptance point. departed responsibility district court of is an additional admis history points, wrongdoing,” seven of sion moral as Defendant Gallant, points guilty pleas six for the 1990 and one concedes. Cir.1998); point guilty plea, resulting see United States Cir.1994) Davis, 1424, 1435-36 score 16 and (under 3E1.1, category pre-1992 of VI. affirma version adjustment), tive evidence contrition warrants challenges Defendant now denial nom., rt. denied sub Williams ce acceptance responsibility adjustment U.S., S.Ct. upward departure. (1995). Lying L.Ed.2d 1106 about offense weighs conduct or relevant conduct also DISCUSSION Vance, responsibility. against acceptance of 62 F.3d at I. Standard of Review A district adjust court’s decision to adjust The district court denied the acceptance a defendant’s sentence based on *5 “clearly ment because Defendant stated ... responsibility of is a factual determination always somebody it’s fault ... else’s reviewed for clear v. error. United States pretty a good story [and] laid out about what Villasenor-Cesar, 114 F.3d Cir. appeared theory to be a Robin Hood of what 1997). A depart district court’s to decision doing.” holding clearly he was This is not the Sentencing range from re Guidelines erroneous. Regarding the Montana bank
viewed for abuse of discretion. United
count,
fraud
at
Defendant asserted
sentenc
Sablan,
v.
F.3d
ing:
—
Cir.1997) (en banc),
denied,
cert.
I went
I
to Norwest Bank Bozeman and
-,
(1998).
118 S.Ct.
count, Defendant stated: Acceptance Responsibility II. of fund-raising Husarick] had an [Mr. AIDS clearly Gay
“If the through demon Pride festival which he acceptance responsibility” owns], strates money, of for his took the from the [he bar offense, for, case, qualifies he got then in this and it people never to the who were adjustment supposed two-level downward offense I to receive it. And so went—he 3El.l(a). Although plead level. U.S.S.G. trying get told me that he was a loan guilty truthfully admitting the of bank. guy The is crooked. “significant fense conduct gave constitute evidence Crooked as could be.... He ame acceptance of responsibility,” corporate this evidence credit I bought card. went and may outweighed be by conduct I things. inconsistent furniture and went and bought acceptance responsibility. with such things money supposed that the AIDS was 3E1.1, 3; App. buy. U.S.S.G. note I United States But was authorized to not make Vance, (9th Cir.1995). purchases those on the credit card be- cause, particular, In apparently, failure demonstrate contri- I obtained a credit card sentencing engages mean, A court in a condi- under fraudulent without—I 1) four-step departure analysis: it tions, identifies fraudulent terms. potentially case it what features of the take “heartland” and make outside Guidelines’ mean, know, right. I you I what did wasn’t 2) case, special of it a or unusual it deter But, unfortunately, I understand that.... has whether the Commission forbid mines ill, today, get you if system you in—in the 3) features, departures if den based those out, help you your don’t have Government not, it determines whether the Commission by yourself. you’re stuck encouraged departures has based on those contrition demonstrated neither Defendant 4) not, features, and if it determines whether remorse, story” Hood nor a “Robin told discouraged Commission His motive behind his frauds. regarding the Sabían, 114 at on those features. based sufficiently in- sentencing are statements are special If the features forbidden responsibility acceptance consistent with departure, the sentencing bases for court adjustment. to warrant denial of a downward depart; examples use are cannot them race, sex, creed, origin, religion, national so- Departure Upward III. Criminal His- status, guidance lack cio-economic tory Category drug youth, dependence, or alcohol and eco pursu- departed upward hardship. spe If nomic Id. 916-17. 4A1.3, permits which de- ant to U.S.S.G. encouraged, are cial factors the court is au upon partures under-representation of based depart if the applicable thorized to Guideline history, observing: already take them into account. Id. does my upon the special If are at 917. factors discour himself, his Defendant observations aged, encouraged already but into taken *6 speaking to the Court and his manner Guideline, by the the court applicable account way highly to that it is unlike- indicates me depart present if is only the factor should ly going to not be a that this individual way or exceptional degree in some other he has recidivist and that demonstrated ordinary the case different from makes pattern throughout his life conduct present. Id. where factor case likely that he’s would indicate me And, therefore, I find that the continue. in history criminal cat The issue history criminal that is stated nine is depar egory departures—i.e., “horizontal” under-represented. whether reliable information dem tures—is history category that onstrates departed points court The seven not reflect the seriousness adequately “does guilty history, points six for the 1990 or past criminal conduct the defendant’s pleas point guilty plea, for the 1993 and one will that the defendant commit likelihood post-departure in a resulting § 4A1.3. This stan crimes.” U.S.S.G. challenges the de- category of VI. Defendant the criminal cate is met “when dard depart. cision to under-represents the seri gory significantly Sentencing A. The Guidelines history or ousness of the defendant’s will departure commit may “An be the likelihood that v. crimes.” United States Carrillo- has commit further warranted when the defendant (9th Cir.1993) Alvarez, 316, (citing 3 320 criminal histo F.3d ted crimes conduct 4A1.3). § where One circumstance ry specifically fail to U.S.S.G. calculation instructions Henderson, inadequate, history may be and de v. 993 criminal consider.” United States Cir.1993) (9th (citation warranted, may is where “sen 187, parture omit be F.2d 189 ted). as related because tences were treated limit our review to reasons We Id.; sentencing” and were for sentencing court. eases consolidated actually given Green, sepa were therefore not 105 some convictions v. F.3d see also United States (9th Cir.1997) history. 1321, in criminal U.S.S.G. (sentencing rately counted court’s 1322 4A1.2, App. “the note 3. Because Sentenc “sufficiently specific ... must be rationale contemplate” review”). such specifically Guidelines appellate allow 984 ground departure, depar- departure, scenario as a and at least our two of cases so case, Carrillo-Alvarez, encouraged 321-22;
ture is
sen-
hold.
3
at
F.3d
depart
844,
tencing
Brady,
v.
long
court is authorized to
so
United States
928
853 &
(9th Cir.1991),
§as
n.
part by
4A1.3 is satisfied. United States v.
16
overruled
(9th
Hines,
1469,
Cir.1994);
States,
738,
26 F.3d
1478
v.
Nichols United
511 U.S.
748-
4A1.2,
(1994).
App.
114
U.S.S.G.
note 3.
S.Ct.
128
745
L.Ed.2d
departures
upheld
We have nonetheless
with
Application
B.
explicit showing
out an
E.g.,
of seriousness.
Goshea,
United States
94 F.3d
1364
Report
past
The Presentence
details the
(9th Cir.1996);
Segura-Del
United
States
upon
criminal conduct
which the district
Real,
Cir.1996),
83 F.3d
278
cert.
relied,
we
which
summarize as follows:
—
denied,
-,
117 S.Ct.
May
$28,000
up
unpaid
ran
(1996);
Myers,
L.Ed.2d
United
card,
charges on wife’s credit
failed to
(9th Cir.1994);
1. Seriousness ;ery, probably and are more serious than Despite the burglary. They standard enunciated in auto are more also serious ;han Guideline, the examples departure- the immigration violations, evasion, fare and worthy § imply conduct listed in mpersonating military 4A1.3 that officer. Conse- uncounted criminal quently, conduct must in all cases Defendant’s conduct falls within the cross a threshold of support Myers, “seriousness” to ‘serious” category. closely most the erroneous, 4A1.3, the not involving clearly bolsters and court did
analogous case
Myers
departing upward.
abuse
In
the defendant
its discretion
conclusion.
fraud,
awaiting
the ex-
challenge
and while
Since Defendant does not
pled guilty to wire
$1,690
departure,
do
sentencing
through another
tent
the district court’s
we
obtained
“Myers’
that
that
of wire fraud. We observed
reach
issue.
act
is ... serious” and ac-
post-offense conduct
AFFIRMED.
depar-
the district court’s
cordingly affirmed
If
Myers,
ward
permissible
would be
when a
majority,
explicit
“an
showing of seri-
prior
“had received
consolidated
ousness,” maj.
984,1
op. at
plain
it
think
that
years
sentence of ten
for a
series
serious
both the text of
guidelines
precedent
added).
(emphasis
assaults.”
require that circumstance to be present.1
prior
Our
emphasize §
cases also
4A1.3’s
Applying
case,
rule to
present
this
I
requirement.
“seriousness”
In United States
believe that the district in basing
erred
Cir.1991),
Brady,
F.2d 844
rru
ove
an upward departure on each
Connelly’s
led
grounds by
on other
Nichols v.
fart
prior,
First,
consolidated sentences.
it
States,
United
114 S.Ct.
seems obvious
Connelly’s prior,
that
consoli
(1994),
Second, Connelly’s prior count- contemplate expressly guidelines the involving between prior frauds months I together, cannot sentences of $28,000 not evidence consolidated 2,500 is also $ number of uncounted a small see how such prior criminal conduct “serious” sufficiently him from the heartland of guidelines’ the sentences removes departure from a warrant to prior TV, already highly recidi- which is length category of the While the heartland. on the district court entirely dispositive category; and neither may not be vist sentence signif- points any evidence that provides majority it I believe that nor the point, do this is guidelines the sentences because that three “uncounted” both guidance, indicates icant category to sentence IV. See repeatedly refer a defendant in unusual for themselves measuring (holding and because that Donaghe, seriousness 50 F.3d at length reflect designed to generally the record for are do “‘not search sentences review we instead, An 18- conduct. departure; of criminal reasons for permissible the seriousness small- by few actually given sentence analyzef consolidated the reasons ] month [we] “substantially court’”) Montenegro- that is (quoting is not one frauds time the district year” pursuant 428). “serious” anything one more than does Rojo, Nor § 4A1.3’s cry from decision, a far and is rec- or even the offenses court’s the district for a 10-year sentence series example whole, Connelly suggest as a ord —a at 1408 Wyne, 41 F.3d assaults. See prior serious sentences to by his been deterred departure based (reversing upward an who typical defendant degree than lesser or months of 13 sentences prior, history. uncounted category IV has amassed one-year because, guidelines given less See id. not “evidence such crimes were guidepost, majority’s final basis for That leaves conduct”). Nor, my ‘serious’ Connelly’s un- similarity affirmance: such a to account opinion, failing does offense conduct. conduct his counted underrepresent” the “significantly sentence rely First, court did not the district because such Con- as of a reason, plainly errs majority on this already at a criminal nelly who majority ac- id. While doing so. See of IV. level requir- of our rule the existence knowledges majority’s as- Finally, disagree I with circumstance, op. maj. see in this ing reversal departure is court’s district that the sertion apply it or simply fails consider it of Defendant’s purely on the basis “justified ignore the simply to here, choosing instead Maj. op. at of recidivism.” likelihood Second, if the even plain facts. § 4A1.3 indicates the text section While departure justification, on this relied had sup- might alone of recidivism that likelihood little, any, if sense. makes ground on this guidelines’ upward departure, port an likely to IV is category is in who Someone above) (which do not mentioned examples are of the same several offenses committed have and under- recidivism between differentiate Here, type of general type. general history. This structure represented criminal “stealing majority by identified offense both of bases suggests that strongly him,” maj. op. at people who trusted by supported departures must be § 4A1.3 words, economic non-violent 985—in serious, conduct. uncounted criminal who individuals is true that It offenses. his- enough criminal and earn fraud unusually high commit an assuming that But even catego- achieve classification tory points to by ser- not evidenced for recidivism potential varied their usually have not ry TV offenders sentences ious, prior consolidated uncounted murder, rape, committing careers could, itself, upward departure, support an Thus, suspect that the I would mayhem. Connelly has a case. surely is not such depar- warranting 534; gravating sentence (emphasizing also id. Id. at see future.” Hence, probation for ture"). Connelly’sprior his explicit Sentencing Commission’s unlike the *10 Myers' because decidedly than different is prior to fraud sentences consideration uncounted years the instant before several occurred conviction, it had “[n]othing the Guidelines indicates completely already ad- been sentencing and had adequately con- Sentencing Commission that the ag- judicated. post-offense conduct a defendant's sidered fairly typical Jenny NGO, defendant is a economic Plaintiff-Appellee, crime Ha category fraud offender of the IV class. is, course, That a reason for non-enhance- RENO HILTON RESORT CORPORA- ment, justification enhancing not a for —and TION, Hilton; Reno Hilton Hotels d/b/a especially justification not a enhancing for Corporation, Defendants-Appellants. impose length order to be able to predetermined sentence the court has ap- 95-16909, Nos. 95-16911 and 96-15553. propriate when it is dissatisfied with the Appeals, States Court of prescribed guideline that, sentence. And in- Ninth Circuit. deed, is what occurred here. The district deemed advance that in its view Sept. 1998. Connelly’s criminal place conduct did not him Mahoney, Scott M. Gaming Hilton Corpo- acceptable range “an sentencing” un- ration, Vegas, Nevada, Las for defendant- Therefore, guidelines. der the it decided to appellant, cross-appellee. enhance. Yet neither the district court’s reli- Connelly’s prior, ance on uncounted sen- Timothy Sears, DC, Washington, plain- majority’s tences nor improper addition tiff-appellee, cross-appellant. of other inappropriate provides reasons legal upward for an departure basis in Con-
nelly’s case on potential the basis of recidi-
vism.
Accordingly, I would vacate the departure and resentencing. remand for BROWNING, SKOPIL, Before:
BRUNETTI,
Judges.
Circuit
opinion
April
issued on
[140
hereby
1299]
amended as follows:
Slip op. at 3289 [
TION, Hilton; support Reno ination” to Hilton a punitive damage Hotels d/b/a ” Corporation, VII)” Defendants-Appellants. award under title between “See and
the cite to McKinnon.
Jenny NGO,
Ha
Plaintiff-Appellant,
Slip op. at 3289 n.9 [
