Martin v. United States

150 F. Supp. 3d 1047, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171680, 2015 WL 8985809
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Missouri
DecidedOctober 20, 2015
DocketCase No. 15-00617-CV-W-GAF; Crim. No. 10-00299-CR-W-GAF
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 150 F. Supp. 3d 1047 (Martin v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Martin v. United States, 150 F. Supp. 3d 1047, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171680, 2015 WL 8985809 (W.D. Mo. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER

GARY A. FENNER, JUDGE, UNITED STATES DÍSTRICT COURT

Presently before the Court is Movant Frank T. Martin’s (“Movant”) Motion to Vacate, Set.Aside, or Correct a.Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. (Doc. # l).1 Respondent United States of America (the “Government”) opposes.. (Doc. # 5). For the reasons set forth below, Movant’s Motion is DENIED.

DISCUSSION

I. FACTS

On October 20, 2010, Movant was indicted for three counts of distribution of cocaine (Counts I — III), being a felon in possession of a firearm (Count IV), and for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense (Count V). (Case No. 10-00299-CR-W-GAF, Doc. # 1, pp. 2-3). On October 20, 2011, Mov-ant pled guilty to all counts of the Indictment. (Id, Doc. # 37).

Movant’s presentence investigation report (the “PSR”) was prepared and determined that Movant’s sentencing guideline range was between 262 and 327 months. (Id, PSR ¶ 74). This.recommendation included. a sentencing ..enhancement for Count IV, because it was determined that [1049]*1049Movant qualified as a career criminal. (Id., PSR ¶ 31). Movant was considered a career criminal because he previously-committed burglary in the second degree, robbery in the first degree, and resisted arrest. (Id., PSR ¶22). Movant’s sentencing hearing took place on September 17, 2012. (Id., Doc. #49). Movant was sentenced to 180 months on each of Counts I-IV, with those sentences to run concurrently, and to 60 months under Count V, with that sentence to run consecutively to the other sentences. (Id., Sentencing Transcript (“Sent.Tr.”) 5:19-6:9).

II. LEGAL STANDARD

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, a mov-ant may collaterally attack his sentence on four grounds: “(1) ‘that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States,’ (2) ‘that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence,’ (3) ‘that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law,’ and (4) that the sentence ‘is otherwise subject to collateral attack.’” Hill v. United States, 368 U.S. 424, 426-27, 82 S.Ct. 468, 7 L.Ed.2d 417 (1962) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2255). Arguments that might warrant reversal on direct appeal do not necessarily support collateral attack. United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 165, 102 S.Ct. 1584, 71 L.Ed.2d 816 (1982).

III. ANALYSIS

If an individual is found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and “has three or more earlier convictions for a ‘serious drug offense’ or a ‘violent felony,’ the Armed Career Criminal Act [the “ACCA”] increases his prison term to a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life.” Johnson v. United States, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 2555, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015). A violent felony is .defined as:

any. crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, ;.. that (i) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another; or (ii) is burglary, arson, ■ or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.

18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B) -(emphasis added). “The closing words of this definition1, italicized above, have come to be known as the Act’s residual-clause.” Johnson, 135 S.Ct. at 2556. In Johnson, the Supreme Court held that the residual clause of the ACCA is unconstitutionally vague. Id. at 2563. Movant argues that his sentence was illegal under the Supreme Court's decision in Johnson because his third predicate felony, resisting arrest, fell under the residual clause.2 (Doc. # 1, p. 4). Thus, Movant argues, his sentence should not have been enhanced under the ACCA. (Id.).

The Government agrees that “[alp-plying Johnson today, it would seem that [Movant] would not be considered an armed career criminal under the residual clause” and accordingly “would not be subject to the ■ enhanced ACCA statutory range of punishment.” (Doc. # 5, pp. 7, 8). The Government argues that. Movant’s Motion should nevertheless be denied because vacating Movant’s sentence under Count IV would not impact his sentence. (Id. at 8). A § 2255 motion is appropriate where a sentence is illegal, which occurs when the sentence is “imposed without, or in excess of, statutory authority.” Sun Bear v. United States, 644 F.3d 700, 705 (8th Cir.2011). The Eighth Circuit has determined that § 2255 relief is inappro[1050]*1050priate where the same sentence “could be reimposed were [the movant] granted the § 2255 relief he requests.” Olten v. United States, 565 Fed.Appx. 558, 561 (8th Cir.2014).

In Otten, the Eighth Circuit determined that the movant’s sentence had been improperly enhanced under the ACCA. Id. at 560. The movant argued that because of this, his sentence should be vacated. Id. The Eighth Circuit disagreed, reasoning that although the movant’s sentence on his felon in possession charge was improper, he was also convicted of another charge which could have been imposed consecutively to the movant’s felon in possession charge, and resulted in the same sentence. Id. at 561. The Court concluded that, as a result, the movant’s sentence was not illegal even though relief was denied “based on the sentence a district court hypothetically could—rather than did—impose.” Id. at 562. ,

Like in Otten, Movant’s enhanced sentence under Count IV was improper. However, Movant also pled guilty to Counts I—III of his indictment. (Case No. 10-00299-CR-W-GAF, Doc. # 37). Those three counts each carried a statutory penalty range of up to thirty years imprisonment. (Id., PSR ¶73). Unlike in Otten, no hypothetical sentence is required. This Court sentenced Movant to the exact same sentence, 180 months, on Counts I—III with sentences to run concurrently. (Id., Sent. Tr. 5:19-6:9). Thus, it is even more clear in this case than it was in Otten that Movant’s sentence is not illegal, as it is not in excess of statutory authority. See Sun Bear, 644 F.3d at 705.

Movant argues, that because his sentence under Count IV was unlawful, the Court should vacate his entire sentence and re-sentence him under all counts. (Doc. # 6, p. 3). Movant accurately states that the Court has “broad and flexible power in correcting invalid convictions or sentences.” Gardiner v. United States, 114 F.3d 734, 736 (8th Cir.1997).

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Bluebook (online)
150 F. Supp. 3d 1047, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171680, 2015 WL 8985809, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/martin-v-united-states-mowd-2015.