United States v. Askew

966 F. Supp. 1103, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7967, 1997 WL 306822
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Alabama
DecidedJune 4, 1997
DocketCriminal No. 96-118-E
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 966 F. Supp. 1103 (United States v. Askew) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Askew, 966 F. Supp. 1103, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7967, 1997 WL 306822 (M.D. Ala. 1997).

Opinion

ORDER

MYRON H. THOMPSON, Chief Judge.

Defendant Antoine Terrell Askew was convicted of violating 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(u), which makes it “unlawful for a person to steal or unlawfully take or carry away from the person or the premises of a person who is licensed to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms, any firearm in the licensee’s business inventory that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.” Askew and others illegally entered a gun shop and stole several handguns from the premises. The court now has before it several objections Askew has filed to his presentence report.

I.

In the presentenee report, Askew’s base offense level is set at 14 pursuant to the United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual § 2K2.1(a)(6) (Nov.1995) (U.S.S.G.). Subsection (a)(6) provides:

“Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition; Prohibited Transactions Involving Firearms or Ammunition
(а) Base Offense Level (Apply the Greatest):
(б) 14, if the defendant is a prohibited person.”

A “prohibited person” includes “anyone who: ... is under indictment for, or has been convicted of, a ‘crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year,’ as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20).” U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1, comment, (n.6). Because, at the time of his offense, Askew was under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, he is a prohibited person. ,

Askew also received a two-level enhancement pursuant to subsection (b)(4) of U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1, which provides that, “If any firearm was stolen, or had an altered or [1105]*1105obliterated serial number, increase by 2 levels.”

H.

Askew first challenges the presentence report’s conclusion that he is a “prohibited person.” As stated, application note 6 to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 provides that a “prohibited person” includes “anyone who: ... is under indictment for, or has been convicted of, a ‘crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year,’ as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20).” Section 921(a)(20) provides, in relevant part, that, “The term ‘crime punishable by-imprisonment for a term exceeding one year’ does not include — ... (B) any State offense classified by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor and punishable by a term of imprisonment of two years or less. What constitutes a conviction of such a crime shall be determined in accordance with the law of tVie jurisdiction in which the proceedings wjere held.” 4

\i.t the time Askew committed the present offense, he was under indictment in Georgia for ¡theft by taking. Under Georgia law, theift by taking is a misdemeanor offensq unlifisUthe value of the stolen property exceeds ,$500. Ga.Code Ann. § 16-8-12(a)(l). If the value of the property exceeds $500, then the offense is punishable by a term of impris^Bic;,..it for not less than one year nor more than ten years. Ga.Code Ann. § KU8-12(a)(i,. Under Georgia law, a felony-is an offense punishable by death, life imprisonment, or by imprisonment for more than 12 months. -Ga.Code Ann. 16-1-3(5). Therefore, if the value of the stolen property exceeds $500, the offense of theft by taking is classified as a felony offense.

/Askew pled guilty to one count of'the two-coúnt indictment; the trial court “sentenced” him to confinement for a period of two years but allowed him to serve the “sentence” on probation in accordance with Georgia’s First Offender Act.1 Ga.Code. Ann. § 42-8-60(a)(2). Although the government has not produced evidence of the value of the property that Askew stole, this court recognizes that under Georgia law, “it is the punishment that may be imposed which characterizes” an offense as a misdemeanor or felony. Ramsey v. Powell, 244 Ga. 745, 262 S.E.2d 61, 62 (1979).

The maximum period of confinement that may be imposed for a misdemeanor offense is one year. Ga.Code Ann. § 17-10-3 to -4. “ ‘The total period of probation and confinement (if any) may not exceed the maximum time period provided as punishment for the crime.’” Tenney v. State, 194 Ga. App. 820, 392 S.E.2d 294, 296 (1990) (quoting Ga.Crim. Trial Prac. (1989 ed.) 21, 26-28, p. 697). Thus, because the trial court could have imposed a term of imprisonment in excess of one year and did impose a period of confinement to be served on probation in excess of one year, the indictment against Askew must be classified as one for a felony offense. Ramsey, 262 S.E.2d at 62; see also Ga.Code Ann. § 42-8-60(a)(2) (allowing court to sentence defendant seeking First Offender treatment “to a term of confinement as provided by law”).

Therefore,’ because the Georgia indictment against Askew does not fall within the exception of 18 U.S.C.A. § 921(a)(20)— which provides that, “The term ‘crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year’ does not include — ... (B) any State offense classified by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor and punishable by a term of imprisonment of two years or less,” (emphasis added) — this court holds that, at the time of the current offense, Askew was a prohibited person as identified in application note 6 of'U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1.

III.

Askew contends next that, under application note 12 to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1, he should not receive the two-level enhancement. His reliance on note 12 is misplaced. The note provides, in relevant part, that, “If the only offense to which § 2K2.1 applies is [1106]*110618 U.S.C. § 922®, (j), or (u), 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) or (k), or 26 U.S.C. § 5861(g) or (h) (offenses involving a stolen firearm or stolen ammunition) and the base offense level is determined under subsection (a)(7) [of U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1], do not apply the adjustment in subsection (b)(4) unless the offense involved a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number. This is because the base offense level takes into account that the firearm or ammunition was stolen.” U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1, comment, (n.12) (emphasis added). Subsection (a)(7) provides for a base offense level of 12 in all circumstances not otherwise addressed by other provisions in subsection (a) or excepted by provisions in subsections (b) and (c) of U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1.2

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
966 F. Supp. 1103, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7967, 1997 WL 306822, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-askew-almd-1997.