United States v. Breedlove

35 F. App'x 56

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: May 6, 2002
• Docket: 01-4759
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Pursuant to a written plea agreement, James Waverly Breedlove, Jr., pled guilty to bank robbery. The agreement provided that “the Government will make no recommendation to the Court as to what sentence the defendant should receive within the sentencing guideline range.” At sentencing, the court determined Breedlove’s guideline range to be 151 to 188 months. Contrary to the terms of the plea agreement, the Assistant United States Attorney argued in favor of a sentence at the higher end of the range. The court thereafter imposed a 180-month sentence.

Breedlove argues, and the Government concedes, that this constitutes a breach of the plea agreement. Due to the Government’s breach—albeit inadvertent—of the plea agreement Breedlove failed to receive the benefit of his bargain. See Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 262, 92 S.Ct. 495, 30 L.Ed.2d 427 (1971). We therefore vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing before a different district court judge. See United States v. Peglera, 33 F.3d 412, 415 (4th Cir.1994); United States v. Brown, 500 F.2d 375, 378 (4th Cir.1974). We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

VACATED AND REMANDED.