United States v. Donald Whitaker

215 F. App'x 809
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
DecidedJanuary 24, 2007
Docket06-12239
StatusUnpublished

This text of 215 F. App'x 809 (United States v. Donald Whitaker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Donald Whitaker, 215 F. App'x 809 (11th Cir. 2007).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Donald Whitaker appeals his 150-month sentence for distribution of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. § 841. First, Whitaker argues that his sentence should not be increased based on a prior unrepresented misdemeanor conviction. Second, Whitaker argues that he was indicted for selling cocaine “from his home and car in March of 2005,” and that therefore other cocaine seized by police in 2004 was not part of the “same course of conduct” under the guidelines and should not have been considered at sentencing. After reviewing the parties’ briefs and the record as a whole, we find no reversible error.

I.

“A district court’s application of the sentencing guidelines is subject to de novo review.” United States v. Baker, 116 F.3d 870, 872 (11th Cir.1997).

“[W]here no sentence of imprisonment was imposed, a defendant charged with a misdemeanor ha[s] no constitutional right to counsel.” Nichols v. United States, 511 U.S. 738, 743, 114 S.Ct. 1921, 1925, 128 L.Ed.2d 745 (1994) (citing Scott v. Illinois, 440 U.S. 367, 99 S.Ct. 1158, 59 L.Ed.2d 383 (1979)). In line with that rule, the Supreme Court has held that an “uncounseled misdemeanor conviction, valid under Scott because no prison term was imposed, is also valid when used to enhance punishment at a subsequent conviction.” 1 Nichols, 511 U.S. at 749, 114 S.Ct. at 1928.

According to the 2005 version of the sentencing guidelines, prior sentences of imprisonment of at least 60 days are assigned between two and three criminal history points, depending on length, and any other prior sentences not resulting in such imprisonment is assigned one criminal history point. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1(a)-(c). The guidelines restrict the meaning of a “sentence of imprisonment” to cases where the defendant “actually served a period of imprisonment” or would have had the defendant not escaped, and expressly provide that “[a] sentence of probation is to be treated as a sentence under § 4A1.1(c) unless a condition of probation requiring *811 imprisonment of at least sixty days was imposed.” U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2, comment, (n. 2). The guidelines also note that “[p]rior sentences, not otherwise excluded, are to be counted in the criminal history score, including uncounseled misdemeanor sentences where imprisonment was not imposed.” U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2, background comment. Finally, the guidelines expressly include convictions for DUI in a defendant’s criminal history. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2, comment, (n. 4).

In this case, as the court of conviction of the 2002 DUI did not impose a sentence of imprisonment on Whitaker, the district court did not err by giving Whitaker one criminal history point for that conviction. Baker, 116 F.3d at 872.

II.

We review a district court’s finding as to relevant conduct only for clear error. United States v. Blanc, 146 F.3d 847, 851 (11th Cir.1998). If we “decide that the district court misapplied the [guidelines, a remand is appropriate unless we conclude[ ], on the record as a whole, that the error was harmless, i.e., that the error did not affect the district court’s selection of the sentence imposed.” Williams v. United States, 503 U.S. 193, 203, 112 S.Ct. 1112, 1120-21, 117 L.Ed.2d 341 (1992).

Under the sentencing guidelines, two criminal history points are added to a defendant’s criminal history if he “committed the instant offense while [on] parole” (among other things). U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1(d). As used in sentencing, “the instant offense” means “any relevant conduct.” U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1, comment, (n. 4). “Activity that meets the definition of relevant conduct ... must be fully taken into account.” See Blanc, 146 F.3d at 851 (discussing “relevant conduct” in the context of U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3).

“U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3 instructs district courts to consider not merely the charged conduct, but rather all ‘relevant conduct’ ____” United States v. Hamaker, 455 F.3d 1316, 1336 (11th Cir.2006). The guidelines define relevant conduct, in pertinent part, as:

all acts and omissions committed ... or wilfully caused by the defendant^ as well as] all reasonably foreseeable acts and omissions of others in furtherance of [a] jointly undertaken criminal activity, that occurred during the commission of the offense of conviction, in preparation for that offense, or in the course of attempting to avoid detection or responsibility for that offense[J

U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1). Relevant conduct also includes “all acts and omissions described ... above that were part of the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction.” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(2). Notably, the commentary to this guideline states that “the defendant is accountable for all quantities of contraband with which he was directly involved.” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3, comment, (n. 2). We interpret the provisions of the relevant conduct guideline broadly. United States v. Behr, 93 F.3d 764, 765 (11th Cir.1996). “[Sentencing courts may consider both uncharged and acquitted conduct in determining the appropriate sentence.” Hamaker, 455 F.3d at 1336.

At sentencing, Whitaker did not object to the PSI’s finding that the drugs seized in 2004 were found in his former bedroom. Whitaker did assert that the confidential informant’s information was unreliable, but he did not present any evidence on this point or offer any argument explaining his assertion. Finally, he challenged the reliability of his step-father’s statement that the drugs were his (ie. Whitaker’s), but only by noting that his parents had since been convicted on state charges related to *812 the 2004 seizure. However, without knowing what those charges were, it is difficult to determine whether establishing his parents’ guilt would exonerate Whitaker. Further, as the district court noted, the fact that the state refrained from charging Whitaker in that offense does not necessarily indicate that it had no evidence to support such charges, but could simply reflect the state’s recognition that Wfliitaker had been charged in federal court. Finally, Whitaker did not challenge the fact that when he was ultimately arrested — roughly three months after the 2004 seizure — and more drugs were found in his parents’ house, he admitted that those drugs were his.

As it is well-settled that a sentencing court can use “uncharged or acquitted conduct” in sentencing a defendant, Hamaker,

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Related

United States v. Behr
93 F.3d 764 (Eleventh Circuit, 1996)
United States v. Baker
116 F.3d 870 (Eleventh Circuit, 1997)
United States v. Blanc
146 F.3d 847 (Eleventh Circuit, 1998)
United States v. Dewey M. Hamaker
455 F.3d 1316 (Eleventh Circuit, 2006)
Scott v. Illinois
440 U.S. 367 (Supreme Court, 1979)
Williams v. United States
503 U.S. 193 (Supreme Court, 1992)
Alabama v. Shelton
535 U.S. 654 (Supreme Court, 2002)
Greenbriar, Ltd. v. City Of Alabaster
881 F.2d 1570 (Eleventh Circuit, 1989)
Nichols v. United States
511 U.S. 738 (Supreme Court, 1994)

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Bluebook (online)
215 F. App'x 809, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-donald-whitaker-ca11-2007.