United States v. Hammons

286 F. Supp. 3d 1270
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Mexico
DecidedDecember 31, 2017
DocketNo. CIV 16–0499 JB/KRS; No. CR 07–1164 JB
StatusPublished

This text of 286 F. Supp. 3d 1270 (United States v. Hammons) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Hammons, 286 F. Supp. 3d 1270 (D.N.M. 2017).

Opinion

JAMES O. BROWNING, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

THIS MATTER comes before the Court on: (i) Defendant-Movant Robert L. Hammons' Motion to Correct Sentence Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, filed June 24, 2016 (CIV Doc. 6)(CR Doc. 114)("Motion"); (ii) the United States Magistrate Judge's Proposed Findings and Recommended Disposition, filed April 25, 2016 (CIV Doc. 28)(CR Doc. 136)("PFRD"); (iii) Defendant-Movant's Objection to United States Magistrate Judge's Proposed Findings & Recommendations, filed May 10, 2017 (CIV Doc. 31)(CR Doc. 137)("PFRD Objections"); and (iv) the Amended Proposed Findings and Recommended Disposition, filed June 26, 2017 (CIV Doc. 33)(CR Doc. 139)("Amended PFRD").1 The primary issues *1273are: (i) whether, in light of the Supreme Court of the United States' decisions in Johnson v. United States, 559 U.S. 133, 130 S.Ct. 1265, 176 L.Ed.2d 1 (2010) (" Johnson I") and Johnson v. United States, --- U.S. ----, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015) (" Johnson II"), New Mexico aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon, defined by N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-3-13, is an Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924, ("ACCA"), violent felony; and (ii) whether Oregon first-degree robbery, defined by Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 164.415, is an ACCA violent felony. The Court stands by its earlier, post- Johnson I determination that New Mexico aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon has "as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another," 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(i) ("Elements Clause"), and, thus, qualifies as an ACCA violent felony. See Memorandum Opinion and Order at 35, 2010 WL 4321693, at *19, filed October 6, 2010 (CR Doc. 73) (" Sentencing MOO")(quoting 18 U.S.C. § 924(e) ). The Court also determines that Oregon first-degree robbery likewise qualifies as an ACCA violent felony under the Elements Clause. Consequently, Hammons' conviction for New Mexico aggravated assault against a family member and his two convictions for Oregon first-degree robbery mean that he remains eligible for an enhanced sentence under the ACCA, notwithstanding Johnson I and Johnson II , so the Court will deny the Motion.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On June 13, 2007, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Hammons with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). See Indictment at 1, filed June 13, 2007 (CR Doc. 1). Plaintiff United States of America and Hammons entered into a plea agreement. See Plea Agreement at 1, filed October 30, 2008 (CR Doc. 33). The United States then notified Hammons and the Court that it would seek an enhanced sentence under the ACCA. See Notice of Intention to Seek Enhanced Sentence Pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 924(e) and U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4 ¶ 4, at 2, filed April 21, 2009 (CR Doc. 38)("ACCA Notice"). The United States asserted that the "Defendant has the requisite number of prior violent felony convictions for the purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)." ACCA Notice ¶ 3, at 1. The United States identified five such convictions: (i) a New Mexico conviction for false imprisonment; (ii) a New Mexico conviction for aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon; (iii) two Oregon convictions for first-degree robbery; and (iv) an Oregon conviction for second-degree kidnapping. See ACCA Notice ¶ 3, at 1-2. See also State v. Hammons, Nos. CR 2000-5122, CR 2001-00059, Judgment, Sentence, and Order Suspending Sentence (Second Judicial District Court, County of Bernalillo, State of New Mexico, dated November 5, 2001), filed April 21, 2009 (CR Doc. 38-1)(false imprisonment and aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon);

*1274State v. Hammons, No. 7010, Judgment and Sentence (Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for Umatilla County, dated December 11, 1981), filed April 21, 2009 (CR Doc. 38-3)(first-degree robbery and second-degree kidnapping); State v. Hammons, No. 52166, Order (Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for Linn County, dated October 30, 1978), filed April 21, 2009 (CR Doc. 38-2)(first-degree robbery).

Hammons objected to an ACCA enhancement. See Defendant's Objection to Imposition of Enhanced Sentence Pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 924(e) and U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4, filed August 28, 2009 (CR Doc. 47)("Sentencing Objections"). Hammons argued that neither of his New Mexico convictions were convictions for violent felonies under the ACCA. See Sentencing Objections ¶ 1, at 1 (false imprisonment);

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Bluebook (online)
286 F. Supp. 3d 1270, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-hammons-nmd-2017.