United States v. Hampsten

Opinion

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

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No. 00-10449

Summary Calendar

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

TERRY HAMPSTEN,

Defendant-Appellant.

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Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (4:99-CR-152-1-P)

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February 26, 2001

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, WIENER, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Terry Hampsten challenges his sentence, following his guilty-

plea conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Hampsten contends, for the first time on appeal: the district court erred by relying on the unsupported assertions of the probation officer and the Government in finding the offense involved eight to 12 firearms and a destructive device; and the number of firearms attributed to him, and his alleged possession of an explosive device, were elements of

*

Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the Court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.

the offense rather than sentencing factors and thus should have been included in the indictment and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Of course, Hampsten did not raise these issues in district court, we review only for plain error. See, e.g., United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 731 (1993). In order to satisfy this standard, there must be an error that is plain, clear, or obvious, and that affects a substantial right of the defendant. Id. at 734. If these factors are met, we, in our discretion, may correct the error if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceeding. Id. at 736.

Although the Government bore the burden of persuasion in this matter, Hampsten submitted no evidence to the district court to rebut the factual findings of the presentence report (PSR). See United States v. Angulo, 927 F.2d 202, 205 (5th Cir. 1991); United States v. Alfaro, 919 F.2d 962, 966 (5th Cir. 1990). A sentencing court is not bound by the parties’ written stipulation of facts, but may, with the aid of the PSR, “determine the facts relevant to sentencing.” See U.S.S.G. § 6B1.4(d), p.s.; United States v. Garcia, 902 F.2d 324, 326-27 (5th Cir. 1990).

Concerning the second issue, a fact used in sentencing that does not increase a penalty beyond the statutory maximum need not be alleged in the indictment and proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Keith, 230 F.3d 784, 787 (5th

3

Cir. 2000), petition for cert. filed (U.S. 16 Jan. 2001) (No. 00- 8077).

Hampsten has not demonstrated error, plain or otherwise.

AFFIRMED