United States v. Hillstrom

837 F. Supp. 1324, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15628, 1993 WL 460524
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedNovember 4, 1993
Docket3:CR-91-0242
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 837 F. Supp. 1324 (United States v. Hillstrom) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Hillstrom, 837 F. Supp. 1324, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15628, 1993 WL 460524 (M.D. Pa. 1993).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

McCLURE, District Judge.

BACKGROUND:

This case presents the issue of whether the Federal Prison Camp at Alenwood, Montgomery, Pennsylvania (“FPC-AUenwood”), is a facility similar to a community corrections center, community treatment center, or halfway house within the meaning of § 2Pl.l(b)(3) of the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines (USSG § 2Pl.l(b)(3)).

On February 3, 1992; defendant Carl Hillstrom pleaded guilty to a charge of escape from federal custody in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 751(a). He was sentenced by this court to a term of incarceration of 21 months, to run consecutive to the term for which he had previously been imprisoned. A term of supervised release of three years was to follow the term of incarceration.

On March 12, 1993, the sentence was vacated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit “[b]ecause we believe that the [district] court based its decision on an incomplete description of the nature of community correction centers and an inadequate consideration of what we take to be one of the primary policy justifications behind the adoption of the current version of § 2P1.1(b)(3) ...” United States v. Hillstrom, 988 F.2d 448 (3d Cir.1993). The Third Circuit remanded the case to this court for reconsideration of the sentence, emphasizing particular factors to be considered in making the comparison.

On September 16, 1993, a hearing was conducted at which both the government and Hillstrom presented evidence relevant to the considerations set forth by the Third Circuit. In addition to reconsideration of the sentence *1327 imposed, the court has before it a motion by HiUstrom to proceed pro se and for a supplemental hearing on the conditions at FPC-Allenwood.

HiUstrom’s motion to proceed pro se wiU be denied as untimely. Moreover, we conclude that FPC-AUenwood is not a “similar facility” within the meaning of USSG § 2Pl.l(b)(3).

DISCUSSION:

I. MOTION TO PROCEED PRO SE AND FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL HEARING

FoUowing the hearing on September 16, 1993, HiUstrom filed a pro se document entitled, “OBJECTION, REQUEST FOR SUPPLEMENTAL HEADING AND REQUEST TO PROCEED PRO SE.” The document is dated September 17, and was docketed by the Clerk’s Office on September 22, 1993. HiUstrom therein raises a number of aUegations, including ineffective assistance of counsel in presenting an “incomplete and erroneous picture of Allenwood” and inadequate communication with counsel. On October 25,1993, HiUstrom filed a “CLARIFICATION” of the above-entitled document in which he expands upon the arguments raised in his “OBJECTION.”

Based upon the documents filed with the court, the questions asked by counsel at the September 16 hearing, and the testimony of investigator Larry Crisman of the Federal Public Defender’s Office, the aUegation of inadequate preparation is without foundation. There clearly appears to have been a thorough and exhaustive investigation into the facts of this case. In fact, of the 207 proposed findings of fact, HUlstrom notes in his motion that he disagrees with just one, and indicates that the problematic finding was no. 197. Whüe we agree that it would be easier to detect an escapee from the camp compound than from a work detaU, this finding does not change our conclusion.

HiUstrom also points to proposed finding no. 203, which was disputed as of the hearing date. He points out that there is authority for this finding, and appears to be suggesting that the “dispute” indicates an inadequate presentation by counsel. First, the proposed findings of fact filed September 23, 1993, indicate that finding no. 203 was no longer disputed. Second, whether the government disputes any fact does not indicate that counsel somehow was ineffective.

More importantly, at no time prior to or during the September 16 hearing did HiUstrom indicate a desire to proceed pro se, nor did he express to the court any dissatisfaction with counsel. It was only after the hearing that this dissatisfaction apparently manifested itself. HiUstrom has provided no reason to support his contention that a supplemental hearing is necessary, nor any reason why the court should defer ruhng in order to accommodate his new-found desire to proceed pro se. Finally, the court finds no basis in the law to aUow any defendant to proceed as “pro se co-counsel” as requested by HiUstrom. The motion filed by HiUstrom wiU be denied.

HiUstrom’s remaining arguments are directed toward the issues raised at the September 16 hearing and in the Third Circuit’s opinion, and so wül be addressed in the appropriate section of this memorandum.

II. UNDERLYING FACTS

On February 7, 1990, HUlstrom was sentenced to 62 months’ incarceration, to be foUowed by five years of supervised release, upon conviction in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida for importation of marijuana into the United States. On March 23, 1990, he arrived at FPC-AUenwood to serve that sentence.

On October 10, 1990, HUlstrom was assigned to mow grass in a field outside of the confines of the prison camp. The area in which he was to work was out of the sight of corrections officers. After lunch was delivered to him, which may have been approximately 9:30 a.m. (according to HUlstrom) or 10:30 a.m. (according to Dennis Faulk, a unit manager at FPC-Allenwood), HUlstrom abandoned the tractor he had been using in a wooded area near the field and left.

On November 20, 1991, HiUstrom and his girlfriend were apprehended as they attempted to enter the United States from *1328 Canada. Hillstrom was indicted for the escape six days later.

Following a plea of guilty, the court imposed a sentence of 21 months, to be followed by three years of supervised release. This sentence was based upon the following: a total offense level of 11; a criminal history score of 9; and a criminal history category of IV. 1 The sentencing range was 18 to 24 months, and the court imposed a sentence in the middle of the range.

At Hillstrom’s sentencing on April 29, 1992, he contended that a 4-point reduction in offense level was necessary under USSG § 2Pl.l(b)(3), which states in pertinent part:

If the defendant escaped from the non-secure custody of a community corrections center, community treatment center, “halfway house,” or similar facility, ... decrease the offense level under subsection (a)(1) by 4 levels ...

(Emphasis added.) While it was undisputed that incarceration at FPC-Allenwood is “non-secure custody,” we concluded that the camp is not a “similar facility” to a community corrections center (“CCC”), community treatment center, or a halfway house. This finding was based in large part upon United States v. Cordero, No. 1:CR-89-0170-02, slip op.

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Bluebook (online)
837 F. Supp. 1324, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15628, 1993 WL 460524, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-hillstrom-pamd-1993.