United States v. Hodges

251 F. Supp. 3d 1026, 2017 WL 1536028, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64877
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Virginia
DecidedApril 27, 2017
DocketCase No. 7:05-CR-040
StatusPublished

This text of 251 F. Supp. 3d 1026 (United States v. Hodges) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Hodges, 251 F. Supp. 3d 1026, 2017 WL 1536028, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64877 (W.D. Va. 2017).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Michael F. Urbanski, United States District Judge

Petitioner Ernest F. Hodges, Jr. brings this habeas corpus petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, asking the court to vacate or correct his sentence in light of the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in Johnson v. United States. — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015). The government has moved to dismiss Hodges’ § 2255 motion. The court heard oral argument on November 17, 2016 and has reviewed the memoranda submitted by the parties. See ECF Nos. 155, 158, 165 and 166. For the reasons that follow, the court will GRANT Hodges’ § 2255 motions (ECF Nos. 155 & 158) and DENY the United States’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 165).1

I.

Following a jury trial, a criminal judgment was entered sentencing Hodges to concurrent terms of 220 months of incarceration for possession of a firearm by a felon (Count 1) and possession of ammunition by a felon (Count 2) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). ECF No. 42. Because the court determined that Hodges had three of more qualifying convictions under the Armed Career Criminal Act (the “ACCA”), he was subject to 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)’s mandatory minimum sentence of 180 months, rather than the 120-month maximum sentence otherwise authorized under § 924(a)(2). The court calculated the sentencing guideline range as being 210 to 262 months and sentenced Hodges to serve concurrent terms of 220 months.

The Presentence Investigation Report (“PSR”), as written at the time of sentencing, indicated in paragraph 19 that the ACCA enhancement should apply because [1029]*1029of Hodges’ prior convictions for Virginia statutory burglary in the Roanoke County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court on December 17, 1965 (paragraph 23), for breaking and entering in the Franklin County Circuit Court on July 10, 1972 (paragraph 26), and for distribution of heroin in the Roanoke City Circuit Court on October 25, 2000 (paragraph 46). ECF No. 86, at 5. At sentencing, Hodges voiced no objections to the PSR, including its assessment that the ACCA enhancement applied. ECF No. 86, at 22; ECF No. 68, at 2.

The sentencing judge later ordered that the PSR be amended to correct a clerical error in paragraph 19. See ECF No. 111. The amended PSR reflects that Hodges’ ACCA-enhancing convictions include Virginia statutory burglary in Roanoke County Circuit Court on March 30, 1971 (paragraph 25), breaking and entering in the Franklin County Circuit Court on July 10, 1972 (paragraph 26), and distribution of heroin in the Roanoke City Circuit Court on October 25, 2000 (paragraph 46). ECF No. 114.

Hodges appealed his judgment, which was affirmed by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on February 21, 2007. ECF No. 70. Over the ensuing years, Hodges has made various attempts to overturn his conviction, all without success. By order dated June 1, 2016, the Fourth Circuit granted authorization for Hodges to file a second or successive motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. ECF No. 154. Hodges filed his pro se § 2255 motion that same day, which was amended by counsel on August 5, 2016. ECF Nos. 155, 158.

The issue now facing this court is whether, following the decisions of the United States Supreme Court in Johnson v. United States, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 192 L.Ed2d 569 (2015), and Welch v. United States, — U.S. -, 136 S.Ct. 1257, 194 L.Ed.2d 387 (2016), Hodges’ ACCA enhancement for his prior convictions for Virginia statutory burglary and breaking and entering remains lawful.2

II.

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, a federal inmate may move the sentencing court to vacate, set aside, or correct the prisoner’s sentence. Courts may afford relief where “the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or the laws of the United States.” Id. § 2255(a). If the court determines the sentence was unlawfully imposed, the court “shall vacate and set the judgment aside and shall discharge the prisoner or resentence him or grant a new trial or correct the sentence as may appear appropriate.” Id. § 2255(b).

A convicted felon found guilty of possessing a firearm faces a maximum sentence of 120 months. 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2). However, the ACCA provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 months when a defendant was previously convicted of at least three prior serious drug offenses or violent felonies. Id. § 924(e)(1). A violent felony is defined as:

[1030]*1030Any crime punishable, by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year ... that—
(i) has as. an element the use, attempted use, .or threatened use of physical force against the person of another; or
(ii) is burglary, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.

Id. § 924(e)(2)(B) (strikeout added).

In 2015, the Supreme Court invalidated the language stricken above after finding it void for vagueness. Johnson v. United States, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015) (“Johnson II”).3 Though often parsed into three clauses— the force clause, the enumerated clause, and the residual clause—§ 924(e)(2)(B) .is comprised of two numbered subsections. See Begay v. United States, 553 U.S. 137, 142-44, 128 S.Ct. 1581, 170 L.Ed.2d 490 (2008). Specifically, the first subsection states:

(i) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of an-other; or

18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B) (“Subsection (i)”). The second subsection states:

(ii) is burglary, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another....

Id. (“Subsection (ii)”). Subsection (ii)—the only part of the statute at issue in Hodges’ claim—lists several specific “enumerated offense” crimes—burglary, arson, extortion, and use of explosives—that amount to violent felonies. Subsection (ii) goes on to encompass any crime that “otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious- potential risk of injury.”

The second portion of Subsection (ii)—the part of the statute deemed unconstitutional in Johnson II—is often called the “residual clause.” The residual clause refers to crimes that are “similar to the listed examples in some respects but different in others—similar, say, in respect to the degree of risk it produces, but different in respect to the “way or manner’ in which it produces that risk.” Begay, 553 U.S. at 144, 128 S.Ct. 1581.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
251 F. Supp. 3d 1026, 2017 WL 1536028, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64877, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-hodges-vawd-2017.