Bistram v. U.S. Parole Bd., 76-1424

Decision Date19 July 1976
Docket NumberNo. 76-1424,76-1424
Citation535 F.2d 329
PartiesCarl H. BISTRAM, Petitioner-Appellant, v. U. S. PAROLE BOARD, Respondent-Appellee. Summary Calendar. *
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

Carl H. Bistram, pro se.

John W. Stokes, U. S. Atty., J. Robert Cooper, Asst. U. S. Atty., Atlanta, Ga., for respondent-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Before AINSWORTH, CLARK and RONEY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Appellant, represented by counsel, was convicted on his plea of guilty of attempted bank robbery with a dangerous weapon, 18 U.S.C.A. § 2113(d). He was sentenced to 25 years on October 30, 1967. Appellant states that under his plea bargain, the court dismissed a kidnapping count, based on his taking of a hostage. Appellant complains because the Parole Board has classified his offense as of "greatest" severity. He contends this is error because he was convicted only of attempted armed robbery, rated "very high" severity, and the kidnapping charge was dismissed.

As the district court's order well demonstrates, 28 C.F.R. § 2.20 (1975) authorizes the Board to modify an offense rating if there were mitigating or aggravating circumstances. Obviously there were aggravating circumstances in appellant's case. It seems clear that the Parole Board has followed its own guidelines and has not acted arbitrarily in appellant's case.

In his pro se brief, appellant contends that he could not legally have received more than 20 years on the attempted bank robbery using a dangerous weapon. The judgment shows that a violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 2113(d) was charged, for which the maximum punishment is 25 years.

The other assertions in appellant's brief did not result in the Board's decision to postpone consideration of appellant for parole. Appellant's "history of violent conduct" would remain whether or not the murder conviction were set aside on "speedy trial" grounds.

AFFIRMED.

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12 cases
  • Edwards v. U.S.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit
    • March 13, 1978
    ...(Parole Board entitled to use presentence report and everything contained within it in setting parole release date); Bistram v. Parole Board, 535 F.2d 329 (5th Cir. 1976) (permissible to use charges dropped in a plea bargain in defining offense severity); Argro v. United States, 505 F.2d 13......
  • Smaldone v. United States
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of Kansas
    • August 29, 1978
    ...see also Spoon v. Benson, supra; Billiteri v. United States Board of Parole, 541 F.2d 938 (2d Cir. 1976); Bistram v. United States Board of Parole, 535 F.2d 329 (5th Cir. 1976); Manos v. United States Board of Parole, 399 F.Supp. 1103 (M.D.Pa. 1975); Lupo v. Norton, 371 F.Supp. 156 (D.Conn.......
  • Allen v. Hadden
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of Colorado
    • April 6, 1982
    ...the question of parole, nor did the agreement restrict the scope of the presentence report. Id. at 64. See also Bistram v. U.S. Parole Board, 535 F.2d 329, 330 (5th Cir. 1976) (upholding parole commission's consideration of offense charged in indictment count that was dismissed pursuant to ......
  • Simpson v. Gunnell, Civ. No. B-82-136.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of Connecticut
    • November 29, 1982
    ...Parole Commission, 571 F.2d 1089 (9th Cir.1977), Billiteri v. U.S. Board of Parole, 541 F.2d 938 (2d Cir.1976), Bistram v. U.S. Parole Board, 535 F.2d 329 (5th Cir.1976), Payton v. Thomas, 486 F.Supp. 64 (S.D.N.Y.1980), McArthur v. U.S. Board of Parole, 434 F.Supp. 163 (S.D.Ind.1976). The i......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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