U.S. v. Marquardt, 90-30461

• Decision Date: 13 November 1991
• Docket Number: No. 90-30461,90-30461
• Citation: 949 F.2d 283
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Barry MARQUARDT, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

Page 283

949 F.2d 283

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Barry MARQUARDT, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 90-30461.

United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit.

Argued and Submitted Oct. 11, 1991.

Decided Nov. 13, 1991.

Jane E. Ellis, Portland, Or., for defendant-appellant.

James L. Collins, Asst. U.S. Atty., Portland, Or., for plaintiff-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.

Before WALLACE, Chief Judge, and HUG and RYMER, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Barry Marquardt appeals the sentence imposed after his plea of guilty to interstate transportation of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252. He argues that he should have been given a two-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility under Sentencing Guidelines § 3E1.1, and that the district court's finding that he had not clearly demonstrated acceptance of responsibility was insufficient, without a further statement of reasons, to justify denying the adjustment. Marquardt further contends that the court incorrectly enhanced the offense level under U.S.S.G. § 2G2.2, which provides for a two-point enhancement when pornographic material involves "prepubescent" minors, because "prepubescent" is void for vagueness. We affirm.

I

Marquardt argues that the district court erred because it merely stated in conclusory terms that he failed to manifest acceptance of responsibility. He relies on United States v. Wells, 878 F.2d 1232 (9th Cir.1989), and United States v. Carlisle, 907 F.2d 94 (9th Cir.1990), to urge that more specific factual findings are required. We hold that a finding of failure to demonstrate a recognition and affirmative acceptance of responsibility is sufficient in the absence of disputed factual issues that are not resolved.

The government agreed as part of the plea agreement in this case to recommend acceptance of responsibility. The probation officer recommended against a reduction because Marquardt had justified his conduct as research and blamed the authorities for entrapping him. Marquardt filed objections to the presentence report (PSR), submitted a letter, and made a statement at the sentencing hearing indicating that he had not intended to violate the law and that the authorities had "steered" him towards child pornography. He also maintained that his actions were motivated by an academic interest in pornography, and that he had cooperated with the government and acknowledged transferring films.

At the end of the sentencing hearing, the judge stated:

As to acceptance of responsibility. The court concludes that the defendant has not clearly demonstrated a recognition and affirmative acceptance of responsibility for his criminal conduct and that will be that finding.

She also filed a written fact-finding order, which noted Marquardt's objections to the fact that the probation officer did not recommend a reduction in offense level pursuant to § 3E1.1, and reiterated the conclusion that Marquardt had not accepted responsibility.

These statements suffice to indicate that the sentencing court resolved Marquardt's objections. They also constitute a sufficient finding of fact.

The only thing the district court did not do was state reasons for its factual finding. It did not need to do so, however, because there were no predicate issues of fact that were contested but not resolved. Cf. United States v. Brady, 928 F.2d 844, 848 (9th Cir.1991) (remanding where there was a dispute about subsidiary facts, the defendant was not on notice that the court might disagree with the PSR recommendation for reduction, and the court on appeal was unable to determine whether any of the considerations qualifying a defendant for adjustment were present).

Neither Wells nor Carlisle requires an explanation of reasons for the factual finding on acceptance of responsibility. In Wells, we held, in accordance with the Sentencing Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c) that the sentencing court must state specific reasons for imposing a sentence different from that prescribed in the Guidelines. 878 F.2d at 1233. Wells is inapplicable, however, because it involved departures and tracked the statutory requirement for sentencing outside the guideline range. It does not govern adjustments, for which the Sentencing Reform Act makes no requirement of a statement of reasons. See, e.g., United States v. Sanchez-Lopez, 879 F.2d 541, 557 (9th Cir.1989) (statement that defendant is not "minor participant" suffices as factual finding). In Carlisle, the PSR recommended against a reduction and the defendant objected. The district court determined the guideline range, but said nothing at all about acceptance of responsibility. Under those circumstances, we remanded for more specific findings because we were unable to tell whether the court had considered the defendant's objections. 907 F.2d at 96. By contrast, the district court in this case specifically took note of Marquardt's objections to the PSR's recommendations and made a finding that he had not clearly accepted responsibility.

Marquardt next contends that the district court erred on the merits in refusing to reduce his base offense level. We review the factual determination of acceptance or lack of acceptance of responsibility for clear error. ¹ United States v. Gonzalez, 897 F.2d 1018, 1019 (9th Cir.1990). Given Marquardt's own statements about the nature of his conduct, and evidence of his contacts with law...