U.S. v. Schuler

• Decision Date: 30 August 1994
• Docket Number: No. 94-1209,94-1209
• Citation: 34 F.3d 457
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John F. SCHULER, Jr., Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit

Page 457

34 F.3d 457

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John F. SCHULER, Jr., Defendant-Appellant.

No. 94-1209.

United States Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit.

Argued Aug. 2, 1994.

Decided Aug. 30, 1994.

Daniel P. Bach, Asst. U.S. Atty. (argued), Larry Wszalek, Office of U.S. Atty., Madison, WI, for plaintiff-appellee.

Joseph W. Kryshak, Madison, WI (argued), for defendant-appellant.

Before COFFEY, EASTERBROOK, and ROVNER, Circuit Judges.

COFFEY, Circuit Judge.

John F. Schuler, Jr. pleaded guilty to an information charging him with three counts of armed bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2113(a) & (d) and one count of the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(c)(1). He was sentenced on January 21, 1994 to 168 months of imprisonment for the bank robberies, 120 months for the firearm conviction, to be served consecutively, and five years supervised release. He was also ordered to make restitution and to pay a fine. On appeal, Schuler contends that the district court erred in not reducing his base offense level by three levels for acceptance of responsibility. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

The facts pertinent to the appeal concern the robbery of the Northern States Bank in Butternut, Wisconsin on September 22, 1993 and subsequent events that day. During the bank robbery, Schuler had a handgun and his partner, David Meisler, had a shotgun. After the robbery, Schuler and Meisler fled on a motorcycle, with Schuler driving. A resident of the area, Ernest Robokoff, saw Schuler and Meisler leave the bank and followed them. As they drove along a county road, Schuler and Meisler turned the motorcycle around and travelled toward Robokoff. As they passed him, Robokoff looked in his rear-view mirror, saw the motorcycle brake, and Schuler and Meisler stop. Robokoff began accelerating but through his rear-view mirror saw both men get off the motorcycle. Through the open window of his truck, Robokoff heard five gunshots--three from a shotgun, then one from a handgun, then another shotgun blast. Robokoff continued to accelerate. At a distance of approximately 300 feet, Robokoff saw Schuler and Meisler each in a "firing stance" on either side of the parked motorcycle. ¹ Police officers later found four shotgun shells on one side of the road and four 9mm shells on the other side of the road.

Schuler and Meisler then sought to steal a different vehicle. They knocked on the front door of the residence of Audrey Clark and asked to use the telephone because their car had broken. Mrs. Clark allowed Schuler and Meisler into her home. Schuler brandished the handgun and Meisler had the shotgun while in the house. Mrs. Clark gave them the keys to her automobile and they drove back to the woods to retrieve the money they had hidden.

Pursuant to a written plea agreement, Schuler pleaded guilty to three counts of armed bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2113(a) & (d), and one count of use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence [the September 22, 1993 robbery of the Northern States Bank] in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(c)(1). In the Presentence Investigation Report ("PSR"), the probation officer recommended a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility. The government withdrew its recommendation for the acceptance of responsibility reduction due to Schuler's denials during his interview with the probation officer that he had fired a weapon at Robokoff and that he had a weapon in his possession while at the Clark residence. Additionally, in his letter clarifying or objecting to the PSR, Schuler's counsel stated: "Regarding the shots fired at Ernest Robokoff, John Schuler states that he never got off the motorcycle and Meisler removed the 9mm handgun from John's belt and fired the shots. There are no test results indicating that John Schuler fired a weapon on that day.... John Schuler denies that he had a weapon in his possession at any time while in the Clark residence." In his Addendum to the PSR, the probation officer indicated that he was persuaded that Schuler had fired shots at Robokoff and brandished a handgun while in the Clark home. Notwithstanding these conclusions, the probation officer persisted in his recommendation stating:

Although the defendant is denying a portion of additional relevant conduct for which he is accountable under Guideline 1B1.3, his denial is outweighed by his general sense of acceptance of responsibility for three bank robberies and a firearms violation. These are serious offenses for which he faces a substantial term of imprisonment. It is the belief of the probation office that the defendant should be granted a three-level reduction in sentencing guideline calculations for his acceptance of responsibility.

Addendum to the Presentence Report, January 19, 1994.

Schuler's sentencing was held on January 21, 1994. After hearing testimony and further argument by the parties, the district court denied Schuler the reduction for acceptance of responsibility despite the probation officer's recommendation.

The defendant is not entitled to a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility. A defendant who falsely denies relevant conduct that the Court determines to be true has acted in a manner inconsistent with acceptance of responsibility. The defendant fired four shots from a 9mm handgun at the witness Ernest Robokoff when leaving the scene of the crime which was committed at the Butternut Bank. He denies that he fired the shots. Although he utilized and brandished a firearm in the Clark residence he also again denies this conduct. All such conduct which was found by a preponderance of the evidence to exist is relevant conduct and is so referred in Count IV of the Information. Because the defendant has denied that relevant conduct which the Court has found to be true he has forfeited his opportunity to receive any downward departure for acceptance of responsibility. He has not accepted the responsibility for his actions.

Judgment at 6, Statement of Reasons. Schuler challenges the district court's denial of a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility under Sec. 3E1.1 based on Schuler's denial of relevant conduct. Schuler also submits that the district court failed to explain sufficiently the basis for denying Schuler a reduction for acceptance of responsibility in light of the probation officer's recommendation for the reduction.

II. ANALYSIS

This court will reverse a district court's decision concerning acceptance of responsibility only for clear error because " '[t]he question of whether a defendant has accepted responsibility for his crimes is a factual one, depending largely on credibility assessments of the sentencing judge.' " United States v. Pitz, 2 F.3d 723, 732 (7th Cir.1993) (citations omitted), cert. denied sub nom., DuPont v. United States, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 2141, 128 L.Ed.2d 869 (1994). See also United States v. Evans, 27 F.3d 1219, 1232 (7th Cir.1994); United States v. Tolson, 988 F.2d 1494, 1497 (7th Cir.1993). "The sentencing judge is in a unique position to evaluate a defendant's acceptance of responsibility. For this reason, the determination of the sentencing judge is entitled to great deference on review." U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1, comment. (n. 5). The district court is required to apply the version of U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1 in effect at the time of sentencing. United States v. Rosalez-Cortez, 19 F.3d 1210, 1218 (7th Cir.1994) (citing 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3553(a)(4)). The defendant bears the burden of proving that he is entitled to a reduction in base offense level for acceptance of responsibility. United States v. Osmani, 20 F.3d 266, 269 (7th Cir.1994).

Under Sec. 3E1.1(a), a district judge may reduce a defendant's base offense level "[i]f the defendant clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his offense." U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1(a). Prior to the November 1, 1992 amendment to the Sentencing Guidelines, a reduction was permitted only if the defendant demonstrated acceptance of responsibility for his "criminal conduct," which included both the conduct underlying the offense of conviction and uncharged conduct related to that offense. Ebbole v. United States, 8 F.3d 530, 537 (7th Cir.1993), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 1229, 127 L.Ed.2d 573 (1994). The November 1, 1992 amendment to the Sentencing Guidelines substituted the term "offense" for "criminal conduct" and changed the factors to be considered in determining whether a defendant has demonstrated an acceptance of responsibility. Id. at 537-39. As explained in the Commentary to Sec. 3E1.1, in deciding whether a defendant merits a reduction pursuant to the Guideline, the district judge should consider whether the defendant has:

truthfully admitt[ed] the conduct comprising the offense(s) of conviction, and truthfully admitt[ed] or not falsely den[ied] any additional relevant conduct for which the defendant is accountable under Sec. 1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct). Note that a defendant is not required to volunteer, or affirmatively admit, relevant conduct beyond the offense of conviction in order to obtain a reduction under subsection (a). A defendant may remain silent in respect to relevant conduct beyond the offense of conviction without affecting his ability to obtain a reduction under this subsection. However, a defendant who falsely denies, or frivolously contests, relevant conduct that the court determines to be true has acted in a manner inconsistent with acceptance of responsibility.

U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1, comment. (n. 1(a)) (Nov. 1, 1992) (emphasis added).

Under this amended version of the Guideline, a defendant need...