United States v. Ruacho

• Decision Date: 11 March 2014
• Docket Number: No. 12–3760.,12–3760.
• Citation: 746 F.3d 850
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff–Appellee v. Daniel RUACHO, Defendant–Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

746 F.3d 850

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff–Appellee

v.Daniel RUACHO, Defendant–Appellant.

No. 12–3760.

United States Court of Appeals,

Eighth Circuit.

Submitted: Oct. 25, 2013.

Filed: March 11, 2014.

Paul Jody Edlund, Minneapolis, MN, Plaintiff–Appellee.

Jeffrey S. Paulsen, AUSA, Minneapolis, MN, Defendant–Appellant.

Before BYE, SMITH, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

Daniel Ruacho pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A) and 846. The district court ¹ denied Ruacho statutory safety-valve relief because Ruacho had previously committed two minor offenses involving marijuana. The district court reluctantly sentenced Ruacho to the statutory mandatory minimum of 120 months' imprisonment. Ruacho makes two arguments on appeal. First, he contends that his 2010 conviction for possession of marijuana is sufficiently similar to public intoxication or disorderly conduct pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c) to avoid an added criminal history point. Second, he similarly avers that his 2009 conviction for possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle is sufficiently similar to careless or reckless driving to avoid an added criminal history point based on this conviction. We affirm.

I. Background

This case turns on Ruacho's criminal history. In 2009, he was convicted of misdemeanor possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, in violation of Minnesota Statutes § 152.027, subdivision 3. When Ruacho was 18, an officer stopped him when he unintentionally turned the wrong way down a one-way street. When Ruacho opened his glove box, the officer spotted a small bag of marijuana. The officer issued Ruacho a citation. Ruacho pleaded guilty to the crime without a court appearance. He paid a $150 fine and $85 in court fees.

In 2010, Ruacho was a passenger in a car that police stopped. Police found a small amount of marijuana near Ruacho. Police again issued Ruacho a citation, which he resolved without a court appearance by pleading guilty to possession of a small amount of marijuana, in violation of Minnesota Statutes § 152.027, subdivision 4. He paid a $50 fine and court fees of $85.

Following a series of controlled drug purchases, the government charged Ruacho with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana; two counts of distribution of methamphetamine; and one count of distribution of cocaine for incidents that occurred between January 2009 and December 2010. Ruacho pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in April 2011. In return, the government dropped the remaining charges. The plea agreement acknowledged that Ruacho may be eligible for the statutory safety valve, which would eliminate the 120–month mandatory minimum sentence. It also stated that the parties believed Ruacho's criminal history category was I, but it recognized that Ruacho's criminal history category could be greater; if so, Ruacho agreed not to change his plea.

The United States Probation Office prepared a presentence report (PSR) that calculated an offense level of 29 and a criminal history category of II. A criminal history category of II made Ruacho ineligible for safety-valve relief. The Guidelines range became 120–121 months. Ruacho objected to the assessment of a criminal history point for his 2009 conviction of misdemeanor possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle and one criminal history point for his 2010 conviction for petty misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

The district court reluctantly overruled Ruacho's objection to the calculation of his criminal history category. The district court determined that both of Ruacho's prior marijuana convictions should each yield one criminal history point. The court found that those crimes are not sufficiently similar to the enumerated offenses in U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c) under the common-sense, multifactor balancing test set forth in Comment 12 of U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2 (“Amendment 709”). The district court noted that the statutory minimum sentence that it was “forced” to impose was “grossly excessive” and “grossly unfair.” Although the district court thought the sentence “unjust,” it also determined that the law required it. Thus, the district court sentenced Ruacho to the statutory mandatory minimum of 120 months' imprisonment. The district court acknowledged that it would have sentenced Ruacho to only 60 months' imprisonment had he qualified for the safety valve.

II. Discussion

Ruacho argues on appeal that (1) his 2010 conviction for possession of marijuana is sufficiently similar to public intoxication or disorderly conduct pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c) such that the district court should not have awarded him a criminal history point for that conviction, and (2) his 2009 conviction for possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle is sufficiently similar to careless or reckless driving such that the district court should not have awarded him a criminal history point based on this conviction. The government counters by averring that these crimes are not sufficiently similar to any of the offenses enumerated in U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c). See United States v. Foote, 705 F.3d 305, 309 (8th Cir.2013). Although we review factual findings as to safety-valve eligibility for clear error, we review interpretation of the statutory safety valve de novo. Id. at 306. Because Ruacho does not challenge factual findings here, we review Ruacho's safety-valve eligibility de novo.

Section 3553(f) of 18 U.S.C. describes a defendant's eligibility for the “safety valve,” which enables the district court to avoid imposition of a mandatory minimum sentence. The statutory safety valve covers qualified defendants who were convicted of a crime under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f). The statute sets out five eligibility requirements. Id. The only eligibility requirement at issue here is that “the defendant does not have more than 1 criminal history point, as determined under the sentencing guidelines.” Id. at § 3553(f)(1). The Guidelines reflect this statutory provision. SeeU.S.S.G. §§ 5C1.2 and 2D1.1(b)(16). The defendant bears the burden of demonstrating entitlement to safety-valve relief. Foote, 705 F.3d at 306.

In calculating a defendant's criminal history score, we have observed that the Guidelines require that all prior sentences receive criminal history points unless specifically exempted. Id. at 307. Prior sentences include sentences where defendants were required only to pay a small fine. Foote, 705 F.3d at 307. Thus, Ruacho's two marijuana convictions are prior sentences.

The Guidelines provide that sentences for misdemeanor and petty offenses are counted toward a defendant's criminal history score. However, certain enumerated offenses and “offenses similar” to those enumerated offenses are counted only if (A) the sentence resulted in probation greater than one year or imprisonment for at least 30 days, “or (B) the prior offense was similar to an instant offense.” U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(1). These enumerated offenses include careless or reckless driving, contempt of court, disorderly conduct, or disturbing the peace. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(1). The Guidelines also provide that certain other enumerated offenses or “offenses similar” should never be counted. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(2). These offenses include fish and game violations, hitchhiking, minor traffic infractions like speeding, and public intoxication. Id. Although petty misdemeanors are not considered “crimes” in Minnesota, seeMinnesota Statutes § 609.02, subdivision 4A, “how a state views an offense does not determine how the United States Sentencing Guidelines view that offense.” Foote, 705 F.3d at 307 (quotation and citation omitted).

In determining whether an offense is sufficiently similar to one of the enumerated offenses in U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c), the court must apply the test articulated in Amendment 709, which can be found in Comment 12 of U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c). It provides:

In determining whether an unlisted offense is similar to an offense listed in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2), the court should use a common sense approach that includes consideration of relevant factors such as (i) a comparison of punishments imposed for the listed and unlisted offenses; (ii) the perceived seriousness of the offense as indicated by the level of punishment; (iii) the elements of the offense; (iv) the level of culpability involved; and (v) the degree to which the commission of the offense indicates a likelihood of recurring criminal conduct.

U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2 cmt. n. 12. We have expressly adopted the test from Amendment 709, eschewing our previous “ ‘elements' or ‘essential characteristics' test.” United States v. Barrientos, 670 F.3d 870, 871 (8th Cir.2012) (citations omitted).

Mere months after Ruacho's sentencing, we decided that a petty misdemeanor conviction for possession of marijuana, in violation of Minnesota Statutes § 152.027, subdivision 4, qualifies for a criminal history point. Foote, 705 F.3d at 309. Foote argued that possession of marijuana is sufficiently similar to a minor traffic infraction such that the court should not award a criminal history point for that conviction. Id. at 307. We disagreed and, after performing the required Amendment 709 analysis, we held that this petty offense was significant enough to warrant a criminal history point. Id. at 309. We also “h[e]ld[ ] that possession of marijuana is not similar to any enumerated exception.” Id. at 309.

A. 2010 Conviction for Possession of a Small Amount of Marijuana

In order to avoid Foote, Ruacho compares his marijuana possession conviction to public intoxication or disorderly conduct. Public intoxication may never be counted in calculating a defendant's criminal history score. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c)(2). Disorderly conduct may be counted if the defendant was sentenced to at least 30 days' imprisonment or...