United States v. Pearson

211 F.3d 524 (10th Cir. 2000)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
KEVIN LAMONT PEARSON, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 99-5143

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS TENTH CIRCUIT

April 28, 2000

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma (D.C. No. 98-CR-166-C)Stephen C. Lewis, United States Attorney; Neal B. Kirkpatrick, Assistant United States Attorney, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Richard Couch, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Defendant-Appellant.

Before BRORBY, KELLY and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.

BRORBY, Circuit Judge.

1

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

2

Appellant Kevin Lamont Pearson appeals the sentence imposed by the district court following his conviction for bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113(a) and (d), and carrying or using a firearm in commission of a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. 924(c). We exercise our jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1291 and affirm.

3

In sentencing Mr. Pearson, the district court applied a two-level enhancement under United States Sentencing Guideline 2B3.1(b)(4)(B) for physically restraining bank personnel with a gun during the commission of a bank robbery. On appeal, Mr. Pearson claims the upward sentencing adjustment for physical restraint is impermissible "double counting" because he already received a sentence for carrying or using a firearm under 924(c). To support his contention, Mr. Pearson directs us to U.S.S.G. 2K2.4, which applies to convictions under 924(c). Mr. Pearson points out 2K2.4, comment. (n.2) states that any specific offense characteristics of a firearm described under 2B3.1(b)(2)(A)-(F) may not be applied to enhance the underlying offense. Because the specific offense characteristics for a firearm under 2B3.1(b)(2)(A)-(F) deal with the discharge, "otherwise use," brandishing, displaying or possession of a firearm, Mr. Pearson suggests an enhancement for physical restraint with a gun cannot be used to enhance his underlying robbery sentence. We disagree.

4

Because Mr. Pearson is not disputing the facts underlying his conviction, we review the district court's application of the sentencing guidelines de novo. See United States v. Fisher, 132 F.3d 1327, 1328 (10th Cir. 1997). In this case we must examine U.S.S.G. 2B3.1(b)(4)(B), which provides for a sentence enhancement "if any person was physically restrained [in order] to facilitate commission of the offense." When reviewing this guideline in the context of a robbery charge, we have determined an enhancement for physical restraint is applicable when the defendant uses force, including force by gun point, to impede others from interfering with commission of the offense. Fisher, 132 F.3d at 1329-30.

5

With these principles in mind, we acknowledge we have not previously addressed the issue of whether "double counting" occurs when a defendant receives a sentence for carrying or using a firearm under 924(c) and at the same time his underlying robbery sentence is enhanced under Sentencing Guideline 2B3.1(b)(4)(B) for physical restraint with a gun. However, other circuits have addressed this issue and determined double counting did not occur.1 In United States v. Nelson, 137 F.3d 1094, 1112 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 901 (1998), the Ninth Circuit determined physical restraint with a gun was not the equivalent of possession, use or discharge of a firearm under 924(c). Similarly, in United States v. Wilson, 198 F.3d 467, 472 n.1 (4th Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 120 S. Ct. 1693, 2000 (U.S. Apr. 17, 2000), the Fourth Circuit held application of the physical restraint enhancement to an underlying robbery sentence, when the defendant also received a conviction under 924(c), did not result in impermissible double counting because the guidelines do not expressly prohibit the application of the physical restraint enhancement in such instances.

6

We agree with our sister circuits. Despite Mr. Pearson's contentions, 2B3.1(b)(2)(A)-(F) does not specifically address physical restraint with a gun. Rather, as the Fourth Circuit noted, the sentencing guidelines do not expressly prohibit applying the physical restraint enhancement to robbery convictions when the defendant also received a firearm conviction under 924(c). Moreover, we agree with the Ninth Circuit, and conclude that physical restraint with a gun is conduct distinct from either the actual discharge, "otherwise use," or brandishing, display or possession of a gun, as contemplated by 2B3.1(b)(2)(A)-(F), and 2K2.4, comment. (n.2).2 In other words, those acts alone do not automatically create a situation where physical restraint of an individual occurs. Instead, something more must be done with the gun to physically restrain them. We believe the fact 2K2.4 comment. (n.2.) does not mention 2B3.1(b)(4) clearly signifies the Sentencing Commission perceived no overlap between 2B1.3(b)(2) and 2B1.1(b)(4)(B). Instead, the Sentencing Commission intended for 2B1.3(b)(2) not to apply when a robbery involves gun use and the defendant received a 924(c) conviction, but for 2B1.1(b)(4)(B) to always apply where a victim is restrained during a robbery, whether or not the restraint involved a gun.

7

In this case, Mr. Pearson did not only rob the bank by "otherwise" using, brandishing, displaying or possessing the gun as contemplated by 2B3.1(b)(2)(A)-(F), but also by holding it on two bank employees to keep them from moving while his accomplice took a third employee to the bank vault.3 We find the conduct of holding and pointing a gun directly on someone to physically restrain them even more egregious than the "otherwise use," brandishing, displaying or possessing a gun during the course of the robbery. We also find the act of restraining individuals, with or without a gun, is sufficient to apply the enhancement at issue. Therefore, we conclude 2B3.1(b)(4)(B) allows enhancement of Mr. Pearson's robbery sentence for the additional but distinctly egregious conduct of restraining an individual during a robbery, regardless of whether he also received 924(c) conviction for possession of a firearm.

8

In making our determination, we rely, in part, on our application of 2B3.1(b)(4)(B) when used in relation to another sentencing enhancement under 2B3.1 for use or possession of a firearm. In United States v. Rucker, 178 F.3d 1369, 1371-73 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 120 S. Ct. 386 (1999), we determined no impermissible double counting occurred because enhancements for use of a firearm under 2B3.1(b)(2)(B), and for physical restraint with a gun during a robbery under 2B3.1(b)(4)(B), involved two distinct acts and punished two distinct harms. The same situation exists here where Mr. Pearson not only carried or used the gun during commission of a violent crime as contemplated by 924(c), but held it on individuals in order to physically restrain them at gun point.

9

Accordingly, for the reasons stated, we AFFIRM Mr. Pearson's sentence.

Notes:

1

While the Eleventh Circuit has not specifically addressed the issue of "double counting" in this context, it has affirmed the enhancement of a robbery sentence under 2B3.1(b)(4)(B) for physical restraint with a gun, even when the defendant also received a 924(c) conviction. See generally United States v. Jones, 32 F.3d 1512, 1515, 1518-19 (11th Cir. 1994) (upholding 2B3.1(b)(4)(B) enhancement for physical restraint when defendant forced victims at gunpoint to enter safe room and lie face down on floor).

2

The phrase "'[o]therwise used,' with reference to a dangerous weapon (including a firearm), means that the conduct did not amount to the discharge of a firearm but was more than brandishing, displaying or possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon." United States v. Perkins, 89 F.3d 303 , 307 (6th Cir. 1996) (quoting U.S.S.G. 1B1.1, comment. (n.1(g)) (quotation marks omitted). Admittedly, one might argue physical restraint with a gun is something more than brandishing, displaying or possessing a firearm, and therefore, falls within the "otherwise use" category of 2B3.1(b)(2)(B), which Mr. Pearson argues cannot apply to 924(c) sentences. However, we think the sentencing guidelines, along with commentary thereto, indicates an intent to make restraint with a gun a distinct and separate act for the purpose of enhancing a sentence. For example, 2B3.1, comment. (backg'd) provides: "Possession or use of a weapon, physical injury and unlawful restraint sometimes occur during a robbery. The guideline provides for a range of enhancements where these factors are present." Perkins, 89 F.3d at 307 (emphasis added and alterations omitted). In addition, 2B3.1(b)(4)(B) specifically contemplates the cumulative application of increases to a defendant's offense level for weapon involvement by providing that "if any person was physically restrained to facilitate commission of the offense or to facilitate escape, increase by 2 levels." We hold this language, along with the fact 2B3.1(b)(4)(B) on physical restraint is specifically excluded from mention in 2B3.1(b)(2)(A)-(F), and instead set out as its own subsection, shows an intent to make physical restraint with a gun something more than the "otherwise use" of a gun, for the purposes of enhancing a sentence under 2B3.1.

3

Mr. Pearson's accomplice first held the gun to the head of a female bank employee, and then forced another employee to kneel beside her on the floor. Mr. Pearson then took the gun from his accomplice and held it on these two employees.