United States v. Mason Powell

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
___________
No. 18-3626
___________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
MASON DAVID POWELL,
Appellant
____________________________________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
(District Court No. 1:16-cr-00105-001)
District Judge: Honorable Christopher C. Conner
________________________________
Submitted under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
on September 16, 2019
Before: KRAUSE, MATEY, and RENDELL, Circuit Judges.
(Opinion filed: September 26, 2019)
OPINION *
*
This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does
not constitute binding precedent.
KRAUSE, Circuit Judge.
Appellant Mason David Powell argues, for the first time on appeal, that the District
Court’s mistaken application of the Special Instructions in §§ 2G1.3(d)(1) and 2G2.1(d)(1)
of the United States Sentencing Guidelines constitutes plain error. The Government
contends that plain error review is not appropriate because this argument was waived, not
merely forfeited. We need not determine whether we confront a forfeiture or waiver,
however, because even assuming the plain error review that attends the former, Powell’s
substantial rights were not affected. We therefore will affirm.
Discussion 1
Powell pleaded guilty to using a facility or means of interstate commerce to entice
a minor victim to engage in sexual activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) (Count I);
enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity for the purpose of producing a visual depiction
of the conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) (Count II); and possessing child
pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B) (Count III). He was sentenced to
480 months in prison. He now argues that he is entitled to resentencing because the District
Court plainly erred by enhancing his sentence based on “multiple ‘pseudo-counts’ for
several victims when those counts would not have constituted relevant conduct of the
offense of conviction.” Appellant’s Br. 2.
Because we assume that our review is for plain error under Federal Rule of Criminal
Procedure 52(b), we must determine whether (1) an error occurred, (2) the error is “plain,”
1
The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231, and we have appellate
jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
2
and (3) it “affect[s] substantial rights.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732 (1993)
(alteration in original) (quoting Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b)). If this standard is met, we may
exercise our discretion to correct the error if it would “seriously affect[] the fairness,
integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. (citation omitted). Powell bears
the burden of demonstrating that the Olano standard has been met. Id. at 734–35.
Powell argues that the District Court erred by concluding that the offenses charged
in Counts I and II, which were based on his communications with victim C.S., also involved
victims L.G., R.S., S.H., D.M., and K.M. Under both §§ 2G1.3(d)(1) and 2G2.1(d)(1), if
the offense of conviction involved more than one minor, the Guidelines treat the conduct
related to each minor as a separate count. 2 This enhancement applies when the “relevant
conduct of an offense of conviction includes” the exploitation or enticement of more than
one minor “whether specifically cited in the count of conviction” or not. U.S.S.G.
§ 2G1.3(d)(1) cmt. n.6; id. § 2G2.1 cmt. n.7.
Both parties agree that, as it relates to this case, 3 “relevant conduct” is properly
defined as “acts . . . that occurred during the commission of the offense of conviction, in
2
See U.S.S.G. § 2G1.3(d)(1) (“If the offense involved more than one minor,
Chapter Three, Part D (Multiple Counts) shall be applied as if the persuasion, enticement,
coercion, travel, or transportation to engage in a commercial sex act or prohibited sexual
conduct of each victim had been contained in a separate count of conviction.”);
§ 2G2.1(d)(1) (“If the offense involved the exploitation of more than one minor, Chapter
Three, Part D (Multiple Counts) shall be applied as if the exploitation of each minor had
been contained in a separate count of conviction.”).
3
Powell argues, and the government concedes, that U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(2), which
defines “relevant conduct” as “all acts and omissions . . . that were part of the same course
of conduct or common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction,” is inapplicable here.
3
preparation for that offense, or in the course of attempting to avoid detection or
responsibility for that offense,” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1), but they disagree as to whether
Powell’s acts involving victims L.G., R.S., S.H., D.M., and K.M. fall within that definition.
For today’s purpose, however, it is sufficient that we conclude the District Court did
not err in treating the conduct involving victim D.M. as relevant conduct, for that alone is
sufficient to deny relief on plain error review. “[T]he broad language of § 1B1.3(a) is clear:
relevant conduct includes all acts that occurred during the commission of the offense.”
United States v. McClure-Potts, 908 F.3d 30, 40 (3d Cir. 2018) (alteration in original)
(quoting United States v. Coe, 79 F.3d 126, 127 (11th Cir. 1996) (per curiam)). Powell’s
abuse of D.M. carried over from 2014 until in or around Powell’s offense conduct
involving C.S. in 2015. And Powell brought D.M. with him to his meeting with C.S.,
reflecting an intent to intermingle his abuse of D.M. with his abuse of C.S. These
circumstances together suffice to support the District Court’s conclusion that Powell’s
conduct as to D.M. is relevant conduct under § 1B1.3(a)(1). See United States v. Ward,
626 F.3d 179, 183–84 (3d Cir. 2010) (finding District Court did not err in concluding an
offense involved a second victim when there was evidence that the defendant intended to
include the second victim in the offense of conviction).
An error does not affect a defendant’s substantial rights unless it “prejudiced [him],
either specifically or presumptively.” Olano, 507 U.S. at 739. “It must have affected the
outcome of the district court proceedings.” Id. at 734. Powell’s criminal history category
is not disputed. And with the inclusion of Powell’s abuse of D.M. as relevant conduct
4
under § 1B1.3(a)(1), Powell’s total offense level remains at 43 4—the total offense level
under which he was sentenced. Accordingly, Powell’s substantial rights were not affected
by the District Court’s inclusion of Powell’s abuse of victims L.G., R.S., S.H., and K.M as
relevant conduct.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the judgment of conviction and sentence
as entered by the District Court.
4
Pseudo-count group five, with an adjusted offense level of 38, pertains to victim
D.M. This starting offense level of 38 would be increased by three to reflect the existence
of three sentencing units: pseudo-count group five as well as groups one and seven, the
offenses of conviction. A further increase of five levels would be made because Powell is
a repeat and dangerous sex offender. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.5(b)(1). Finally, three levels would
be subtracted for Powell’s acceptance of responsibility, U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, resulting in a
total offense level of 43.
5