United States v. Crowe

UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v. No. 95-5969
CLAYTON PERRY CROWE,
Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of North Carolina, at Bryson City.
Lacy H. Thornburg, District Judge.
(CR-94-32)
Submitted: January 7, 1997
Decided: February 7, 1997
Before NIEMEYER and LUTTIG, Circuit Judges, and
PHILLIPS, Senior Circuit Judge.
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Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
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COUNSEL
Stephen P. Lindsay, John C. Hensley, Jr., LINDSAY & HENSLEY,
Asheville, North Carolina, for Appellant. Mark T. Calloway, United
States Attorney, Deborah A. Ausburn, Assistant United States Attor-
ney, Asheville, North Carolina, for Appellee.
_________________________________________________________________
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
Local Rule 36(c).
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OPINION
PER CURIAM:
Clayton Perry Crowe, a member of the Cherokee Indian tribe, was
convicted of twelve counts of mailing threatening communications in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876 (1994) and sentenced to twelve consecu-
tive sixty-month sentences. Crowe raises ten issues on appeal: (1)
whether the district court erred by denying his motion for production
of the victim's mental health records; (2) whether the district court
abused its discretion by allowing evidence of the underlying assault;
(3) whether the district court manipulated the Sentencing Guidelines1
to arrive at a pre-determined sentence; (4) whether his offenses should
have been grouped pursuant to USSG § 3D1.2(b); (5) whether the dis-
trict court erroneously increased his base offense level for conduct
evidencing an intent to carry out a threat; (6) whether the district court
should have given him a two-point enhancement under USSG
§ 3A1.1 for preying on a vulnerable victim; (7) whether the district
court erred when it departed from the Sentencing Guidelines based on
inadequacy of his criminal history category; (8) whether the district
court erred by granting an upward departure based on extreme psy-
chological injury; (9) whether the district court erred by granting an
upward departure based on extreme conduct; and (10) whether the
district court committed reversible error by ordering him to make res-
titution and reimburse the Government for court-appointed attorney's
fees. Finding no reversible error, we affirm.
Crowe married Nikki Moore ("Nikki") in 1975, and the couple
lived on a reservation in North Carolina and eventually had two
daughters. By 1991, the marriage had seriously deteriorated. Crowe
was abusive and was treated for alcohol and drug abuse. There was
also evidence that Nikki had been unfaithful. Nikki moved out of the
marital home in October 1991, taking the children with her.
_________________________________________________________________
1 United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual (Nov.
1995).
2
In December 1991, Crowe walked into the pediatricians' office,
where Nikki worked as a nurse, and cornered her near the nurses' sta-
tion. Crowe unsheathed a six-inch hunting knife and attempted to
murder Nikki by stabbing her repeatedly. Crowe attempted to slice
Nikki's throat and successfully stabbed her eleven times, including
once in her left chest (puncturing her left lung), twice in her lower left
neck, once in the left kidney, twice in her left thigh, and once in her
left hip joint, twisting the knife each time before removing it. Crowe
also cut Nikki's hands several times as she attempted to protect her-
self. Believing she was dying, Nikki asked Crowe to let her die in
peace. Crowe responded by flicking the knife into her abdomen and
calmly walking away.
Since the assault took place in a doctors' office, which was also
right next to a hospital, Nikki received immediate medical attention,
and she survived the attack. Crowe was convicted in state court of
assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious
injury, and he was sentenced to ten years in state prison. While incar-
cerated, Crowe mailed over 130 letters to Nikki and his daughters.
Several of these letters contained threats to murder and mutilate Nikki
and others Crowe thought had sexual relations with her. In 1993,
Nikki obtained a final divorce from Crowe.
I
Prior to trial, Crowe made a discovery request pursuant to Brady
v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and Giglio v. United States, 405
U.S. 150 (1972), for all psychiatric and mental health reports for any
witness which might reflect on the credibility or competence of the
witness. It is undisputed that Nikki, who had received counselling fol-
lowing Crowe's attack, was the target of the request. After conducting
an in camera review of the records, the district court denied the
request. Crowe argues that the failure to provide him with Nikki's
mental health records prior to trial on the merits deprived him of his
right to cross-examine her at trial concerning her feelings of being
threatened and violated Brady and Giglio . We find this argument
without merit.
The Government is only required to turn over evidence that is
favorable and material. United States v. Bagley , 473 U.S. 667, 674
3
(1985); Maynard v. Dixon, 943 F.2d 407, 417 (4th Cir. 1991).
"[E]vidence is material only if there is a reasonable probability that,
had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of a pro-
ceeding would have been different. A ``reasonable probability' is a
probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome."
Maynard, 943 F.2d at 417, citing Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682.
The burden is on Crowe to show materiality, and he fails to meet
this burden. First, there is nothing in Nikki's mental health records
that is favorable to Crowe. The records show that Nikki was intelli-
gent and alert, and there was nothing in the records impeaching her
perception of the events or her ability to accurately recall those
events. Second, even if the records contained some favorable evi-
dence, they were immaterial during the merits phase of the trial. The
statute under which Crowe was convicted only requires that the letters
were objectively threatening. See United States v. Maxton, 940 F.2d
103, 106 (4th Cir. 1991) (offense requires "that an ordinary, reason-
able recipient who is familiar with the context of the letter would
interpret it as a threat."). While the victim's testimony as to her sub-
jective feelings of being threatened might be probative, it was not
required. Thus, nothing in Nikki's mental health records, even if it
impacted on her testimony, was material.
II
Over defense objections, the district court allowed Nikki to testify
in detail concerning the attack in December 1991. Crowe contends
that a general reference to the fact that an assault took place was
acceptable to put the letters in context. However, Crowe argues that
allowing Nikki to go into the "gory" details of the attack was overly
prejudicial.
A district court's evidentiary decisions are reviewed for abuse of
discretion. United States v. Hassan El, 5 F.3d 726, 731 (4th Cir.
1993), cert. denied, ___ U.S. #6D6D 6D#, 62 U.S.L.W. 3640 (U.S. Mar. 28,
1994) (No. 93-7067). There is nothing in this record which warrants
such a finding. Evidence of prior bad acts may be used to explain
ambiguous threats. See United States v. Dutsch , 357 F.2d 331, 333
(4th Cir. 1966). Such evidence can also put the crime in context.
United States v. Mark, 943 F.2d 444, 448 (4th Cir. 1991). In the pres-
4
ent case, Crowe made numerous references in his letters to the knife
used in the assault and knives in general, stabbing, and the location
of the assault. Most of these references are arguably ambiguous
absent an understanding of the nature of the December 1991 assault.
The district court conducted a proper Fed. R. Evid. 401/403 balancing
test, admitted the evidence, and, on four occasions, gave an appropri-
ate limiting instruction. As a result, we find no abuse of discretion.
III
Crowe makes the blanket assertion that the district court conspired
with the Government to manipulate the Sentencing Guidelines to
reach a pre-determined sentence. We find nothing in the record to
support this claim.
IV
Crowe's presentence report contained a recommendation that the
district court should group eleven of the counts for sentencing pursu-
ant to USSG § 3D1.2(b).2 The Government objected to the grouping,
and the district court sustained the objection, finding that the evidence
supported a finding of separate harms.
This court reviews "a question involving the legal interpretation of
Guidelines terminology and the application of that terminology to a
particular set of facts de novo," United States v. Wessells, 936 F.2d
165, 168 (4th Cir. 1991), but the determination as to the underlying
facts is reviewed for clear error. United States v. Daughtrey, 874 F.2d
213, 217-18 (4th Cir. 1989).
The Second and Eleventh Circuits have recently addressed this
issue in cases which are factually similar to Crowe's. See United
States v. Miller, 993 F.2d 16, 21 (2d Cir. 1993) (defendant sent sev-
eral threatening letters to his landlords); United States v. Bonner, 85
F.3d 522, 524-26 (11th Cir. 1996) (defendant made over twenty
threatening telephone calls to the Assistant United States Attorney
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2 This section allows for the grouping of offenses where the counts
involve substantially the same harm to the same victim and where all of
the counts are connected as part of a common scheme.
5
who prosecuted him in an earlier case). The Miller and Bonner courts
held that while the letters and telephone calls were arguably part of
a common scheme of harassment, each one inflicted a separate psy-
chological harm, citing USSG § 3D1.2, comment. (n.4.).3
We are inclined to adopt the approach used by the Second and
Eleventh Circuits in resolving this issue. Nikki testified that she expe-
rienced increasing levels of fear with each letter. Moreover, as in
Bonner, the fact that Crowe continued to send threats after his initial
letter suggests that he intended to inflict new harm with each letter.
Since the record supports the district court's factual finding that each
of Crowe's letters caused a distinct harm, we hold that the trial judge
did not err by refusing to group Crowe's offenses under USSG
§ 3D1.2(b).
V
Over defense objection, the district court adopted the recommenda-
tion in the presentence report and assessed a six-level increase in
Crowe's base offense level for conduct evidencing an intent to carry
out his threats pursuant to USSG § 2A6.1(b)(1). The district court
based its decision on the underlying assault and Crowe's frequent ref-
erences to the assault. Crowe argues that the increase cannot be
assessed in his case because the conduct occurred prior to the offense
in question. This issue was resolved against Crowe in United States
v. Gary, 18 F.3d 1123, 1128 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 63
U.S.L.W. 3260 (U.S. Oct. 3, 1994) (No. 93-9400) ("Any acts that evi-
dence an intent to carry out the threats on which a conviction is predi-
cated, whether committed prior to or following such threats, may
form the basis of the § 2A6.1(b)(1) adjustment."), and we reject
Crowe's plea to reverse Gary.
VI
The presentence report contained a recommendation that Crowe
receive a two-point adjustment to his base offense level for preying
on a vulnerable victim pursuant to USSG § 3A1.1. The district court
_________________________________________________________________
3 This Application Note states that grouping is only proper when the
counts "represent essentially one composite harm to the same victim."
6
sustained the Government's objection to this adjustment, finding that
Crowe preyed on Nikki because of his prior relationship with her
(husband and wife) and not because she was unusually vulnerable.
We agree.
For § 3A1.1 to apply, Crowe "must have initially chosen [Nikki]
because of her particular vulnerability." Gary, 18 F.3d at 1128. It is
undisputed that Nikki was in a weakened mental state as a result of
the attack and that the letters increased her anxiety. However, the let-
ters focus on Crowe's relationship with Nikki as husband and wife,
his displeasure over her initiation of divorce proceedings, and his
belief that she was being unfaithful to him. As in Gary, "[t]he evi-
dence of [Nikki's] deteriorated condition . . . more appropriately
relates to her psychological injury." Gary , 18 F.3d at 1129. Accord-
ingly, the district court's factual finding that Crowe preyed on Nikki
because of his prior relationship with her rather than because she was
vulnerable was supported by the evidence and was not clearly errone-
ous.
VII
During sentencing, the Government made a motion for an upward
departure from the Guidelines pursuant to USSG § 4A1.3,4 and the
district court granted the motion over defense objection. The district
court found that the tone of Crowe's letters suggested that he would
carry out his threats if given the opportunity and that this increased
the likelihood that Crowe would commit future crimes. The district
court also relied on Crowe's psychological evaluation, in which the
doctors opined that Crowe would act on his threats upon release from
prison. Crowe argues that the district court erred in making the depar-
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4 This section allows for an upward departure based on the inadequacy
of the defendant's criminal history category in two circumstances: (1)
where the history does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the
defendant's past criminal conduct; or (2) where it is likely the defendant
will commit other crimes. In the present case, the district court based its
decision on the latter.
7
ture and compounded that error by relying on the psychological
evaluation.5
A trial judge's decision to depart from the Sentencing Guidelines
in an atypical case is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Koon v.
United States, ___ U.S. ___, 64 U.S.L.W. 4512 (U.S. June 13, 1996)
(Nos. 94-1664, 94-8842); United States v. Rybicki, 96 F.3d 754 (4th
Cir. 1996). Applying the standards set forth in Rybicki, we hold that
the district court's finding that Crowe is likely to commit future crim-
inal acts is supported by the record and is an "encouraged" factor
under the Sentencing Guidelines.
We further find that the district court did not violate Fed. R. Crim.
P. 12.2(c) when it relied on Crowe's psychological evaluation in
reaching its decision. The Advisory Committee Notes to the 1983
Amendment expressly state that the primary purpose of the rule is
to protect a defendant's Fifth Amendment rights against self-
incrimination. In Savino v. Murray, 82 F.3d 593, 603-04 (4th Cir.),
cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 65 U.S.L.W. 3157 (U.S. July 17, 1996)
(No. 96-5164), this court differentiated between a defendant who ini-
tiated the psychological evaluation and one who did not, holding that
the former waives any Fifth Amendment rights.
In the present case, Crowe requested the evaluation and was
expressly advised prior to the evaluation of the potential disclosure
and use of any information obtained. Moreover, the defense used the
evaluation to argue for a downward departure. Accordingly, we find
that Crowe waived his Fifth Amendment rights as to the use of the
evaluation and the district court did not violate Fed. R. Crim. P.
12.2(c) by considering the evaluation in deciding to grant an upward
departure.
VIII
During sentencing, the district court granted the Government's
motion for upward departure based on extreme psychological injury
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5 Specifically, Crowe argues that the district court violated Fed. R.
Crim. P. 12.2(c), which severely limits the use of information obtained
pursuant to a court-ordered psychological evaluation.
8
pursuant to USSG § 5K2.3, on the ground that each letter from Crowe
brought new and severe suffering and increased Nikki's fears of
death. This finding was supported by the evidence and was not clearly
erroneous. The district court identified Nikki's frequent nightmares,
fear of going to work, fear of knives, her statements that she no longer
enjoyed being a nurse, her purchase of a handgun for protection, and
the prognosis that Nikki's condition would likely last for the rest of
her life as factors in its decision. Departure based on these factors is
expressly encouraged by § 5K2.3. We further find that the magnitude
of the departure (thirteen levels) was not unreasonable under the cir-
cumstances.
IX
We likewise affirm the district court's decision to grant the Gov-
ernment's motion for an upward departure based on extreme conduct
pursuant to USSG § 5K2.8. The district court found that Crowe's let-
ters made frequent references to Nikki's sexual activities and accused
her of infidelity, accused her of allowing her boyfriends to molest
their daughters, blamed her for his predicament, and graphically
described ways in which Crowe would mutilate and kill Nikki, and
perhaps others, including mutilation of the sex organs. In addition,
evidence was presented showing that Crowe mailed two of the letters
using his mother's return address to make Nikki think he had been
released. These findings were well supported by the record and were
not clearly erroneous. As factors supporting its decision to depart, the
district court cited Crowe's intent to torture and degrade Nikki and to
gratuitously inflict pain on her and to prolong her suffering, as evi-
denced by the especially heinous content of the letters. These factors
are expressly encouraged by § 5K2.8.
X
The district court ordered Crowe to make restitution in the amount
of Nikki's present and future counselling expenses. Crowe was also
ordered to reimburse the Government for court-appointed attorney's
fees. It is well-settled that a district court's decision to order restitu-
tion will only be reversed upon a showing of abuse of discretion.
United States v. Blake, 81 F.3d 498, 505 (4th Cir. 1996); United
States v. Bruchey, 810 F.2d 456,458 (4th Cir. 1987). We find no such
9
abuse here. In deciding on the restitution amount, the district court
properly considered the factors identified in Bruchey, and determined
that while Crowe did not have the present ability to pay, he did have
the future ability. Moreover, read as a whole, we find that the district
court's order established a payment schedule and time limit for pay-
ment. Therefore, we find no plain error. See United States v. Olano,
507 U.S. 725 (1993).
We therefore affirm the findings and sentence of the district court.
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal conten-
tions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and
argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED
10