Caseo=theWeek
Alittlememoonabigcase.
From:StevenKalar,FederalPublicDefender,N.D.Cal.FPD Date:Monday,Aug.15,2016
Re:UnitedStatesv.Herrera‐Rivera,No.15‐50141(9thCir.Aug.12,2016):Obstruction:Good
decisionfindsplainerrorwithobstructionenhancement(albeit,withsomegrumbling)
Players:DecisionbyJudgeSilverman,joinedbyJudgeTashima.
ConcurrenceandpartialdissentbyJudgeGraber.
Facts:Herrera‐Riverawasonabusstoppedbytheborderpatrol.SlipOp.at
4.Agentsfoundanunclaimedbackpackafewrowsupfromthebackofthe
bus.Id.at5.Insidewasakiloofmeth,wrappedwithelectricaltape.Id.
Herrera‐Rivera,whohadcrossedtheborderthatmorning,wassittingafew
rowsbehindthebag.Id.AconsentsearchofHerrera‐Riverabytheagents
revealed“blackmarksonhisstomachthattheybelievedwereresiduefrom
“I know I’m perjuring myself, but
electricaltape.”Id.AsearchofcellphonesonHerrera‐Riveraproducedtextsthat
I’m trying to make a point!”
appearedtoarrangearendezvousandpaymentforhisreturntrip.Id.Hererra‐
Riveraexplainedtotheagentsthatafriendhadgivenhimthecellphoneand$60,andtoldhimtogetonabus
toCalexico.Id.Hesaidhethoughtthereweredrugsonthebusbecausehisfriendwasinvolvedintrafficking.
Id.Attrial,Herrera‐RiveratestifiedheleftMexicobecauseofmaritalproblems,andwasheadingtoVegasto
seehissister.Id.at8.Heexplainedthathewasstripsearchedattheborder(whichagentslaterdenied).Id.He
testifiedthathedidnotknowanythingaboutthebag,anddeniedmakingincriminatingstatementstothe
agents.Id.Healsotestifiedtheblackmarksonhisstomachwerefrompaintingafencethedayhelefthome.Id.
Hewasconvicted.Atsentencingthegovernmentmovedfortheguidelineobstructionofjusticeenhancement
underUSSG§3C1.1.Id.at9‐10.Thedistrictcourtmused,“Irememberwhenhewastestifying,thinkingto
myselfthatitwas–toputitkindly,tenuousatbest.”Id.at10.Thecourtappliedtheobstructionenhancement
andimposedasentenceoftenyears(abouthalfofthe(enhanced)guidelinerange).Id.at10.
Issue(s):“BecauseHerrera‐Riveradidnotobjecttothedistrictcourt’sfindingsontheobstructionofjustice
enhancement,wereviewthesefindingsforplainerror.”Id.at10‐11.
Held:“[W]eagreewithHerrera‐Riverathatthedistrictcourtplainlyerredbyapplyinganobstructionof
justiceenhancementtohissentencewithoutmakingtheexpressfindingsrequiredbyUnitedStatesv.Castro‐
Ponce,770F.3d819(9thCir.2014).”Id.at4.
OfNote:Thisisagooddefensewin,because(asdissentingJudgeGraberargues),thiscasewasalittle–well,
sketchy‐‐forusontheobstructionenhancement.Herrera‐Rivera’stestimonywasimpeachedonseveral
fronts.Itwasprettyclearthathistestimonywasonfactsthatwerematerial.Andwithnoobjectioninthe
districtcourt,thesentencewasbeingreviewedforplainerror.Thereversalthusboilsdowntothelackof
specificityofthefindings.AsJudgeGrabercomplains,“thepracticaleffectof[themajority’s]holdingisto
requirearemandineverycaseinwhichadistrictcourtappliestheobstructionofjusticeenhancementbut
makesincompletefindings.”Id.at22(Graber,J.,dissenting).Ourclient’srighttotestifyisaninvaluable,but
fragile,thing:Herrera‐RiveracontinuestheNinth’sstrictprotectionsagainstcasualbumpsforinvokingthat
right.
HowtoUse:BegrudgingJohnsonSection2255remands,thegovernmenthasbickeredoverprejudicewhenour
clientsoriginallyreceivedbelow‐guidelinesentences.Herrera‐Rivera(again)evisceratesthatargument.In
Herrera‐Rivera,theclientgotafulldecadebelowtheenhancedguidelinerange:afiftypercentbreak.The
governmentarguedthattheobstructionerrordidn’taffectHerrera‐Rivera’ssubstantialrights.“[W]erejectthis
contention,”rebuffstheNinth.Id.at17.AddHererra‐RiveratoMolina‐MartinezinourJohnsonbriefing:a
sentenceimposedunderthewrongguidelinesis,plainlyput,wrong–remandandresentencingistheremedy.
ForFurtherReading:Betyou’vebeenhittingNateSilver’sblogforotherreasons,lately.Nexttimeyou’rethere,
takealookataninteresting(terrifying)articleonpredictivesentencingbasedonoddsofrecidivism.See
fivethirtyeight.com/features/prison‐reform‐risk‐assessment/)MinorityReport,comingtoacourtnearyou.
8 Condé Nast Publications/www.cartoonbank.com