United States of America v. Ofchinick, Daniel R. (jr.).appeal of Daniel Ofchinick, Jr, 877 F.2d 251 (3d Cir. 1989)

Daniel R. Ofchinick, Jr. appeals from a judgment of sentence imposed under the sentencing guidelines following his guilty plea to an indictment charging him with escape contrary to 18 U.S.C. § 751(a). His appeal implicates application of the guidelines by the district court.

The circumstances of his escape and apprehension are as follows. On June 9, 1988, Ofchinick was sentenced to a five year custodial term for mail fraud and related offenses and was required to make restitution to the victim of $3,998,625.54. He was, however, permitted to self-report to the Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, Pennsylvania, which he did on July 6, 1988. On July 27, 1988, he escaped and he remained at large until September 24, 1988, when he was arrested at Denver, Colorado. Before he was recaptured, he made several contacts with a United States Attorney's Office to arrange for a voluntary return but he never surrendered, though there was no legitimate reason why he could not have done so.

On August 4, 1988, he was indicted for escape. On October 12, 1988, Ofchinick pleaded not guilty to the indictment but on November 18, 1988, without a plea agreement, he changed his plea to guilty.

Ofchinick's offense level computation in the presentence report was the base offense level, 13, for violation of 18 U.S.C. § 751(a) in guideline Sec. 2P1.1(a) (1), with no adjustments. His criminal history category was III, computed as follows. He received 3 points under guideline Sec. 4A1.1(a) for the sentence of imprisonment for the mail fraud and related offenses. There were 2 points added under guideline Sec. 4A1.1(d) as he was under the criminal justice sentence of imprisonment when he escaped and 1 point was added under guideline Sec. 4A1.1(e) as he was in confinement when he escaped. The total of 6 points put Ofchinick in criminal history category III. Predicated on this criminal history category and his total offense level of 13, the guidelines range was 18 to 24 months which, under guideline Sec. 5G1.3, was to run consecutively to the sentence he was already serving. The presentence report identified no factors justifying departure from the guidelines.

Ofchinick submitted objections to the report which were noted in an addendum to it. He contended that his total offense level should have been reduced by 2 levels to 11 for acceptance of responsibility, as "at various times during his flight" he "made efforts to arrange for his surrender" and that "immediately upon his capture" he "sought to arrange to enter his plea [of guilty]." He also contended that the increase of 3 points in his criminal history category computation violated the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment and was "without foundation in the law or common sense." He urged that the base offense level necessarily took into account the fact that he was in custody, as that was an element of the offense of escape, so that his status was counted twice when points were added in computing his criminal history category because he was under a sentence of imprisonment and was in confinement.

On December 19, 1988, the district court filed its "tentative findings and rulings concerning disputed facts or factors" and rejected Ofchinick's contentions. It pointed out that under guideline Sec. 3E1.1(a) a defendant could obtain a 2 level reduction in the offense level if he "clearly demonstrates a recognition and affirmative acceptance of personal responsibility for his criminal conduct." It then indicated that it was appropriate for the court to consider the factors set forth in application note 1 to guideline Sec. 3E1.1. It said that the keynote to the provision is the "sincerity of the defendant's remorse" and that it was not convinced Ofchinick was remorseful. While the court acknowledged that Ofchinick pleaded guilty promptly and cooperated with the authorities by telling them what occurred, it was not tremendously impressed with this as he had little to tell and the government had a strong case. The court also observed that Ofchinick did not voluntarily surrender, though he had contacted the government while at large offering to cooperate.

The court held that 2 points were properly added to the criminal history category computation as Ofchinick escaped while under the criminal justice sentence of imprisonment, guideline Sec. 4A1.1(d), thus rejecting Ofchinick's contention that his status as a prisoner was double counted by being considered in both the base offense level and the criminal history category. It pointed out that the Sentencing Commission, in setting forth the method for computing the criminal history category, did not exclude from consideration a criminal justice sentence being served when the defendant committed the offense for which he was being sentenced, even though his being in custody was an element of the offense. It also found, citing United States v. Goodface, 835 F.2d 1233, 1236 (8th Cir. 1987), that Ofchinick was not denied due process of law by the computation of the criminal history category.

The court determined that 1 point was properly added under guideline Sec. 4A1.1(e), which provides for that addition if the defendant committed the new offense "less than two years after release from imprisonment on a sentence counted" under guideline Sec. 4A1.1(a).¹  This was, however, troublesome as Ofchinick obviously escaped before he was released. Nevertheless, the court justified the 1 point increase because application note 5 to guideline Sec. 4A1.1 provides that guideline Sec. 4A1.1(e) applies "if the defendant committed the instant offense while still in confinement on such a sentence." The court indicated that while ordinarily a court will not refer to legislative history in construing a statute which is clear on its face, citing United States v. Oregon, 366 U.S. 643, 648, 81 S. Ct. 1278, 1281, 6 L. Ed. 2d 575 (1961), circumstances may exist in which a literal reading of a statute conflicts with clear contrary evidence of legislative intent, citing National R.R. Passenger Corp. v. National Ass'n of R.R. Passengers, 414 U.S. 453, 458, 94 S. Ct. 690, 693, 38 L. Ed. 2d 646 (1974). Thus, it said that a court "may use available aids to construction no matter how clear a statute may appear on first inspection," quoting Brigham v. United States, 539 F.2d 1312, 1316 n. 8 (3d Cir. 1976). Accordingly, the court followed the application note and added the point.² 

Ofchinick filed objections to the tentative findings but the court adopted the tentative findings on December 22, 1988, and sentenced Ofchinick to a custodial term of 21 months to be served consecutively to the sentence on the mail fraud and related counts, to be followed by a three year term of supervised release. Ofchinick has appealed from the judgment of sentence, raising essentially the same issues he advanced in the district court.

The government in its brief sets forth that the standard of review of Ofchinick's claim for a 2 level reduction in the offense level for acceptance of responsibility in guideline Sec. 3E1.1, is whether the factual findings of the district court were clearly erroneous, a conclusion it predicates on 18 U.S.C. § 3742(e) (formerly (d)), which provides that the "court of appeals shall give due regard to the opportunity of the district court to judge the credibility of the witnesses, and shall accept the findings of fact of the district court unless they are clearly erroneous and shall give due deference to the district court's application of the guidelines to the facts." See United States v. Franco-Torres, 869 F.2d 797, 799 (5th Cir. 1989); United States v. Spraggins, 868 F.2d 1541, 1543 (11th Cir. 1989). Ofchinick agrees in his brief that findings of fact are reviewed "under the clearly erroneous standard."

Here, however, the basic historical facts undergirding Ofchinick's claim for the 2 level reduction are not in dispute and, inasmuch as there was no testimony from any witness, it is difficult to consider the court's conclusions as being based on its assessment of "the credibility of witnesses." See United States v. Gambino, 864 F.2d 1064, 1071 n. 3 (3d Cir. 1988). Furthermore, there is some question as to whether the clearly erroneous standard applies in view of the amendment to 18 U.S.C. § 3742(d), now (e), in 1988, which requires that a court of appeals "give due deference" to the district court's application of the facts to the guidelines. See Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Pub. L. No. 100-690, Sec. 7103, 102 Stat. 4181, 4417 (1988). In the circumstances of this case, we might reasonably infer that to give due deference to the district court's decision which was based on essentially undisputed historical facts, we should use an abuse of discretion standard.³  We observe, however, that in United States v. Mejia-Orosco, 868 F.2d 807 (5th Cir. 1989), the court in considering the meaning of "due deference" in the 1988 amendment concluded, at least on the facts before it, that Congress only reinforced the clearly erroneous standard and reminded the courts of appeal to defer to the district courts.

As a practical matter, however, the outcome of this appeal is not dependent on which of the foregoing standards of review we apply, as under either we cannot conclude that the district court erred in its conclusions. Under guideline Sec. 3E1.1, a 2 level reduction is available if "the defendant clearly demonstrates a recognition and affirmative acceptance of personal responsibility for his criminal conduct." A defendant is not, however, entitled to the reduction as a matter of right simply because he pleads guilty, see guideline Sec. 3E1.1, though a guilty plea "may provide some evidence of the defendant's acceptance of responsibility." See application note 3 to guideline Sec. 3E1.1.

The application notes to guideline Sec. 3E1.1 provide a noninclusive list of appropriate considerations to determine if a defendant qualifies for the reduction but do not attempt to rate the significance of the factors by suggesting that one or more may dominate. Thus, it is evident that a conclusion as to whether a defendant "clearly demonstrates" his acceptance of responsibility can only be reached on a case-by-case basis. One of the considerations set forth in the application notes is whether the defendant voluntarily surrendered to authorities promptly after commission of the offense. Here the lack of a voluntary surrender was particularly significant because of the nature of the offense. While we do not suggest that a person guilty of escape under 18 U.S.C. § 751(a) commits a continuing offense under that section by remaining at large, it is obvious that the public suffers an ongoing harm so long as a person who should be in confinement is free, for the judgment of sentence imposed by the court for the underlying offense is continuously flouted. Thus, in an escape case a defendant by surrendering, though not wiping out the offense, will to some degree reverse its consequences.

We recognize, of course, that it is in the public interest when other criminals, such as bank robbers, surrender. But in these other criminal cases, the injury caused by the crimes comes from the commission of offenses not including an escape from custody as an element, so that the act of surrendering in itself will not reverse the consequences of the offense.⁴  Thus, while we do not suggest that in any criminal case a determination of whether there was a voluntary surrender is not significant in deciding whether a defendant accepts personal responsibility for his criminal conduct, a voluntary surrender by a defendant is particularly important in an escape case for these purposes.

Here Ofchinick, though recognizing his obligation to surrender, did not do so. Rather, he attempted to negotiate with the government to give it something to which it was unconditionally entitled, his return to custody. His actions were inconsistent with the acceptance of responsibility for his criminal conduct. Indeed, in the circumstances of this case the only basis for a 2 level reduction could be a per se rule that it is automatically awarded after a plea of guilty. But the Commission has precluded that. In the circumstances we are satisfied that the district court did not err in concluding that Ofchinick did not clearly demonstrate his acceptance of responsibility.⁵ 

We next consider Ofchinick's contention that the district court erred in the computation of his criminal history category by adding 2 points since he escaped while under the criminal justice sentence of imprisonment, guideline Sec. 4A1.1(d), even though an element of the offense of escape was that he be in custody. He predicates this challenge on his construction of the guidelines and the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. Our review on this guidelines construction issue is plenary. United States v. Uca, 867 F.2d 783, 786 (3d Cir. 1989); United States v. Ryan, 866 F.2d 604, 610 (3d Cir. 1989).

We reject this contention. While it is true that only a person in custody may escape, obviously persons in custody can commit crimes which can be committed by other persons as well. For example, an inmate or a visitor can assault a prison guard. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 111, 1114. If such an assault is committed by an inmate, it could not reasonably be urged that the sentence he was serving at that time be excluded in the computation of his criminal history category, as the defendant's status as an inmate would not be an element of the offense and thus could not have been reflected in the applicable guideline, Sec. 2A2.2.

The same thing is true under guideline Sec. 2P1.1(a) (1). That guideline includes offenses for instituting or assisting escapes as well as for an escape itself and sets a base offense level at 13. Inasmuch as persons not in custody may be sentenced under the guideline, it is inconceivable that the Sentencing Commission intended the establishment of a base offense level therein to impact on the computation of the criminal history category. A contrary ruling would mean that an inmate who escaped, whose only criminal history was the offense for which he was in custody when he escaped, would be subject to the same sentencing range as a person who had no criminal history and assisted an inmate to escape. We refuse to construe the guidelines to reach such an absurd result.⁶  See United States v. Huff, 873 F.2d 709, 714 (3d Cir. 1989). Thus, as the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said in United States v. Reyes-Ruiz, 868 F.2d 698, 700 (1989), " [t]he defendant's criminal history is calculated independently of the offense level."

We also point out that there is no suggestion in guideline Sec. 4A1.2, which provides for exclusion of certain prior sentences in the computation of the criminal history category, that a sentence should be excluded in the circumstances present here. Furthermore, the application notes to guideline Sec. 4A1.1, though indicating that certain sentences are not counted in computing the criminal history category, make no reference to a situation such as that here. The inference we draw from this, though not conclusive, is that sentences not excluded are to be included. On this issue we finally note that in United States v. Jimenez, 708 F. Supp. 964 (S.D. Ind. 1989), to be reported at 708 F. Supp. 964, the court rejected an argument identical to that made by Ofchinick.

We cannot regard Ofchinick's Fifth Amendment contention that the guidelines are both vague and arbitrary as substantial. We conclude that inasmuch as they were applied as written, they gave Ofchinick fair notice of the punishment he faced. Furthermore, there is nothing arbitrary or unreasonable about treating a person who commits an offense while under a criminal justice sentence of imprisonment more severely than an offender who commits an offense of equal severity who is not under such a sentence.⁷ 

Ofchinick's final contention is that it was unlawful to add 1 point under guideline Sec. 4A1.1(e), which provides that 1 point shall be added "if the defendant committed the instant offense less than two years after release from imprisonment."⁸  In his view, guideline Sec. 4A1.1(e) cannot be applicable unless he has been released before he committed the offense. Our review on this issue is plenary.

Unquestionably the language of the guideline supports his interpretation. However, application note 5 to guideline Sec. 4A1.1 indicates that guideline Sec. 4A1.1(e) "applies if the defendant committed the instant offense while still in confinement on such a sentence." Guideline Sec. 1B1.7 provides that the commentary, which includes the application notes, may be used to "interpret the guideline or explain how it is to be applied." Thus, there is no question but that the computation of Ofchinick's criminal history category was consistent with the intent of the Sentencing Commission.

Thus, while we recognize the inconsistency between the guideline and the note, we do not see how we cannot follow the note, as the Sentencing Commission issued both the guidelines and the commentary in its official Guidelines Manual. This is not the usual case in which we are asked to accept legislative history such as committee reports, or even testimony of a witness before a committee, to determine the intent of Congress as a whole.⁹ 

The judgment of sentence of December 22, 1988, will be affirmed.¹⁰