United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Raymond Riley, Defendant-appellant, 41 F.3d 1516 (10th Cir. 1994)

Defendant Raymond Riley appeals his sentence for theft of government property, 18 U.S.C. 641. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1291 and 18 U.S.C. 3742(a).

On October 5, 1993, Defendant pleaded guilty to theft of government property, 18 U.S.C. 641. On December 18, 1993, the district court sentenced Defendant to twenty-one months imprisonment and ordered the sentence to run consecutively to Defendant's undischarged sentence for felon in possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. 922(a) (1) and 924(a) (2). When questioned by defense counsel concerning the appropriateness of a consecutive sentence, the district court responded to the inquiry by stating that the sentence imposed was "the appropriate sentence." This appeal followed.

On appeal, Defendant contends the district court improperly applied U.S.S.G. 5G1.3(c) in imposing his consecutive sentence. Specifically, Defendant contends the district court failed to consider the sentencing methodology set forth in the commentary to 5G1.3(c) in imposing his sentence. The government agrees the district court erred in imposing Defendant's sentence. We review the district court's interpretation and application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo. United States v. McAlpine, 32 F.3d 484, 487-88 (10th Cir. 1994).

In general, a district court has broad discretion in choosing to sentence a defendant to a consecutive or concurrent sentence. See 18 U.S.C. 3553(a), 3584(a), (b). The court's discretion is confined, however, by 5G1.3 of the Guidelines when it seeks to impose a consecutive or concurrent sentence upon a defendant subject to an undischarged term of imprisonment. See United States v. Shewmaker, 936 F.2d 1124, 1127 (10th Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 112 S. Ct. 884 (1992).

Defendant was sentenced under the 1991 version of the Guidelines. The 1991 version of 5G1.3(c)³  provides that a district court must impose a consecutive sentence to a prior undischarged term of imprisonment "to the extent necessary to achieve a reasonable incremental punishment for the instant offense." U.S.S.G. 5G1.3(c) (1991 version). The commentary to 5G1.3(c) sets forth a sentencing methodology to assist the court in determining whether a consecutive sentence achieves "a reasonable incremental punishment." Under this methodology, the district court must first determine the total punishment for both the undischarged and instant offenses as if 5G1.2 (Sentencing on Multiple Counts of Conviction) applied. U.S.S.G. 5G1.3 application note 3. After determining this total, " [t]o the extent practicable, the court shall impose a sentence for the instant offense that results in a combined sentence of imprisonment that approximates the total punishment that would have been imposed under 5G1.2 ... had all the offenses been federal offenses for which sentences were being imposed at the same time." Id.

Although the application of this methodology may be complex, we recently held that a district court " 'should utilize the methodology called for in the commentary to determine whether imposing a consecutive sentence within [the guideline] range results in a reasonable incremental punishment for [a] defendant.' " United States v. Johnson, No. 94-7004, slip op. at 8 (10th Cir. Nov. 16, 1994) (quoting United States v. Coleman, 15 F.3d 610, 612 (6th Cir. 1994)). Johnson further holds that if a district court departs from the analysis required by 5G1.3(c), it must explain its reason for doing so. Id. at 9.

In the instant case, the reason given by the district court for imposing a consecutive sentence was that the consecutive sentence was "the appropriate sentence." This statement does not indicate the district court considered 5G1.3(c) or the applicable methodology when it imposed Defendant's consecutive sentence. Consequently, we are unable to determine whether the sentence imposed by the district court constituted a reasonable incremental punishment under 5G1.3(c). As a result, we must remand for resentencing. On remand, the district court should employ the methodology under 5G1.3(c) and impose sentence accordingly. See Johnson, slip op. at 8. If the district court departs from the analysis required pursuant to 5G1.3(c), it must explain its reason for doing so. Id. at 9 (citing instances where the methodology may be impracticable to apply but requiring a district court to explain its reasons for departing from the methodology).

In conclusion, we REMAND to the district court with instructions that it vacate Defendant's sentence and resentence Defendant consistent with this opinion.