JOHN A. ROSS, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Philanda Jamison's motion to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Movant argues that he is entitled to relief under Johnson v. United States, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015). The motion will be denied and dismissed.
Movant pied guilty to distribution of heroin, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(l) and 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C). United States v. Harrison, No. 4:11CRJAR (E.D. Mo.). Defendant was originally sentenced to 151 months' imprisonment. However, pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 35, movant's sentence was reduced to 115 months' imprisonment, and 3 years' supervised release. Movant's sentence was enhanced under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1 because he qualified as a Career Offender.
In his motion to vacate, movant argues that he did not qualify as a Career Offender because his Missouri conviction for second degree assault in 1998 was not a "crime of violence" under the ruling in Johnson.
In Johnson, the Court held that imposing an increased sentence under the residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) violates the Constitution's guarantee of due process. 135 S.Ct. at 2563. Johnson did not address sentence enhancements under Chapter 4 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The Johnson decision does not apply to enhancements under the Guidelines. See United States v. Wivell, 893 F.2d 156, 160 (8th Cir. 1990) ("Because there is no constitutional right to sentencing guidelines—or, more generally, to a less discretionary application of sentences than that permitted prior to the Guidelines—the limitations the Guidelines place on a judge's discretion cannot violate a defendant's right to due process by reason of being vague."). Although the Court is aware that the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has stated that "[the] reasoning in Wivell . . . is doubtful under Johnson," United States v. Taylor, 803 F.3d 931, 933 (8
Even if Johnson were to apply to enhancements under the Guidelines, movant would not be entitled to relief. The crime of second-degree assault qualifies as a crime of violence in this instance. See United States v. Alexander, 809 F.3d 1029 (8
For these reasons, movant is not entitled to federal habeas relief. Furthermore, movant has failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right, which requires a demonstration "that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right." Khaimov v. Crist, 297 F.3d 783, 785 (8th Cir. 2002) (quotation omitted). Thus, the Court will not issue a Certificate of Appealability. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c).
Accordingly,