Filed: Sep. 12, 2016
Latest Update: Sep. 12, 2016
Summary: ORDER MARTIN REIDINGER , District Judge . THIS MATTER is before the Court on the motion of the United States requesting that the Court enter an order holding this action in abeyance. [CV Doc. 5]. 1 According to the government's motion, defense counsel does not object to its request. [ Id. ]. Petitioner was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) and 846. [CR Doc. 307]. The presentence report note
Summary: ORDER MARTIN REIDINGER , District Judge . THIS MATTER is before the Court on the motion of the United States requesting that the Court enter an order holding this action in abeyance. [CV Doc. 5]. 1 According to the government's motion, defense counsel does not object to its request. [ Id. ]. Petitioner was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) and 846. [CR Doc. 307]. The presentence report noted..
More
ORDER
MARTIN REIDINGER, District Judge.
THIS MATTER is before the Court on the motion of the United States requesting that the Court enter an order holding this action in abeyance. [CV Doc. 5].1 According to the government's motion, defense counsel does not object to its request. [Id.].
Petitioner was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. [CR Doc. 307]. The presentence report noted that Petitioner had two prior qualifying convictions that triggered the Career Offender enhancement under section 4B1.2 of the Sentencing Guidelines: two North Carolina convictions for assault on a female, one in 1988 and the other in 1989. The Court sentenced Petitioner as a Career Offender to a term of imprisonment of 276 months. [Id.].
On June 23, 2016, Petitioner commenced this action by filing a petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. [CV Doc. 1]. In his petition, Petitioner contends that, in light of Johnson v. United States, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015), his two prior convictions under North Carolina law for assault on a female no longer qualify as "crimes of violence" under the Guidelines. [Id. at 3-4]. Consequently, Petitioner argues his Career Offender designation is improper and thus his sentence is unlawful. [Id.].
In response to the petition, the government has filed a motion to hold this proceeding in abeyance. [CV Doc. 5]. The government notes that this case will be affected by the Supreme Court's decision next Term in Beckles v. United States, 616 Fed. Appx. 415 (11th Cir.), cert. granted, 2016 WL 1029080 (U.S. June 27, 2016) (No. 15-8544). [Id. at 2]. One of the questions presented in Beckles is whether Johnson applies retroactively to cases collaterally challenging federal sentences enhanced under the residual clause in U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(a)(2). The residual clause invalidated in Johnson is identical to the residual clause in the Career Offender provision of the Guidelines, § 4B1.2(a)(2) (defining "crime of violence").
Based upon the reasons given by the government, and without objection by Petitioner, the Court concludes that the government's motion should be granted.
ORDER
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the government's motion to place this case in abeyance [CV Doc. 5], is hereby GRANTED and this matter is hereby held in abeyance pending the Supreme Court's decision in Beckles. Thereafter, the government shall have 60 days from the date the Supreme Court decides Beckles within which to file its response in this matter.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
