United States v. David P. Bowman, 926 F.2d 380, 4th Cir. (1991)

926 F.
2d 380
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.
David P. BOWMAN, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 89-5824.
United States Court of Appeals,

Fourth Circuit.
Argued July 19, 1990.
Decided March 1, 1991.
1
David Preston Baugh, Richmond, Va., for defendant-appellant.
N. George Metcalf, Asst. U.S. Atty., Richmond, Va., argued (Henry E. Hudson,
U.S. Atty., Richmond, Va., on brief), for plaintiff-appellee.
Before CHAPMAN and WILKINSON, Circuit Judges, and HOUCK, United

States District Judge for the District of South Carolina, sitting by designation.
HOUCK, District Judge:
The appellant David P. Bowman (Bowman) was convicted by a jury on

October 7, 1989, of one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and four
counts of distribution of cocaine. He was acquitted of a count charging
participation in a continuing criminal enterprise. Thereafter, he was sentenced
pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. This appeal challenges the
enhancement of his sentence through the application of Sec. 2D1.1(b)(1) of the
United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines.1
We affirm.
I.
6
The evidence presented at trial indicated that Bowman conspired with others to
distribute cocaine in and around the Richmond, Virginia, area. It was also
shown that during that conspiracy Bowman arranged to purchase approximately
one hundred pounds of marijuana from a government informant named Barry
Armstrong, a/k/a "B.A." Armstrong testified essentially the same at trial and at
sentencing. On the latter occasion he said that during the marijuana transaction
"one of the individuals standing at the end of that aisle opposite of Mr.
Bowman opened up his jacket and he had a gun sticking in the waist band of
his pants." This testimony was uncorroborated, but the trial judge found it
credible and relied on it in applying Sec. 2D1.1(b)(1).
7
The appellant contends that it was error for the trial court to give such reliance
to the uncorroborated testimony of Armstrong. He admits that such was not
"clearly erroneous," but cites no authority for his position.
Prior to the advent of guideline sentencing virtually no limitations were placed

on what a court could consider at sentencing,2 and it was clear that reliance on
uncorroborated hearsay was permissible. United States v. Shepherd, 739 F.2d
510 (10th Cir.1984); United States v. Tracey, 675 F.2d 433 (1st Cir.1982).
There is nothing in the United States Sentencing Guidelines to indicate a
change in this rule. To the contrary, a reading of Sec. 6A1.3(a) therein and its
Commentary clearly shows that the sentencing rules have not changed. United
States v. Beaulieu, 893 F.2d 1177 (10th Cir.1990); United States v. Sciarrino,
884 F.2d 95 (3d Cir.1989). The type of information to be considered by a
sentencing judge is still unlimited. He may give weight to any reliable source
of information, and where the reliability of evidence is an issue the court
should conduct an evidentiary hearing to determine the same.
The sentencing judge in the instant case carefully followed the above
procedure. The presentence report advised the appellant of the evidence he
would be faced with at sentencing. The testimony in question was given under
oath in open court where appellant had an opportunity to observe the witness,
cross examine him and present evidence in rebuttal of his testimony. We,
therefore, conclude that the trial judge properly considered the uncorroborated
testimony of Armstrong in finding that Bowman did possess a weapon during
the commission of the offense in question.3
II.
10
Bowman next claims that the firearm had an erroneous effect on his sentence
because he was not charged in the indictment with possession of a firearm or
with aiding or abetting another person to possess the same. He bases this
argument on the notice requirements of the Sixth Amendment to The United
States Constitution.4
11
No cases are cited in support of this position, and we have found none
11
No cases are cited in support of this position, and we have found none
interpreting the Sixth Amendment in such a context. The courts have, however,
traditionally evaluated claims such as that here advanced by the appellant
"under the broader protections of the Due Process Clause of The Fourteenth
Amendment," Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 56, 107 S.Ct. 989, 1000,
94 L.Ed.2d 40 (1987), and we shall do likewise here.
12
In the case of Williams v. New York, 337 U.S. 241, 69 S.Ct. 1079, 93 L.Ed.
1337 (1949), the appellant complained about the unlimited nature of the
information that the court was permitted to consider at sentencing and urged,
among other things, that such a procedure denied him reasonable notice of the
charges against him in violation of his due process rights protected by the
Fourteenth Amendment. His argument was rejected by the United States
Supreme Court, which clearly recognized the difference between a criminal
defendant's constitutional rights at trial and at sentencing. The court had the
following to say:
13 the due process clause does provide these salutary and time-tested protections
That
where the question for consideration is the guilt of a defendant seems entirely clear
from the genesis and historical evolution of the clause.
14
Tribunals passing on the guilt of a defendant always have been hedged in by

strict evidentiary procedural limitations. But both before and since the
American colonies became a nation, courts in this country and in England
practiced a policy under which a sentencing judge could exercise a wide
discretion in the sources and types of evidence used to assist him in determining
the kind and extent of punishment to be imposed within limits fixed by law.
15
Id. at 245-46, 69 S.Ct. at 1082 (citation and footnotes omitted). This does not
mean, however, that a defendant has no due process rights at sentencing. He
clearly has a right not to be sentenced on the basis of "misinformation of a
constitutional magnitude." United States v. Tucker, 404 U.S. 443, 447, 92 S.Ct.
589, 591, 30 L.Ed.2d 592 (1972); United States v. Beaulieu, 893 F.2d 1177
(10th Cir.1990). "This right is protected by the requirement that the defendant
be given adequate notice of and an opportunity to rebut or explain information
that is used against him." United States v. Beaulieu, 893 F.2d 1177, 1181 (10th
Cir.1990).
16
The procedure employed at Bowman's sentencing has been described above and
will not be repeated. The same clearly afforded him all of his Sixth Amendment
notice rights, and his claim of error in that regard is without merit.
17
Accordingly, the sentence of the district court is affirmed.
17
Accordingly, the sentence of the district court is affirmed.
18
AFFIRMED.
Section 2D1.1(b)(1) provides as follows:

(b) Specific Offense Characteristics
(1) If a dangerous weapon (including a firearm) was possessed during
commission of the offense, increase by 2 levels.
Title 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3661 provides as follows:

No limitation shall be placed on the information concerning the background,
character, and conduct of a person convicted of an offense which a court of the
United States may receive and consider for the purpose of imposing an
appropriate sentence.
It plays no part in this decision, but it is interesting to note that almost the
identical testimony was considered by the trial jury without objection
The Sixth Amendment provides as follows:

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and
public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by
law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be
confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his
defence.

United States v. David P. Bowman, 926 F.2d 380, 4th Cir. (1991)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

United States v. David P. Bowman, 926 F.2d 380, 4th Cir. (1991)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

926 F.

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,

United States Court of Appeals,

David Preston Baugh, Richmond, Va., for defendant-appellant.

Before CHAPMAN and WILKINSON, Circuit Judges, and HOUCK, United

The appellant David P. Bowman (Bowman) was convicted by a jury on

Prior to the advent of guideline sentencing virtually no limitations were placed

Tribunals passing on the guilt of a defendant always have been hedged in by

Accordingly, the sentence of the district court is affirmed.

Accordingly, the sentence of the district court is affirmed.

Section 2D1.1(b)(1) provides as follows:

Title 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3661 provides as follows:

The Sixth Amendment provides as follows:

You might also like