United States v. Hebert
Opinion
*472
After a jury trial, Defendant-Appellant Kyle Hebert was convicted of four counts of possession of child pornography. 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B), (b)(2). He was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment and 15 years' supervised release. On appeal, Mr. Hebert challenges the district court's finding that he had two prior convictions that triggered a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years' imprisonment. 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(b)(2). We have jurisdiction under
Background
Mr. Hebert's presentence report recommended an enhanced sentence pursuant to § 2252A(b)(2) based upon two prior Georgia convictions. Section 2252A(b)(2) provides that if a defendant "has a prior conviction under ... the laws of any State relating to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, or abusive sexual conduct involving a minor or ward," the defendant shall be "imprisoned for not less than 10 years nor more than 20 years."
Mr. Hebert was indicted in Georgia on two counts of sexual molestation under
In the federal district court, Mr. Hebert argued that his Georgia sexual battery convictions do not "relate to" sexual abuse or abusive sexual conduct involving a minor, and therefore, the mandatory minimum required under § 2252A(b)(2) did not apply. The district court disagreed, and using the modified categorical approach (including an examination of underlying documents), it found that Mr. Hebert's sexual battery convictions related to both sexual abuse and abusive sexual conduct of a minor. Alternatively, it found that under the categorical approach, the mandatory minimum applied because sexual battery "relates to" sexual abuse.
Discussion
We review the district court's imposition of the mandatory minimum de novo.
See
United States v. Becker
,
A. Categorical or Modified Categorical Approach for 18 U.S.C. § 2252A
Both Georgia sexual battery convictions could trigger the ten-year mandatory minimum if they involve a state law "relating to ... sexual abuse." 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(b)(2). Typically, in determining whether a prior conviction can serve as a predicate offense for a sentencing enhancement, courts apply either the categorical or modified categorical approach.
Mathis v. United States
, --- U.S. ----,
In applying the categorical approach, courts "focus solely on whether the elements of the crime of conviction sufficiently match the elements of [the] generic [crime], while ignoring the particular facts of the case."
Mathis
,
However, if the statute of the prior conviction is divisible (containing alternative elements), courts apply the modified categorical approach.
Here, the district court applied the modified categorical approach to the Georgia sexual battery statute, even though it does not contain alternative elements and therefore is indivisible. The district court relied on this court's decision in
United States v. McCutchen
,
Mr. Hebert contends that the district court's application of the modified categorical approach was incorrect based on our later decision in
United States v. Bennett
,
Thus, in applying § 2252A(b)(2) we start with the categorical approach, even if we do not end there. Consequently, we first ask whether the language of the prior conviction categorically triggers the enhancement. If not, we may proceed beyond the categorical approach if two prerequisites are met. First, we must have access to court documents such as those approved of in Shepard v. United States ,544 U.S. 13 [125 S.Ct. 1254 ,161 L.Ed.2d 205 ] (2005), that demonstrate the elements of the crime the defendant committed. Second, the statute of prior conviction must be divisible , Descamps v. United States [570 U.S. 254 ],133 S.Ct. 2276 , 2282 [186 L.Ed.2d 438 ] (2013), meaning the statute lists alternative ways it may be violated.
So then I turn to Bennett . And if I follow Bennett , I would not be allowed to look at anything else other than the statute. But I don't think Bennett is correct. And to the extent it takes the position contrary to McCutchen , I think that McCutchen has and applies what I consider to be a more rational and logical approach.
While the district court correctly recognized this tension, we must respectfully
*474
disagree with its conclusion-although not because we find the logic of
Bennett
more reasonable than
McCutchen
. Instead, we find that the holding and reasoning of
McCutchen
has been superseded by a "contrary decision by the Supreme Court."
Lucio-Rayos v. Sessions
,
Here, we have the same operative circumstances: an indivisible statute and an enhancement under § 2252A(b). The Georgia statute states that "[a] person commits the offense of sexual battery when he intentionally makes physical contact with the intimate parts of the body of another person without the consent of that person."
B. Categorical Approach
We therefore examine the statutory definition of Mr. Hebert's Georgia sexual battery convictions to determine if they categorically "relate to" sexual abuse pursuant to § 2252A(b)(2).
The relevant Georgia statute provides: "A person commits the offense of sexual battery when he intentionally makes physical contact with the intimate parts
4
of the body of another person without the consent of that person."
(1) causes another person to engage in a sexual act by threatening or placing that other person in fear (other than by threatening or placing that other person in fear that any person will be subjected to death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping); or
(2) engages in a sexual act with another person if that other person is -
(A) incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct; or
(B) physically incapable of declining participation in, or communicating unwillingness to engage in, that sexual act. [ 6 ]
We can now determine whether Georgia sexual battery "relates to" the generic offense of sexual abuse. Importantly, although the Georgia sexual battery statute includes some conduct that might not fall under the federal definition, this court need ask only whether the Georgia sexual battery statute "relates to" sexual abuse-not whether it
constitutes
sexual abuse. Moreover, this court and the Supreme Court have consistently construed broadly the phrase "relating to."
See
Morales v. Trans World Airlines, Inc.
,
In this light, and given the two definitions above, the Georgia sexual battery statute readily qualifies as an offense "relating to" sexual abuse. Both definitions (1) involve a touching that is nonconsensual, (2) involve the intimate body parts of another, and (3) are sexual in nature. Mr. Hebert argues that because Georgia sexual battery does not require "sexual contact,"
see
Watson v. State
,
Because Georgia sexual battery "relates to" sexual abuse, we need not consider whether Georgia sexual battery also "relates to" abusive sexual conduct involving a minor.
7
See
People for Ethical Treatment of Prop. Owners v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Serv.
,
C. Sixth Amendment
Lastly, Mr. Hebert argues that using his prior convictions to impose a mandatory minimum violated his Sixth Amendment rights under
Apprendi v. New Jersey
,
AFFIRMED.
Section 2252(b)(2) contains the same enhancement language as § 2252A(b)(2).
This view also aligns us with our sister circuits.
See,
e.g.
,
United States v. Sullivan
,
In
McCutchen
, the district court enhanced the defendant's sentence under § 2252(b)(2) because he previously had been convicted of sexual battery under an indivisible Kansas statute. The court relied on the charging documents, which showed the victim was a minor, to conclude the prior conviction "relat[ed] to" sexual abuse of a minor. This court affirmed.
Under our decision here, when the prior conviction is based on a statute that is indivisible, a court may not examine the charging documents to enhance a sentence under § 2252A(b)(2). When the statute is divisible, a court may examine the documents underlying the prior conviction only "to identify the elements of the crime of conviction" and then "appl[y] the categorical approach."
United States v. Titties
,
"[T]he term 'intimate parts' means the primary genital area, anus, groin, inner thighs, or buttocks of a male or female and the breasts of a female."
We also note here that even if we were to use a more general definition of sexual abuse, as the Fifth Circuit does,
see
United States v. Wikkerink
,
The term "sexual act" in this statute includes "the penetration, however slight, of the anal or genital opening of another by a hand or finger or by any object, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person" or "the intentional touching, not through the clothing, of the genitalia of another person who has not attained the age of 16 years with intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person."
Because a statute that "relates to" sexual abuse or abusive sexual conduct involving a minor triggers the mandatory minimum, we need not address both today. See § 2252A(b)(2).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Kyle Steven HEBERT, Defendant-Appellant.
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published