United States v. Garrison
Opinion of the Court
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
Phillip Ryan Garrison pled guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (2006). He was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment. On appeal, Garrison contends that his base offense level was incorrectly calculated because he did not have two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense, as required by U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual (USSG) § 2K2.1(a)(2) (2008). Garrison concedes that his 2004 North Carolina conviction for common law robbery is a qualifying predicate conviction. However, he
When Garrison raised this argument in the district court, it was foreclosed by our decision in United States v. Harp, 406 F.3d 242 (4th Cir. 2005). Subsequently, however, we overruled Harp with our en banc decision in United States v. Simmons, 649 F.3d 237 (4th Cir. 2011) (en banc). In view of Simmons, we will likewise sustain Garrison’s objection.
Accordingly, while we affirm Garrison’s conviction, which is not challenged on appeal, we vacate his sentence and remand to the district court for resentencing. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid in the deci-sional process.
AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED IN PART; AND REMANDED.
The North Carolina legislature subsequently amended the statute with regard to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2009, see Act of Aug. 28, 2009, 2009 N.C. Sess. Laws 555, §§ 1-2, and offenses committed on or after December 1, 2011. See Justice Reinvestment Act of 2011, 2011 N.C. Sess. Laws 192, § 2(e) — (f).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Phillip Ryan GARRISON
- Status
- Published