United States v. Joel Geyer, Sr.
Opinion
Joel Geyer challenges the prison sentence the district court imposed after he pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges. At sentencing, the court determined that Geyer was a career offender, see U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1, because he had prior felony convictions for bank robbery and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). On appeal, Geyer argues that he should not have been classified as a career offender because his OWI conviction is not a “crime of violence.”
While this case was pending on appeal, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Begay v. United States, — U.S. -, 128 S.Ct. 1581, 170 L.Ed.2d 490 (2008), holding that the crime of driving under the influence is not a “violent felony” under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). See id. at 1583, 1588. Consequently, the district court improperly calculated Geyer’s advisory Guidelines range when it determined that his prior OWI conviction is a “crime of violence.” See United States v. Williams, 537 F.3d 969, 971 (8th Cir. 2008) (this court has never recognized distinction between “crime of violence” and “violent felony”); United States v. Comstock, 531 F.3d 667, 678-79 (8th Cir. 2008)(rehearing denied) (OWI convictions are not ACCA “violent felonies”); see also Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 128 S.Ct. 586, 594, 596-97, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007) (as part of reasonableness review, appellate court must first ensure that dis *570 trict court committed no significant procedural error, such as improperly calculating Guidelines range).
Accordingly, we vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Joel Edward GEYER, Sr., Also Known as Joel Geyer, Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished