United States v. Daughenbaugh ( 1995 )

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 94-50341
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
CHARLES ARTHUR DAUGHENBAUGH,
Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
(March 27, 1995)
Before POLITZ, Chief Judge, KING and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
POLITZ, Chief Judge:
Charles Arthur Daughenbaugh appeals his conviction of mailing
threatening communications in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876 and his
sentence of 240 months imprisonment. Finding no reversible error,
we affirm.
Background
Between 1991 and 1993 Daughenbaugh, an inmate at the Clements
Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, sent letters to
three Texas state court judges and a United States bankruptcy judge
through the United States mails. His first letter to Judge John R.
Carter stated:
Now comes the Aryan warrior to bring you warning of your
coming death when the new socialist government comes into
power. When the new government comes into power, all
races other than the Aryan race will be deported or
executed, all white judges will be checked out and will
be asked to leave the country or be executed.
This is your last warning to change your ways or die!
The Aryan warrior has spoken.
An identical letter was sent to Judge Robert E. Raesz. A
substantially similar letter to Judge Lee S. Green threatened to
"execute all judges at once," admonishing: "Get right with your
maker, because your time is at hand because the Aryan warrior shall
sweep the earth." Daughenbaugh also wrote to United States
Bankruptcy Judge Larry E. Kelly:
Now comes the Aryan shadow of death to let you know that
your death is at hand. I, the Aryan shadow of death,
shall execute you in the very most painful way. As the
Lord said, every hair on your head is numbered. You will
never again prosecute an Aryan.
In a second letter to Judge Carter which bore swastikas,
Daughenbaugh stated:
Now comes the "Lone Aryan warrior" with the Message of
Death to all U.S. Zog (Zionist Occupational Government)
American Government officials. The Aryan Nationalist
Socialist Movement brings forth an all Aryan Government
to take the place of the U.S. Zog American Government!
It will be done by force if necessary, but it will be
done! You are hereby given this Aryan Order of our
movement to resign your Government office now, if you do
not wish to face treason charges & death for serving this
U.S. Zog American Government! You are given this chance
now, to save yourself by obeying this direct Aryan order!
You have been warned; do what you are told!
"Hail, Victory!"
Daughenbaugh was indicted on five counts of violating
18 U.S.C. § 876, which prohibits use of the mails to transmit a
2
communication containing a threat of injury, and was convicted
after a jury trial. Departing upwards from the Sentencing
Guidelines the district court imposed a sentence of 240 months.
This appeal timely followed.
Analysis
Daughenbaugh challenges the sufficiency of the evidence,
contending that the letters were not threats but, rather, were
political speech protected by the first amendment. He seeks a de
novo review of this evidentiary issue because of its constitutional
implications. In United States v. Turner we noted that "whether or
not the language contained in [the defendant's] letters constitutes
a `threat' is an issue of fact for the jury."1 Guided by
instructions, such as given herein, removing protected speech from
the definition of "threat,"2 the jury is to determine the nature of
the subject communication.3 Appellate review is limited to
ascertaining whether a rational jury could have found the essential
1
960 F.2d 461, 465 n.4 (5th Cir. 1992).
2
In Turner we approved the following charge which was given
herein to the jury:
A "threat" is a serious statement expressing an intention
to inflict bodily injury or death upon someone, which
under the circumstances would cause apprehension in a
reasonable person, as distinguished from political
argument, idle or careless talk, exaggeration or
something said in a joking manner. It is not necessary
to prove that the defendant actually intended or was able
to carry out the threat made.
3
United States v. Malik, 16 F.3d 45 (2d Cir.), cert. denied,
115 S.Ct. 435 (1994).
3
elements of the offense, including the threat, proven beyond a
reasonable doubt.
Our review of the record leads inexorably to the conclusion
that the evidence amply supports the verdict. The plain language
of the letters was sufficient to place a reasonable recipient in
apprehension. The mode of communication -- private letter -- is
the typical means for delivery of threats. In advancing his
appellate challenge Daughenbaugh cites United States v. Watts.4 We
find Watts inapposite for it involved a public rally, not a private
letter.5 The political rhetoric accompanying the threats furnishes
no consitutional shield. Rather, the violent tone of the rhetoric
amplifies the threats. The reaction of the recipients is probative
-- the three judges who testified took extra security measures.6
A rational jury was entitled to find that the essential elements of
the offenses were proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Daughenbaugh next contests the refusal to suppress
incriminating statements made to Scott Hendricks, an agent with the
Federal Bureau of Investigation. When agent Hendricks inquired
about the letters Daughenbaugh invoked his Miranda7 rights and
demanded counsel. One year later Hendricks met Daughenbaugh for
routine questioning about a written statement he had given
4
394 U.S. 705 (1969).
5
See United States v. Bellrichard, 994 F.2d 1318 (8th Cir.),
cert. denied, 114 S.Ct. 337 (1993).
6
Malik.
7
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
4
supporting another inmate's charge of a civil rights violation by
a guard.8 Hendricks also sought a handwriting exemplar. Hendricks
testified that Daughenbaugh refused, exclaiming that if he were
forced to furnish a sample of his handwriting he would merely
disguise it, as he often does "and has other people write things
for him." This statement was admitted into evidence over objection
to corroborate the testimony of an inmate who attested to writing
certain of the subject letters at Daughenbaugh's direction.
Daughenbaugh contends that the admission of the statement
violated Miranda and its progeny. He maintains that Arizona v.
Roberson9 proscribed questioning about the civil rights charge and
Edwards v. Arizona10 prohibited Hendricks' request for the
handwriting exemplar. We are not persuaded. Roberson, which
forbids subsequent custodial interrogations about unrelated
criminal offenses after the invocation of the fifth amendment right
to counsel, is inapplicable because there was no threat of
involuntary self-incrimination. The investigation of the civil
rights charge was noncriminal in nature and the target was not
Daughenbaugh but the guard. Edwards, which precludes the
reinitiation of custodial interrogation after a request for
counsel, applies only to conduct "that the authorities should know
8
The inmate claimed the guard assaulted him after the inmate
doused him with urine.
9
486 U.S. 675 (1988).
10
451 U.S. 477 (1981).
5
[is] reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response."11 A
handwriting sample is nontestimonial evidence beyond the scope of
the right against self-incrimination.12 The bare request for a
sample therefore does not implicate Edwards.
Finally, Daughenbaugh challenges the district court's
departure from the Sentencing Guidelines range of 57 to 71 months
to a sentence of 240 months. After an evidentiary hearing, the
court found that Daughenbaugh's criminal history category of VI did
not adequately reflect the seriousness of his past conduct.
Daughenbaugh's criminal history score was 24, nearly twice the 13
points required for category VI. Even that score did not fully
take into account Daughenbaugh's conduct in prison, including the
repeated discovery of weapons in his possession and evidence of
escape plans that included the taking of hostages or the killing of
guards. The court concluded:
I can't find anything in the record that establishes any
likelihood that you're not going to continue to commit
criminal offenses. You continue in prison and you
continue here [in the county jails where Daughenbaugh was
held during trial] at least in possession of weapons that
can be concluded that you're attempting to escape once
more. In fact, your whole record shows that you seem to
have a propensity to engage in criminal conduct at all
times and perpetuate criminal acts.
In arriving at the sentence imposed, the district court scaled
the criminal offense levels from 18 to 32, explaining, "I have
considered all of the other offense levels up to a leval 35. . . .
11
United States v. Dougall, 919 F.2d 932, 935 (5th Cir. 1990),
cert. denied, 501 U.S. 1234 (1991).
12
Id.6
I considered the information in the presentence investigation and
for the reasons I've stated, [selected] the level of sentencing I
believe is appropriate in your case. . . ."
Daughenbaugh maintains that the district court did not comply
with the proper methodology for departures under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3,
as articulated by our en banc decision in United States v.
Lambert.13 We do not agree. Lambert requires only that the
district court consider each intermediate adjustment and state that
it has done so, and explain why the guideline category is
inappropriate and why the category chosen is appropriate.14
Ordinarily such explanation will make clear, either implicitly or
explicitly, why the intermediate adjustments are inadequate.15 Such
is the situation at bar. The district court complied with the
Lambert teaching and struck a satisfactory balance between
ritualistic formalism and arbitrariness.
Daughenbaugh also maintains that the departure was excessive.
We are not persuaded. The departure was extensive but Daughenbaugh
displayed unusually violent propensities. The sentence was below
the statutory maximum and passes muster.
AFFIRMED.
13
984 F.2d 658 (5th Cir. 1993) (en banc).
14
See also United States v. Ashburn, 38 F.3d 803 (5th Cir.
1994) (en banc), petition for cert. filed (Feb. 13, 1995) (No.
94-8084).
15
Lambert.
7