Summary
In Chunn v. United States, 462 F.2d 1100 (5th Cir. 1972), where there was a conflict between the sentence imposed orally and the committal order, the court of appeals, concerned that the transcript might be erroneous, vacated and remanded for a hearing and factual findings on what oral sentence the district court actually imposed.
Summary of this case from U.S. v. KhouryOpinion
It is appropriate to dispose of this case summarily. See Groendyke Transport, Inc. v. Davis, 5 Cir. 1969, 406 F.2d 1158.
June 19, 1972.
Willard Junior Chunn, pro se.
Charles S. White-Spunner, U.S. Atty., Mobile, Ala., for respondent-appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.
Before JOHN R. BROWN, Chief Judge and GOLDBERG and MORGAN, Circuit Judges.
Unusual as is issuance of the Great Writ of Habeas Corpus, rarer still is the classic § 2255 unlawful sentence. The confused record in this case, however, indicates that Defendant apparently has been sentenced to a longer term than the statute allows. Accordingly, we vacate and remand the District Court's order denying § 2255 relief for further appropriate proceedings.
See, Davis v. Smith, 5 Cir., 1970, 430 F.2d 1256, 1257 n. 1; Holland v. Henderson, 5 Cir., 1972, 460 F.2d 978, 979; C. Wright, Federal Courts § 53, at 217 (2d ed. 1970).
Defendant was convicted on his pleas of guilty to post office burglary and possession of stolen money orders, violations of 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 2115 and 641. Importantly, Count I of the indictment encompassed the § 2115 violation, while Count II involved the § 641 charge. The transcript of the sentencing hearing held on February 13, 1967 contains the following crucial language: "The Court sentences you to ten years in the penitentiary on Count One, and the other counts, one year; all counts to run concurrently; and so all of your years will run concurrent with your ten year sentence."
Whoever forcibly breaks into or attempts to break into any post office, or any building used in whole or in part as a post office, with intent to commit in such post office, or building or part thereof, so used, any larceny or other depredation, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Thus, it appears that Defendant has been sentenced to ten years for violating 18 U.S.C.A. § 2115, since that was Count One of the indictment. The maximum sentence allowable under § 2115 is five years.
Of course, the transcript may be in error. The formal written judgment of conviction and sentence signed the same day the sentencing hearing was held states that the ten year sentence is assessed for Count Two, and that the one year sentence is under Count One. As there is a variation between the oral sentence and the written judgment we vacate and remand the case for hearing and Findings of Fact regarding the term of the sentence orally pronounced, and for resentencing to the extent appropriate and permissible.
A ten year sentence is permissible under § 641, which provides:
Whoever embezzles, steals, purloins, or knowingly converts to his use or the use of another, or without authority, sells, conveys or disposes of any record, voucher, money, or thing of value of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, or any property made or being made under contract for the United States or any department or agency thereof; or
Whoever receives, conceals, or retains the same with intent to convert it to his use or gain, knowing it to have been embezzled, stolen, purloined or converted —
Shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; but if the value of such property does not exceed the sum of $100, he shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
The word "value" means face, par, or market value, or cost price, either wholesale or retail, whichever is greater.
Where there is a variance between the oral and written pronouncements of sentence, the oral pronouncement governs. Patterson v. United States, 5 Cir., 1967, 386 F.2d 142; Henley v. Heritage, 5 Cir., 1964, 337 F.2d 847.
Vacated and remanded.