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U.S. v. Bird

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Aug 19, 2002
44 F. App'x 867 (9th Cir. 2002)

Opinion


44 Fed.Appx. 867 (9th Cir. 2002) UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Melissa Leigh BIRD, Defendant-Appellant. No. 00-30001. D.C. No. CR-99-00031-005. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. August 19, 2002

Submitted August 12, 2002.

This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

NOT FOR PUBLICATION. (See Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 36-3)

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, B. Lynn Winmill, District Judge, Presiding.

Before SCHROEDER, Chief Judge, TASHIMA and RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

Melissa Leigh Bird appeals the 97-month sentence imposed following her conviction by guilty plea for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & (b)(1) and 21 U.S.C. § 846; one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841; and one count of use of a hand gun in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S. C.§ 924(c). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

Bird contends that the district court committed error by including her juvenile convictions in its calculation of her criminal history score. Specifically, Bird argues

Page 868.

that inclusion of her juvenile convictions violates the Sentencing Commission's statutory directive to remove sentencing disparity pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 991(b)(1)(B). Because this objection was not raised before the sentencing court, we review for plain error, see United States v. Payne, 944 F.2d 1458, 1463 (9th Cir.1991), and find none.

For each of the drug trafficking counts to which she pleaded guilty, Bird was exposed to a 120 month minimum sentence. Because the district court departed downward and sentenced Bird to only 37 months for each drug trafficking violation, well below the guideline range even for a defendant with a criminal history score of I, Bird cannot show that her substantial rights were affected by the district court's calculation of her criminal history score. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 734, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993).

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

U.S. v. Bird

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Aug 19, 2002
44 F. App'x 867 (9th Cir. 2002)
Case details for

U.S. v. Bird

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Melissa Leigh BIRD…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Aug 19, 2002

Citations

44 F. App'x 867 (9th Cir. 2002)