Armijo v. United States of America

Filing 18

ORDER by Chief Magistrate Judge Karen B. Molzen denying the Government's request for a stay of proceedings until the Supreme Court decides Beckles v. United States, (S. Ct. No. 15-8544) and ordering the parties to confer and submit a mutually agreed briefing schedule on the predicate offense issues. (KBM)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.

CIV 16-0437 JCH/KBM
CR 12-0157 JCH

ABRAN ARMIJO,
Defendant.

ORDER DENYING STAY AND ORDERING BRIEFING SCHEDULE
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant’s Amended Motion to Vacate and
Correct Sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (CV Doc. 3, CR Doc. 110). The Honorable
Judith C. Herrera referred this matter to me in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C.
§§ 636(b)(1)(B), (b)(3), and Va. Beach Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Wood, 901 F.2d 849
(10th Cir. 1990), to conduct hearings, if warranted, including evidentiary hearings, and to
perform any legal analysis required to recommend to the Court an ultimate disposition of
the case. CV Doc. 15. The Court has reviewed the § 2255 Motion, the memoranda
submitted by the parties and the relevant authorities. The Court heard oral arguments on
November 2, 2016 with Attorney George Bach appearing for Defendant Armijo and AUSA
Kimberly Brawley appearing for the United States.
In its Response to the Motion, the Government asks that this matter be stayed until
the United States Supreme Court hands down its decision in Beckles v. United States,
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(S. Ct. No. 15-8544) as to: “(1) whether the holding in Johnson v. United States [135 S.
Ct. 2551 (2015)] applies to the residual clause of USSG § 4B1.2; and (2) if so, whether
Johnson applies retroactively to Sentencing Guidelines cases on collateral review in
which the sentence was enhanced by the residual clause in § 4B1.2.” CV Doc. 6 at 11.
The Supreme Court heard arguments in the Beckles case on November 28th, and a
decision is expected before the summer recess in 2017. Clearly, the Court would be aided
by such guidance given that these are the precise arguments raised here.
Recent Tenth Circuit unpublished decisions, however, persuade this Court that it
must address the merits of a Johnson claim where the defendant “will effectively be
denied his right to timely resolution of his § 2255 motion.” United States v. Smith, No.
16-8091 (10th Cir. Nov. 9, 2016), quoting United States v. Miller, No. 16-8080, slip op. at
7(10th Cir. Nov. 2, 2016) (unpublished) (issuing writ of mandamus and directing district
court to vacate stay and address merits); United States v. Carey, No. 16-8093 (10th Cir.
Nov. 4, 2016) (unpublished) (same). Here, Defendant Armijo contends, and the
Government does not appear to disagree, that if successful on the § 2255 motion, without
the career offender guideline enhancement he could now be eligible for a time-served
sentence (even if that result is unlikely given his extensive criminal history). CV Doc.10 at
1. Thus, a Beckles stay could effectively deny Defendant his right to timely resolution of
his § 2255 motion, and the merits of his motion must now be addressed.
The Clerk’s Minutes of the November 2nd hearing reflect, however, that the parties
should be given an opportunity to more fully develop their arguments as to whether any

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predicate offense at issue would otherwise qualify as a crime of violence absent the
residual clause of the career offender guideline.
Wherefore,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the United States’ request for a stay of proceedings
until the Supreme Court decides Beckles v. United States, (S. Ct. No. 15-8544) is denied.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties are to confer and submit a mutually
agreed briefing schedule on the predicate offense issues.

________________________________________
UNITED STATES CHIEF MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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