Patterson v. USA

Filing 5

ORDER granting 4 Motion to Stay to place this case in abeyance and this matter is hereby held in abeyance pending Supreme Court's decision in Beckles. Thereafter, the Govt shall have 60 days from date Supreme Court decides Beckles within which to file its response in this matter. Signed by District Judge Martin Reidinger on 9/16/16. (ejb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE DIVISION
CIVIL CASE NO. 1:16-cv-00162-MR
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 2:91-cr-00081-MR-1

KENNETH RANDOLPH PATTERSON, )
)
)
Petitioner,
)
)
vs.
)
)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
)
)
Respondent.
)
________________________________ )

ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on the motion of the United States
requesting that the Court enter an order holding this action in abeyance. [CV
Doc. 4].1 According to the government’s motion, defense counsel does not
object to its request. [Id.].
Petitioner was found guilty of robbery and use of a firearm during and
in relation to a robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and 18 U.S.C. §
924(e)(1); theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(b); and assault and putting

1

Citations to the record herein contain the relevant document number referenced
preceded by either the letters “CV” denoting the document is listed on the docket in the
civil case file number 1:16-cv-00162-MR, or the letters “CR” denoting the document is
listed on the docket in the criminal case file number 2:91-cr-00081-MR-1.

in jeopardy the lives of the tellers while committing robbery, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 2113(d). [CR Doc. 1 at 6]. The presentence report noted that
Petitioner had at least two prior qualifying convictions that triggered the
Career Offender enhancement under section 4B1.2 of the Sentencing
Guidelines: (1) a 1974 South Carolina conviction for housebreaking and
larceny and (2) a 1977 South Carolina conviction for housebreaking and
larceny (two cases counted as a single predicate). The Court sentenced
Petitioner as a Career Offender to a term of imprisonment of 387 months.
[Id.].
On June 10, 2016, Petitioner commenced this action by filing a petition
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, and he filed a Supplemental Motion to Vacate
through counsel on July 13, 2016. [CV Docs. 1; 3]. In his petition, Petitioner
contends that, in light of Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015),
his prior convictions under South Carolina law for housebreaking and larceny
no longer qualify as “crimes of violence” under the Guidelines. [Doc. No. 3
at 3-4]. Consequently, Petitioner argues his Career Offender designation is
improper and thus his sentence is unlawful. [Id.].
In response to the petition, the government has filed a motion to hold
this proceeding in abeyance. [CV Doc. 4]. The government notes that this
case will be affected by the Supreme Court’s decision next Term in Beckles
2

v. United States, 616 Fed. Appx. 415 (11th Cir.), cert. granted, 2016 WL
1029080 (U.S. June 27, 2016) (No. 15-8544). [Id. at 2]. One of the questions
presented in Beckles is whether Johnson applies retroactively to cases
collaterally challenging federal sentences enhanced under the residual
clause in U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(a)(2). The residual clause invalidated in Johnson
is identical to the residual clause in the Career Offender provision of the
Guidelines, § 4B1.2(a)(2) (defining "crime of violence").
Based upon the reasons given by the government, and without
objection by Petitioner, the Court concludes that the government’s motion
should be granted.
ORDER
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the government’s motion to place
this case in abeyance [CV Doc. 4], is hereby GRANTED and this matter is
hereby held in abeyance pending the Supreme Court’s decision in Beckles.
Thereafter, the government shall have 60 days from the date the Supreme
Court decides Beckles within which to file its response in this matter.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

Signed: September 16, 2016

3