Cason v. United States of America
Filing
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ORDER granting Government's 3 Motion to place case in Abeyance. Government shall have 60 days from the date the Supreme Court decides Beckles within which to file its response in this matter.Signed by District Judge Martin Reidinger on 9/2/2016. (nvc)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE DIVISION
CIVIL CASE NO. 1:16-CV-00197-MR
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 1:03-CR-00005-MR-1
RAY LEE CASON,
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Petitioner,
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vs.
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
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Respondent.
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________________________________ )
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. 3].1 According to the government’s motion, defense counsel does not
object to its request. [Id.].
Petitioner was convicted of bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §
2113(a); bank robbery by use of a dangerous weapon, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 2113(d); possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence,
in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii); and felon in possession of a
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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-197-MR, or the letters “CR” denoting the document is listed
on the docket in the criminal case file number 1:03-cr-5-MR-1.
firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). [CR Doc. 21]. The presentence
report noted that Petitioner had two prior qualifying convictions that triggered
the Career Offender enhancement under section 4B1.2 of the Sentencing
Guidelines: a 1977 North Carolina conviction for robbery with a dangerous
weapon and a 1996 North Carolina conviction for escape.
The Court
sentenced Petitioner as a Career Offender to a total term of imprisonment of
444 months. [Id.].
On June 21, 2016, Petitioner commenced this action by filing a petition
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. [CV Doc. 1]. In his petition, Petitioner
contends that, in light of Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015),
his prior North Carolina conviction for escape no longer qualifies as a “crime
of violence” under the Guidelines. [Id. 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. 3]. The government notes that this
case will be affected by the Supreme Court’s decision next Term in Beckles
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
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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. 3], 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 2, 2016
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