Chronister v. United States of America

Filing 2

ORDER re 1 Motion to Vacate/Set Aside/Correct Sentence (2255), filed by Jessica Renee Chronister; the Court DISMISSES Defendants motions for lack of jurisdiction, as more fully set out. Signed by Honorable David L. Russell on 1/5/17. (jw)

IN THE UNITED STATE DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
JESSICA CHRONISTER,
Defendant.

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CR-13-33-R - CIV-16-1491-R
CR-13-34-R – CIV-16-1492-R
CR-13-194-R – CIV-16-1493-R

ORDER
On December 30, 2016, Defendant filed a Motion for Minor Role Adjustment and
Sentence Reduction Based on United States v. Quintero-Leyva and Pursuant to
Amendment 794 and 28 U.S.C. § 2255 in each of her three criminal cases. The Court
construes the motions as second or successive motions to vacate sentence under 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255. For the reasons stated herein, the Court DISMISSES Defendant’s motions for lack
of jurisdiction.
In a single motion listing all three of her case numbers Defendant seeks relief under
Amendment 794 to the Sentencing Guidelines, which became effective November 1, 2015.
This Court has authority to reduce the sentence of a defendant who has been sentenced to
a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that the United States Sentencing
Commission has subsequently lowered pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(o) “if such a reduction
is consistent with applicable policy statements issued by the Commission.” 18 U.S.C. §
3582(c)(2). Amendment 794 provides additional guidance to district courts in determining
when a mitigating role adjustment applies under Section 3B1.2 of the Guidelines. See

Amendment 794, Supp. to App. C (Nov. 1, 2015). However, unless and until the United
States Sentencing Commission specifically designates the amendment for retroactive
application, the Court has no authority to apply the amendment to any of Defendant's cases
under Section 3582(c)(2). See 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) (court may reduce sentence where
consistent with policy statements of Commission); U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10 (if an amendment is
not listed in subsection 1B1.10(c), a reduction not consistent with policy statement). While
certain “clarifying” amendments may be applied retroactively in determining whether the
district court correctly sentenced defendant under the Guidelines, a defendant must seek
relief based on such amendments as a challenge to her sentence on direct appeal or in a
motion under Section 2255. United States v. Torres-Aquino, 334 F.3d 939, 941 (10th Cir.
2003). This Court, however, lacks authority to modify a sentence under Section 3582(c)(2)
based on a “clarifying” amendment to the Guidelines that the Sentencing Commission has
not designated as retroactive. See id.
In probable anticipation of this limitation Defendant also relies on 28 U.S.C. § 2255
as a basis for her request. Defendant, however, previously filed a Section 2255 motion in
each of her criminal cases, which the Court denied. Pursuant to the Antiterrorism and
Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, she may not file a second or successive motion
pursuant to Section 2255 unless she first applies to the United States Court of Appeals for
the Tenth Circuit for an order authorizing this court to consider the motion. See 28 U.S.C.
§§ 2244(b)(3), 2255(h). Where, as here, a defendant files a second or successive motion
without first seeking the required authorization, this Court may (1) transfer the motion to
the appellate court if it determines that it is in the interest of justice pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
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§ 1631 or (2) dismiss the motion for lack of jurisdiction. See In re Cline, 531 F.3d 1249,
1252 (10th Cir. 2008). The Court has discretion in deciding whether to transfer or dismiss
without prejudice. Trujillo v. Williams, 465 F.3d 1210, 1222-23 (10th Cir. 2006). In making
this decision, the Court considers whether the claims would be time-barred if filed anew in
the proper forum, whether the claims are likely to have merit and whether the claims were
filed in good faith or if, on the other hand, it was clear at the time of filing that the Court
lacked jurisdiction. Id. at 1223 n.16.
In assessing whether to certify a second or successive motion under 28 U.S.C. §
2255 , the Court of Appeals considers whether the motion is based on (1) newly discovered
evidence that if proven and viewed in light of the evidence as a whole would establish by
clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable factfinder would have found defendant
guilty of the offense or (2) a new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive to cases on
collateral review by the Supreme Court, that was previously unavailable. 28 U.S.C. §
2255(h). Defendant's claims do not satisfy this authorization standard, and therefore, the
Court dismisses the motion in each case rather than transferring it to the Tenth Circuit. See
In re Cline, 531 F.3d at 1252 (district court may refuse to transfer motion which fails on
its face to satisfy authorization standards of Section 2255(h). Accordingly, and for the
reasons set forth herein, Defendant’s Motion is hereby DISMISSED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 5th day of January, 2017.

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