David Boschee v. United States of America

Filing 47

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER on Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence (2255); declining to issue certificate of appealability. Signed by U. S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol on 3/27/13. (SLW)

FILED
MAR 2 7 2013
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
SOUTHERN DIVISION

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DAVID BOSCHEE,
CIV 09-4135
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CR 07-40014
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Movant,
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-vs­
* MEMORANDUM OPINION AND
ORDER DENYING MOTION
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
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Respondent.
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David Boschee ("Boschee") has filed a pro se motion to vacate his sentence pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2255. For the following reasons the motion will be denied.

BACKGROUND
On February 14, 2007, Boschee was indicted in Count 1 for travel with intent to engage in
illicit sexual conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b), and in Count 2 for using the internet to
entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422(b).1 Count 2
ofthe Indictment states:
On or about September 29,2006, in the State and District of South Dakota, by using

the maiL and facilities ofand means ofinterstate commerce (namely, the Internet), the

defendant, David Boschee, did knowingly and intentionally persuade, induce, entice,

and coerce a minor, who had not yet attained the age of 18, to engage in sexual

activity for which the defendant could be charged with a criminal offense, namely,

IThat statute provides:

Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce,

or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States

knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained

the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any

person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined

under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.

18 U.S.c.A. § 2422(b).

criminal sexual conduct in vio lation 0 fSo uth Dakota Codified Law §§ 22-22-1 (5) and
22-22-7, all in violation of18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).
(Doc. 14, CR 07-40014.) On February 22,2008, four days before his trial was to begin, Boschee
entered a plea of guilty to Count 2, which carried a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in
prison and a maximum sentence oflife in prison. Boschee admitted that during June of2006, he met
a minor over the internet and began engaging in conversations with her via email and instant message
"chat." He was 37 years old and he knew the minor was 15 years old. Boschee also conceded that
he knowingly and intentionally persuaded the minor, using the internet, to meet with him at a Sioux
Falls, South Dakota hotel to engage in sexual activity which he knew could result in criminal charges
against him. 2 The minor met him at the hotel and, between September 29 and October 1, 2006, they
engaged in a variety ofsexual acts, including sexual intercourse.

In the presentence investigation report ("PSR"), a number ofsentencing enhancements were
applied, resulting in a total offense level of 43, which equals a guideline sentence of life even with
Boschee's criminal history category 0 fI. A sentencing hearing was held over the co urse 0 f three days
in August of2008 during which five witnesses testified (including Boschee and the minor victim),
numerous exhibits were received, and the Court heard arguments from the parties. The Court ruled
that the base offense level, originally calculated to be 30, should be 24. The four-level enhancement
for use of force or threat was found not to apply. Boschee was given a two-level reduction for
acceptance ofresponsibility. A total offense level of31 rather than 43 was reached. With a criminal
history category ofl, the guideline range was 108 to 135 months instead oflife. After discussing the
factors of 18 U.S.c. § 3553(a), the Court varied above the advisory guideline range by 9 months for
a number of reasons. First, the Court was concerned about comments in the PSR and in the
psychological evaluation which indicated that Boschee would be difficult to counsel, even though he
was only a low to moderate risk to reoffend. Second, the Court found that a higher sentence more
accurately reflected the seriousness ofthe offense, noting that additional criminal charges could have

2Under South Dakota law, it is statutory rape for a person sixteen years or older to have
sexual contact with a person under the age of sixteen. See SDCL §§ 22-22-1(5) and 22-22-7.
2

been brought against Boschee. Boschee was sentenced to 144 months imprisonment and five years
supervised release. He did not appeal his sentence to the Eighth Circuit.

The grounds raised by Boschee in the § 2255 motion are: 1) ineffective assistance ofcounsel;
2) prosecutorial misconduct; and 3) judicial error.

DISCUSSION
A prisoner in custody pursuant to a federal conviction and sentence may move the court that
imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence:
[U]pon the ground that the sentence was imposed in violation ofthe Constitution or
laws of the United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such
sentence, or that the sentence was in excess ofthe maximum authorized by law, or is
otherwise subject to collateral attack.
28 U.S.C. § 2255. The right ofcollateral review is an extraordinary remedy and "will not be allowed
to do service for an appeal." Bousley v. United States, 523 U.S. 614,621 (1998). Therefore, § 2255
actions are limited by the preclusive effect of decisions resulting from prior direct appellate review
and by the doctrine of procedural default. Claims which have been raised and decided on direct
appeal are precluded from further litigation under § 2255. See United States v. Shabazz, 657 F.2d
189, 190 (8th Cir. 1981) ("It is well settled that claims which were raised and decided on direct
appeal cannot be relitigated .... "). On the other hand, under the doctrine ofprocedural default, issues
that could have been but were not raised on direct appeal are waived and cannot be asserted for the
first time in a collateral § 2255 action absent a showing of cause and actual prejudice, or a showing
of actual innocence.

See United States v. Bailey, 235 F.3d 1069, 1071-72 (8th Cir. 2000).

Moreover, alleged errors that are non-jurisdictional or non-constitutional cannot be raised in a § 2255
if those issues were not raised in a direct appeal, even if cause and prejUdice are shown. See

Anderson v. United States, 25 F.3d 704, 706 (8th Cir. 1994).

The government argues that Boschee procedurally defaulted all 0 fhis claims other than those
for ineffective assistance of counsel because he has not established cause and prejudice, and he has

3

failed to establish factual innocence. 3 In response, Boschee asserts that, initially, he did not intend
to appeal his sentence to the Eighth Circuit, but he changed his mind within the time limit for appeal
and attempted to get legal help, but failed. The Court notes that the last day ofBoschee's sentencing
hearing was August 21, 2008, and his lawyer, John Schlimgen, was sworn in as a Magistrate Judge
for the Second Judicial Circuit on August 25, 2008. Boschee explains:
In order to meet his swearing in, my sentencing was bumped up, and I was given one
day to decide to appeal. And while I did, apparently, initially waive my right, I
attempted to rescind that waiver within the ten-day limit by contacting the legal aid
resource at the South Dakota State Penitentiary where I was being held at the time.
Unfortunately, the attorney didn't respond in time ....
(Doc. 44, Reply Brief, at p. 6-7.) Assuming this is sufficient reason to excuse Boschee's procedural
default, the following discussion shows that his claims fail on the merits. 4 In addressing the merits,
the Court is mindful that prisoner pro se pleadings must be given the benefit of liberal construction.

See Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (per curiam) ("A document filed pro se is to be
liberally construed").

A.

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
A defendant who claims to have been deprived ofeffective assistance ofcounsel must show:

(1) that his lawyer's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2) that
the lawyer's deficient performance prejudiced the defendant. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668, 688, 694 (1984). For the first requirement of the Strickland test, "the court must apply an
objective standard and 'determine whether, in light of all the circumstances, the identified acts or
omissions were outside the wide range ofprofessionally competent assistance' Strickland, 466 U.S.

3Ineffective assistance of counsel claims should be brought in 28 U.S.C. § 2255 proceedings
rather than on direct appeal because they usually involve facts outside the record. See United States
v. Hughes, 330 F.3d 1068, 1069 (8th Cir. 2003).
4Procedural default is not a jurisdictional bar to reviewing the merits ofa claim, and "judicial
economy sometimes dictates reaching the merits ifthe merits are easily resolvable against a petitioner
while the procedural bar issues are complicated." Barrett v. Acevedo, 169 F.3d 1155, 1162 (8th Cir.
1999).
4

at 690, 104 S.Ct. at 2066, while at the same time refraining from engaging in hindsight or second­
guessing oftrial counsel's strategic decisions." Nave v. Delo, 62 F.3d 1024, 1035 (8th Cir. 1995).
The Court must indulge a strong presumption that "counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of
reasonable professional assistance." Hunter v. Bowersox, 172 F.3d 1016, 1024 (8th Cir. 1999). In
the context of a guilty plea, the Supreme Court has held that the "prejudice" requirement of the
Strickland test "focuses on whether counsel's constitutionally ineffective performance affected the
outcome of the plea process. In other words, in order to satisfY the 'prejudice' requirement, the
defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, he would
not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial." Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52,
58-59 (1985).

Boschee has enumerated 17 alleged errors by his lawyer, John Schlimgen ("Schlimgen").
When these allegations coincide with Boschee's allegations of prosecutoriaI misconduct or judicial
error, the claims will be addressed together.

1. Admission of Exhibits 21, 25 and 26
Boschee's first ineffective assistance of counsel claim is that Schlimgen failed to object to
Exhibit 21 (photos of child pornography found on Boschee's computer), Exhibit 25 (photos of
Boschee cross-dressing as a female and wearing a red pet collar similar to the one he told the victim
to wear), and Exhibit 26 (photo of someone wearing a gag similar to the one Boschee put on the
victim), Boschee argues the exhibits were irrelevant and prejudicial. The government argues that
the Federal Rules of Evidence do not apply to sentencing hearings, the admission of exhibits was
within the Court's discretion, the exhibits did not affect the guideline calculations so counsel did not
err, and the exhibits were not prejudicial.

A district court may consider any "information concerning the background, character, and
conduct ofa person convicted 0 fan offense... for the purpose ofimposing an appropriate sentence."
18 U.S.C. § 3661. The rules ofevidence do not apply in the context ofsentencing hearings, and the
court has broad discretion in determining the types of information on which to rely for sentencing,
5

as long as the information is sufficiently reliable. See United States v. Azure, 596 F.3d 449, 454 (8th
Cir. 201 0). The government is correct that Exhibits 21, 25 and 26 did not affect the guideline
calculations. Furthennore, the Court did not rely on Exhibit 25 or Exhibit 26 when arriving at the
sentence for Boschee. Schlimgen's failure to object to the admission ofExlnbits 25 and 26 was not
unreasonable, and Boschee did not suffer any prejudice.

Exhibit 21 contains six child pornography photographs, three 0 f which appear to be duplicates
of the other three photographs. Agent Behan's testimony and report assured the reliability of the
photographs. Possession of child pornography is a crime and it is probative of Boschee's "history
and characteristics" and "the need ...to protect the public from further crimes" by him. 18 U .S.C.
§ 3553(a)(1), (2)(C). To analyze the § 3553(a) sentencing factors, this Court was entitled to consider

the photographs, and an objection by Schlimgen would have been overruled. Other evidence showed
that Boschee possessed 465 child pornography images on his computer, as well as 13 movies ofchild
pornography. The images in the six photos of Exlnbit 21 were illustrative ofthose 465 images, and
admission ofthe photographs did not prejudice Boschee.

For these reasons, Boschee's claim that his lawyer was ineffective for failing to object to
Exlnbits 21, 25 and 26 will be denied, as will his claims that the prosecutor should not have
introduced the exhibits (prosecutorial misconduct claim 4), that the Court committed judicial error
by allowing the exhibits into evidence (judicial error claim 3).

2. Guideline Provisions
Next, in claim 2 Boschee asserts that Schlimgen was ineffective for not arguing at sentencing
that the Court should consider specific offender characteristics found in USSG §§ 5Hl.IO (race, sex,
national origin), 5Hl.ll (military service), and 5Hl.12 (lack ofguidance as a youth). Because both
5Hl.10 and SHl.12 state that they are not relevant in the determination of a sentence, Schlimgen
cannot be faulted for failing to argue in favor of applying those sections, and Boschee was not
prejudiced. As for § 5Hl.ll, the Court was aware of Boschee's military service. It was described
in some detail in the PSR, and the Court questioned Boschee about it at the sentencing hearing.
6

Nothing demonstrated that Boschee's military service was distinguishable to the extent that it would
warrant a sentence lower than the guideline level, so Schlimgen's failure to argue in favor ofapplying

5Hl.ll does not rise to constitutionally deficient representation as defined by Strickland and its
progeny.

Boschee faults Schlimgen for not arguing for a downward departure from the guidelines based
on USSG §§ 5K2.1O (victim's conduct), 5K2.13 (diminished capacity), and 5K2.20 (aberrant
behavior). Those grounds for a departure were presented to the Court in objection 46 to the PSR.
The Court considered the request for a downward departure on those grounds and rejected it on the
record at the sentencing hearing. (ST at 368-69.)5 The Court's decision not to downwardly depart
was not due to Schlimgen's failure to argue for departure on those grounds at sentencing. There
simply was no reason to depart. It was reasonable for Schlimgen to focus on other, more favorable
legal arguments, and Boschee was not prejudiced by the performance of counsel.

3. Failure to Object to Court's Rulings
In claim 3 Boschee argues that Schlimgen should have objected to the Court's rulings on his
downward departure requests. The request for a downward departure was duly noted by the Court.
The Court understood it had discretion to downwardly depart but, after consideration, explicitly
rejected the request for such a departure. Schlimgen was not required to object to the Court's rulings
or to take any further action in order to preserve the record regarding this issue. Boschee is not
entitled to relief on this claim.

4. Failure to Argue Sentencing Factors
Boschee alleges in claim 4 that Schlimgen failed to argue the § 3553 sentencing factors. This
claim clearly lacks merit because Schlimgen did, in fact, argue the sentencing factors. (ST at 379­
384.) The Court was fully aware of the factors and of its authority to vary upward or downward
from the sentencing guidelines after the appropriate guideline range was determined. The Court

5Citations to the sentencing transcript will be referred to as "ST" followed by the appropriate
page number.
7

explained on the record why an upward variance of9 months was imposed, and reiterated this ruling
in its written Statement ofReasons issued after the sentencing hearing. Schlimgen was not required
to object to the Court's ruling on the variance, and relief on this claim will be denied.

5. Failure to Ask for Recommendation for Prison Facility
Schlimgen's failure to ask the Court to recommend placement as alleged in claim 5 is not
constitutionally defective performance, and Boschee has not shown prejudice. Boschee does not have
a constitutional right to placement at a particular Bureau ofPrisons facility. See Olim v. Wakinekona,
461 U.S. 238, 244-45 (1983). Placement decisions are made by the Bureau of Prisons. Although
a district court may recommend the place of imprisonment, see 18 U.S.C. § 3621 (b)(4), the district
court's recommendation is not binding on the Bureau of Prisons, see 18 U.S.c. § 3621(b) ("Any
order, recommendation, or request by a sentencing court that a convicted person serve a term of
imprisonment in a community corrections facility shall have no binding effect on the authority ofthe
Bureau under this section to determine or change the place of imprisonment of that person.").

6. Press Information
Claims 6 and 10 deal with press releases. Boschee argues his lawyer should have objected
to government press releases that contained errors about Boschee's age and occupation,6 and that
his lawyer should have requested a "gag order" to prevent dissemination ofprivate information. By
the same token, Boschee claims the government vio lated his rights by releasing inaccurate information
to the press.

Boschee's claim that he was harmed by information released to the press is unconvincing. The
purpose ofcurtailing comments by the government on criminal cases is to avoid undue publicity that
might unfairly prejudice a defendant. Boschee has not shown that any information was materially
inaccurate. In any event, the Court got its information for sentencing purposes from the PSR and
from the parties themselves, and not from press releases.

Schlimgen's performance was not

6Although he had his Master's Degree in Library and Information Sciences, Boschee was
working as a circulation assistant rather than as a librarian as indicated by the government.
8

constitutionally inadequate for failing to object or to request a gag order, and Boschee was not
prejudiced by any press releases. As a result, relief will not be granted on these claims.

Furthermore, Boschee has failed to show the government violated his constitutional rights by
virtue ofinformation released to the press. His prosecutorial misconduct claims 1, 5 and 14 alleging
that the government violated his rights by releasing inaccurate information to the press also will be
denied.

7. Use ofthe word "child"
In claims 6, 7, 8 and 9 Boschee faults Schlimgen for not objecting to references to the victim
as a "child." He claims the word "child" was used by the government in the indictment and in a press
release to make Boschee's offense seem more serious and to make Boschee appear more dangerous.
According to Boschee, the word "child" does not apply to his victim because she was 15 years old
and he thinks "child" only legally applies to a person age 12 or under. Under South Dakota law,
however, a person younger than 16 years old is a "child" for purposes ofstatutory rape. The title of
SDCL § 22-22-7 is "Sexual contact with child under sixteen - - Felony or misdemeanor." The South
Dakota Supreme Court has explained that the State's statutory rape statutes are meant to protect
children:
The fact that a fourteen-year-old gives "consent" to sexual intercourse is of no
relevant consideration. The very premise underlying statutory rape is that children are
incapable of "consenting" to voluntary sexual relations. Regardless of the
perpetrator's mental capacity, or the underage victim's voluntary participation, the
consequences for statutory rape can be enormous: Childhood pregnancies, abortions,
venereal diseases, unwanted births, abuse and neglect, all flow from premature and
irresponsible sex. Moreover, child victims of sex offenses often develop life long
emotional problems.

* * * *

Crimes against children, especially sex offenses, have increased nationwide by
epidemic proportions. Recognizing its pernicious impact, our Legislature in recent
years has revised the law prohibiting statutory rape to reflect its accelerating concern
with protecting children. In 1980 the law was amended to increase the penalty from
ten to fifteen years and in 1984 amended again to raise the age ofconsent from fifteen
to sixteen. See SDCL 22-22-1 (5), 1980 S.L. ch. 175; 1984 S.L. ch. 167.

9

State v. Bonner, 577 N.W.2d 575, 583 (S.D.1998). In the present case, the offense of conviction

cites and incorporates South Dakota law, SDCL §§ 22-22-1 (5) and 22-22-7, and the operative age
of the "child" is 16 years old under South Dakota law. Schlimgen was not deficient for failing to
object to the word "child." Furthermore, the Court was aware of the victim's age and some of her
other characteristics that were relevant to sentencing. The Court was not swayed by the word "child"
when deciding Boschee's sentence, so Boschee suffered no prejudice. Accordingly, Boschee is not
entitled to relief on this ground.

For the same reasons, the Court will deny relief on Boschee's other claims based on the use
of the word "child," including claims 2 and 3 under prosecutorial misconduct and claim 4 under
judicial error.

8. Failing to object to victim's prior statement
Boschee asserts in claim 11 that Schlimgen should have objected to admission of a prior
statement by the victim. The Court assumes he is referring to Government Exhibit 33. Exhibit 33
is a report of an interview of the victim on February 26, 2007. The government explained at
sentencing that it became aware ofthe statement just 10 days before sentencing, and immediately
provided it to Schlimgen. (ST at 177.) The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure cited by Boschee
require the government to produce a witness statement after a witness has testified on direct
examination at a sentencing hearing. See Fed. RCrim. P. 26.2(a), 32(i)(2). In this instance, the
statement was produced 10 days prior to the witness' testimony at the sentencing hearing. An
objection by Sch1imgen would have been overruled because the rules were not violated and the report
had sufficient indicia 0 f reliability to be admitted into evidence at sentencing. Relief will be denied
on this ineffective assistance of counsel claim, as well as on the claims made on this same basis in
Boschee's prosecutorial misconduct allegation 13 and his judicial error allegation 2.

10

9. Failure to object to victim's perjured testimony
In claim 12, Boschee alleges his victim gave perjured testimony. Elsewhere in his pleadings,
Boschee says the victim lied about not wanting to have sex with him. He argues that Schlimgen
should have objected to this testimony.

In order to prove that the victim's testimony was perjured, Boschee must show that she gave
"false testimony concerning a material matter with the willful intent to provide false testimony, rather
than as a result of confusion, mistake or faulty memory." United States v. Dunnigan, 507 U.S. 87,
94 (1993) (citing 18 U.S.C. § 1621(1) ("Whoever ... willfully and contrary to [the] oath states or
subscribes any material matter which he does not believe to be true ... is guilty of perjury.... ")).
Applying these principles to the facts ofthis case, the Court finds that the Boschee's claim must fail.

First, under the facts of this case, the Court cannot find that the victim committed perjury.
She clearly was impeached with regard to some sexual communications between her and Boschee.
But memories can fade, especially with regard to dates, and the victim was only 15 years old at the
time ofthe offense. Even though the Court found that the sexual contact was not forced upon her,
the sexual activity obviously went further than the victim believed it would, and it appears that as time
passed she wished she had not engaged in the conduct. The Court views the victim's testimony not
as perjured, but as being clouded by the distaste she now feels about what happened with Boschee.
It was reasonable for Schlimgen to impeach the victim's testimony rather than to object to it as
perjured.

Second, even if, for the sake of argument, the victim lied on the stand about whether she
wanted to have sex with Boschee, the allegedly perjured testimony was not prejudicial. The Court
was fully aware ofthe victim's incentive to minimize her part in the sexual contact and weighed her
testimony with particular care. Schlimgen successfully impeached the victim's credibility, revealing
the voluntariness of her conduct and convincing the Court that Boschee did not use force. 7 The

7As at sentencing, the Court is careful to distinguish between voluntariness and consent.
Being under the age of 16 at the time ofthe offense, the victim was unable to consent to the sexual
11

victim's testimony did not cause an increase in Boschee's sentence, and Boschee's twelfth claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel lacks merit and will be denied.

Boschee also claims the government suborned perjury from the victim, encouraging her to lie
on the stand. ''To prove prosecutorial use of false testimony, a defendant must show that: (1) the
prosecution used perjured testimony; (2) the prosecution should have known or actually knew ofthe
perjury; and (3) there was a reasonable likelihood that the perjured testimony could have affected the
jury's verdict." United States v. Funchess, 422 F.3d 698, 701 (8th Cir. 2005) (citing United States
v. Peterson, 223 F.3d 756, 763 (8th Cir. 2000)).

Boschee cannot satisfY these requirements because, as explained above, the victim did not
provide willfully false testimony. In addition, there is no evidence the prosecutor knew or should
have known the testimony was false. Finally, Boschee was not prejudiced by the testimony, as
Schlimgen successfully impeached the victim's credibility on cross-examination.

To the extent Boschee is arguing that the prosecutor must have suborned perjury because the
victim's testimony was impeached, that argument fails. See United States v. Martin, 59 F.3d 767,
770 (8th Cir. 1995) ("[A] challenge to evidence through ... prior inconsistent statements [is]
insufficient to establish prosecutorial use of false testimony.").

For these reasons, the Court rejects Boschee's allegation that the government suborned
perjured testimony from the victim, as set forth in his prosecutorial misconduct claims 7, 8 and 12.

10. Failure to request grand jury testimony
Boschee asserts that Schlimgen was ineffective for failing to request grand jury testimony.
He does not explain what testimony should have been requested, why the request should have been
made, or how he suffered prejUdice. Thus, Boschee is not entitled to relief on this claim.

acts with Boschee.

12

11. Failure to admit beneficial evidence
The fourteenth ineffective assistance of counsel allegation by Boschee is that Schlimgen
"failed to admit as evidence items beneficial to Mr. Boschee's defense." Because Boschee does not
explain what evidence Schlimgen should have admitted or how he was prejudiced by this failure, the
Court cannot grant relief on this basis.

12. Failure to object to hearsay testimony at initial appearance
Boschee does not give the information necessary to obtain relief on this fifteenth claim. He
does not indicate what testimony he claims should not have been allowed at his initial appearance,
or how he suffered prejudice.

13. Compelling Boschee to waive right to speedy trial
According to Boschee's sixteenth ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Schlimgen
compelled him to waive his right to a speedy trial in order to prepare an adequate defense after the
government failed to produce discovery in a timely manner. No other details about this claim are
provided. If, however, Schlimgen needed more time to prepare an adequate defense, it would have
been reasonable for him to move for a continuance and to agree that the resulting delay would be
excluded from the Speedy Trial Act computation. Boschee has not presented any evidence that
Schlimgen's representation in this regard was unreasonable, or that he suffered prejudice by a delay
ofthe proceedings. As a result, this ineffective assistance of counsel claim is without merit.

Boschee's prosecutorial misconduct claims made on this same ground also lack merit. In
claims 9 and 10, Boschee asserts that the government violated his speedy trial rights by failing to
deliver discovery in a timely manner, "compelling Mr. Boschee to waive said right in order for
counsel to provide an 'adequate defense. '" (Doc. 1, p. 2.2.) Boschee does not describe what
discovery the government did not timely disclose, or why he was entitled to discover the information.
"There is no general constitutional right to discovery in a criminal case...." Weatherford v. Bursey,
429 U.S. 545, 559 (1977). There is no basis for relief on these prosecutorial misconduct claims.

13

14. Failure to object to Court's guideline departure
In Boschee's seventeenth and final ineffective assistance of counsel claim, he argues that
Schlimgen should have objected to the Court's departure because the Court had not given notice of
a possible departure as required by Federal Rule ofCriminal Procedure 32(h). As noted earlier in this
opinion, the Court imposed a variance; it did not depart. Rule 32(h) does not require that a district
court givenoticeofan upward variance. United Statesv. Foy, 617 FJd 1029, 1035 (8th Cir. 2010)
("As the district court correctly noted, however, it was not required to provide advance notice ofits
intent to vary upwardly."). "Federal Rule ofCriminal Procedure 32(h) 'provides that under certain
circumstances the district court must give notice to the parties that it is contemplating a departure
from the guidelines range. However, notice pursuant to Rule 32(h) is not required when the
adjustment to the sentence is effected by a variance, rather than by a departure. '" Id. (quoting United
States v. Long Soldier, 431 F.3d 1120, 1122 (8th Cir. 2005». Because the Court imposed an upward

variance, Rule 32(h) did not require that it give Boschee notice. As a result, Boschee's final
ineffective assistance of counsel claim is rejected.

For these same reasons, Boschee's claim ofprosecutorial misconduct for failing to object to
a departure (claim 15), and his claim that the Court committed error by failing to give notice of an
upward departure (claim 1), are also denied.

In summary, the Court finds no deficiency of counsel in this case. Boschee admitted that he
was guilty ofCount 2. Prior to the sentencing hearing, Schlimgen filed two sentencing memoranda
and submitted 46 objections to the PSR for the Court to consider in deciding an appropriate sentence.
Though Boschee takes credit for the objections to the PSR, his lawyer submitted them and many of
them were granted. During Boschee's sentencing hearing which took place over the course ofthree
days, Schlimgen made a number of arguments objecting to the PSR and in favor of a mitigated
sentence. Counsel was well-prepared and his performance assisted Boschee in decreasing the
sentencing guideline range from life down to 108 to 135 months. Boschee has not met the first prong
ofthe Strickland test requiring representation below an objective standard of reasonableness.

14

Even ifBoschee could overcome the strong presumption that Schlimgen's representation was
reasonable, he has failed to show that he suffered any prejudice, the second part 0 f the Strickland test.
In order to establish prejudice in this instance, Boschee must show that, but for his counsel's error,
he would not have entered a guilty plea. Boschee has failed to show any reason why he would have
gone to trial and there is nothing in the record to indicate that Boschee would have gone to trial
rather than plead guilty to Count 2 of the Indictment. The government's evidence against Boschee
was strong.

Counsel's performance decreased his sentence.

Simply put, Boschee has not

demonstrated prejudice, and he is entitled to no reliefon his ineffective assistance of counsel claims.

B.

Prosecutorial Misconduct
"As a general rule, '[p]rosecutorial misconduct does not warrant federal habeas relief unless

the misconduct infected the trial with enough unfairness to render [petitioner's] conviction a denial
ofdue process. '" Louisell v. Dir. o/Iowa Dept! o/Corrections, 178 F.3d 1019, 1023 (8th Cir. 1999)
(quoting Roberts v. BOlversox, 137 F.3d 1062, 1066 (8th Cir. 1998)). To violate due process, a
prosecutor's conduct must be so egregious as to render a defendant's trial fundamentally unfair.
Stringer v. Hedgepeth, 280 F.3d 826, 829 (8th Cir. 2002). The Court has addressed most of

Boschee's prosecutorial misconduct claims above. The remaining allegations in claims 6 and 11 will
be addressed below.

1. Failure to correct untrue information in PSR
In claim 6, Boschee alleges that the prosecutor did not correct untrue and misleading
information in the PSR as required by ABA Prosecution Standard 3-6.2(b).8 The information
Boschee refers to is the word "child" and the inappropriate use of an alias. ABA Prosecution
Standard 3-1.1 explains that the ABA standards are only a guide to conduct; "[t]hey are not intended
to be used as criteria for the judicial evaluation ofalleged misconduct ofthe prosecutor to determine

8Standard 3-6.2(b) provides, in part: "The prosecutor should disclose to the defense and to
the court at or prior to the sentencing proceeding all unprivileged mitigating information known to
the prosecutor.... " Standard 3-6.2(a) states that the prosecutor "should take steps to present the
complete and correct information to the court and to defense counsel" if incompleteness or
inaccuracies in the PSR come to the prosecutor's attention.

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the validity ofa conviction. They mayor may not be relevant in such judicial evaluation, depending
upon all the circumstances." ABA Prosecution Function Standard 3-1.1.

Even if the law requires a prosecutor to correct erroneous information in a PSR, there is
nothing in the record to show the prosecutor should have corrected something in Boschee's PSR.
There is no basis to believe that, when Boschee was sentenced, the Court was acting under a mistaken
premise because ofsomething in the PSR. The Court has already explained that the use ofthe word
"child" was not an error because those under the age 0 f sixteen are considered children for purposes
of South Dakota's statutory rape laws, and the victim here was under sixteen. In addition, listing
Boschee's legal name, "David Michael Boschee," as an alias in the PSR, left uncorrected by the
prosecutor, does not require the Court to vacate Boschee's sentence. Boschee's second objection
to the PSR noted that his actual name is David Michael Boschee and it is not an alias. At sentencing,
the Court agreed with Boschee. He is not entitled to relief on claim 6 ofhis prosecutorial misconduct
claims.

2. Abuse of discretion in charging and investigation
The eleventh prosecutorial misconduct claim is that the government abused its discretion in
its choice of charging statutes and guideline provisions, and failed to investigate the case with due
diligence.

It is well established that prosecutors have broad discretion in charging decisions. See United

States v. Jacobs, 4 F.3d 603, 604 (8th Cir. 1993). "[S]o long as the prosecutor has probable cause
to believe that the accused committed an offense defined by statute, the decision whether or not to
prosecute, and what charge to file . . . generally rests entirely in his discretion." Id. (quoting

Bordenkircherv. Hayes, 434 U.S. 357, 364 (1978)).

The offense of conviction has an element of enticement not found in statutory rape statutes.
18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) requires that a defendant "persuades, induces, entices, or coerces" a minor to
perform illicit sexual activity. See 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). Boschee asserts that, had the government

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done a thorough case investigation, the government would have known the victim enticed Boschee
and not the other way around. In support ofthis argument, Boschee states:
1) It was [the victim] who introduced sex as a topic of conversation into our

discussions, as the court, perhaps reluctantly, agreed;

2) It was also [the victim] who proposed we share my hotel room and a bed therein;

3) It was [the victim] who lied to her mother about where she would be that weekend,

and engaged her friend Ana as chauffeur, chaperone, and alibi;

4) [The victim] made the decision to come to the hotel and to stay at the hotel;

5) and perhaps most important of all, it was she who asked me "to sleep with" her,

not the other way around, as usually happens.

(Doc. 1, p. 4.23.) Even if these facts are accurate, Boschee overlooks all of the evidence showing
he solicited the victim in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). Based on the facts set forth in the PSR
and the facts discussed in open court, the government did not abuse its discretion in charging Boschee
under 18 U.S.c. § 2422(b). It is more likely than not that a jury would have convicted Boschee. In
fact, Boschee's conceded conduct alone satisfies the elements of the crime and makes it difficult to
conceive of a jury not convicting him. 9

Boschee claims that he could not have both enticed the victim as charged in the Indictment
and also forced her to have sexual contact with him as the government argued at sentencing. He
believes that enticement and force are mutually exclusive. The facts, however, could show both. In
the present case, Boschee did persuade or entice the victim to have sex with him. In addition, the
victim testified and Boschee admitted that he spanked, bit, restrained and gagged her, so it was not
unreasonable for the prosecutor to believe that some ofthe sexual activities that occurred in the hotel
room may have been forced, which would have justified an enhancement 0 fBoschee' s sentence. The
Court's ultimate rejection ofthe government's argument that Boschee used force does not mean it
was malfeasance for the prosecutor to make the argument for purposes of sentencing.

9Some facts evidencing Boschee's persuasion or enticement ofthe victim to engage in sexual
activity include sending gifts to her, sending numerous sexually explicit emails, instructing her on how
to masturbate, and letting the victim know, prior to his travel to Sioux Falls, that he wanted to have
sex with her when they met.

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Boschee seems to argue that, because the victim's testimony about use of force was
impeached at sentencing, and because the prosecutor should have known from the beginning that the
victim lied about not wanting to have sex with Boschee, the government should have charged him
only with statutory rape. Use of force, however, is not an element of the crimes charged, and the
government would not have been required to prove it at trial in order to obtain a guilty verdict. to
The charging statutes were appropriate. II

In summary, the Court finds nothing that amounted to prosecutorial misconduct in this case,
and Boschee's prosecutorial misconduct claims must be denied.

C.

Judicial Error

Boschee has three remaining judicial error claims which were not addressed above. Claims
5 and 7 relate to the sentencing guidelines, and claim 6 alleges the Court failed to consider
unwarranted sentencing disparities under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6).

1. Sentencing guidelines
The Court rejects Boschee's allegations in claim 5 that the PSR did not include all applicable
guidelines and that it failed to identifY any basis for departure. The PSR writer identified the
applicable guidelines and discussed a basis for an upward departure. Boschee and Schlirngen

lOUse of force was relevant at sentencing only because various enhancements would have
applied had the Court found Boschee used force. The sentencing guidelines' enhancements are
separate from the elements ofthe crime, and they are tailored to recognize different hanns that may
attend a criminal act. For example, in any case involving a violation of 18 U.S.c. §2422(b), the
statute of conviction in this case, the unlawful sexual activity can take place even if the victim
voluntarily participates. The sentencing guidelines provide the court with the flexibility to apply a
force enhancement ifthe sex acts were not voluntary, depending on the facts. The force enhancement
is not mandatory.
liThe government could have brought additional charges against Boschee, including
possession of child pornography.
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responded to the PSR, and included grounds for a downward variance and departure. There was no
error in regard to the PSR, and this claim will be denied.

Boschee's assertion in claim 7 that the Court summarily dismissed guideline provisions raised
in his objections to the PSR is also denied. The Court carefully considered all objections raised by
Boschee and Schlimgen.

2. Sentencing factor under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6)
In claim 6, Boschee asserts that this Court failed to consider, under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6),
the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities.

The Court is well aware that it must consider all ofthe § 3553(a) factors. See Gall v. United
States, 552 U.S. 38, 49-50 (2007). The Eighth Circuit has explained that sentencing courts need not

"categorically rehearse each ofthe § 3553(a) factors on the record as long as it is clear that the court
considered those factors." United States v. Hernandez, 518 F.3d 613,616 (8th Cir. 2008). Nor is
the sentencing court required to make specific findings on the record about each § 3553(a) factor.
See United States v. Perkins, 526 F.3d 1107, 1110 (8th Cir. 2008). "[A]ll that is generally required

to satisfY the appellate court is evidence that the district court was aware of the relevant factors."
Id. "If a district court references someofthe considerations contained in § 3553(a), we are ordinarily

satisfied that the district court was aware ofthe entire contents ofthe relevant statute." Id. at 1111
(internal quotation and citation omitted). At numerous times during Boschee's sentencing hearing,
the Court discussed the § 3553(a) factors. The Court listened to and considered each of Boschee's
arguments regarding the factors, including the one Boschee alleges was not considered. (ST at 382­
83) (Schlimgen argues the Court should consider sentencing disparities.)

Even though Court did not specifically cite § 3553(a)(6), the record shows it evaluated that
factor. The Court discussed the disparity between the range of punishment in Boschee's case
compared to the typical statutory rape cases seen by this Court. As the Court explained at
sentencing:

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[T]he typical statutory rape case that this Court gets is one from the reservation,
because South Dakota is a non-public law 280 state, which means when those
offenses are on the reservation then they come to Federal Court, so normally those
are the only statutory rape cases the Court sees and those are cases where usually
there is a small difference in age between a 15 year old girl say and a 18 year old boy,
and they are romantically engaged usually, and those are the typical cases that we get.
This case is not typical, and the offense by comparison in terms of the maximum
punishment. And the range ofpunishment is not typical ofthose cases either, because
in those cases I am referring to the prosecution uses discretion in the Court's
experience in how those are charged, if they are charged at all. In this one, since we
spent a lot of time on it, I am going to spend a bit of time explaining the Court's
thoughts and what the Court is going to do.
(ST at 386) (emphasis added). Furthermore, research done by the Court in preparation for Boschee's
trial and sentencing included cases involving violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), and the Court was
aware ofsentences imposed in those cases. See, e.g., United States v. Spurlock, 495 F.3d 1011 (8th
Cir. 2007) (affirming sentence of 168 months' imprisonment on each of three counts charging the
defendant with violating 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), even though the defendant conversed only with an
undercover agent and not an actual minor victim). Simply put, the Court considered all of the

§ 3553(a) factors in its sentencing decision, and Boschee is not entitled to relief on his sixth claim of
judicial error.

Boschee argues that this Court should have considered the disparity between his sentence and
sentences imposed in state court for statutory rape by other defendants. It is well settled that "the
need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been
found guilty of similar conduct," 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6), refers only to disparities amongfederal
defendants. It would have been error for this Court to consider potential federal/state sentencing
disparities under § 3553(a)(6). United States v. Jeremiah, 446 F.3d 805, 807-08 (8th Cir. 2006)
("Unwarranted sentencing disparities among federal defendants remains the only consideration under

§ 3553(a)(6) - - - both before and after Booker.").

In summary, although Boschee disagrees with this Court's ultimate sentence, there is no
indication that the Court committed an error in sentencing him. Gall, 552 U.S. at 51 (listing possible
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procedural errors). The Court properly calculated the advisory guidelines range, considered the
guidelines, but did not treat them as mandatory or presume them reasonable, carefully considered the

§ 3553(a) factors, selected a sentence based on those factors and the facts of the case, and fully
explained the reasons for the sentence. In light of all ofthese considerations, Boschee's request for
relief for judicial error will be denied.

Evidentiary Hearing and Certificate of Appealability
If the motion, files and records ofthe case conclusively establish that the petitioner is not
entitled to relief, the Court is not required to conduct an evidentiary hearing. See Garcia v. United
States, 679 F.3d 1013, 1014 (8th Cir. 20 12). There is no need for an evidentiary hearing in this case
because it is clear from the record that Boschee's claims do not warrant relief under 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255.

When the district court has denied a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, the movant may not
appeal without a certificate of appealability. Such a certificate may issue "only ifthe applicant has
made a substantial showing of the denial ofa constitutional right." 28 U.S.c. § 2253(c)(2). A
"substantial showing" under this section is a showing that "reasonable jurists would find the district
court's assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong." Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S.
473,484 (2000). In other words, a "substantial showing" is made if "a court could resolve the issues
differently, or the issues deserve further proceedings." Cox v. Norris, 133 F.3d 565, 569 (8th Cir.
1997).

Boschee has not made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.

Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED:
(1)

That the Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28
U.S.c. § 2255, doc. 1, is denied.

(2)

That a Certificate of Appealability shall not issue on the claims raised in the
§ 2255 motion.

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Dated this 27th day of March, 2013.
BY THE COURT:

~\UJlu.l~~

Lawrence L. Piersol
United States District Judge

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