Jimmy Allen Woods v. United States of America
Filing
46
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER adopting 45 Proposed Findings and Recommendations.; granting 39 MOTION to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence (2255) by Jimmy Allen Woods; resentencing set for 9/4/2014 @ 10:00 am; The Court DISMISSES this case, and DIRECTS the Clerk to remove this case from the Courts Docket. Signed by Judge Thomas E. Johnston on 7/30/2014. (cc: attys; any unrepresented party) (tmr)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON DIVISION
JIMMY ALLEN WOODS,
Petitioner,
v.
CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:14-cv-17206
(Criminal No. 2:13-cr-00007)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Movant Jimmy Allen Woods, acting pro se, filed a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct
his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 [ECF 39]. By Standing Order entered May 7, 2014,
and filed in this case on July 9, 2014, this case was referred to United States Magistrate Judge R.
Clarke VanDervort for submission of proposed findings and a recommendation (“PF&R”). On
July 23, 2014, Magistrate Judge VanDervort issued a PF&R recommending that the Court grant
Movant’s motion (ECF 45).
The Court is not required to review, under a de novo or any other standard, the factual or
legal conclusions of the Magistrate Judge as to those portions of the findings or recommendation to
which no objections are addressed. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985). In addition,
failure to file timely objections constitutes a waiver of de novo review and Movant’s right to
appeal this Court’s Order. Snyder v. Ridenour, 889 F.2d 1363, 1366 (4th Cir. 1989); United
States v. Schronce, 727 F.2d 91, 94 (4th Cir. 1984).
Here, objections to Magistrate Judge VanDervort’s PF&R are due on August 11, 2014. In
its July 22, 2014, response to Movant’s motion to vacate, however, the United States conceded that
Movant’s counsel had rendered constitutionally ineffective assistance at the Movant’s sentencing
hearing. In his PF&R, Magistrate Judge VanDervort agreed with the United States and concluded
that Movant’s counsel should have objected at Movant’s sentencing hearing to the imposition of a
base offense level 24 under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(2) because that offense level is only applicable if
a defendant’s prior convictions received criminal history points under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1(a), (b), or
(c). Magistrate Judge VanDervort reasoned that because Movant’s prior criminal convictions did
not receive points under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1(a), (b), or (c), Movant’s base offense level under the
sentencing guidelines should have been Level 14 and not Level 24.
Taking into account
Movant’s criminal history category and other applicable factors under the guidelines, a base
offense level of 14 lowers Movant’s sentencing range from 57–71 months to 18–24 months.
Consequently, Magistrate Judge VanDervort recommended that the Court grant Movant’s motion
to vacate his sentence.
Finding no error with Magistrate Judge VanDervort’s analysis, the Court ADOPTS the
PF&R, GRANTS Movant’s unopposed motion to vacate his sentence, and VACATES the July
17, 2013, Judgment in United States v. Jimmy Allen Woods, Criminal Case Number 2:13-cr-00007
(S.D. W. Va. July 17, 2013) (ECF 35). The Court ORDERS that a resentencing hearing for the
limited purpose of correcting the base offense level and resentencing Movant under the corrected
2
sentencing guideline range be SCHEDULED for September 4, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. The Court
DISMISSES this case, and DIRECTS the Clerk to remove this case from the Court’s Docket.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
The Court DIRECTS the Clerk to send a copy of this Order to counsel of record and any
unrepresented party.
ENTER:
3
July 30, 2014
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