U.S. v. Arnick

Full title: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Dequintan ARNICK…

Court: United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Date published: Mar 16, 2011

418 F. App'x 334 (5th Cir. 2011)

Opinion

No. 10-10611 Summary Calendar.

March 16, 2011.

Susan Cowger, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, Dallas, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Jason Douglas Hawkins, Federal Public Defender, Douglas Anthony Morris, Esq., Federal Public Defender's Office, Dallas, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, USDC No. 3:09-CR-254-1.

Before REAVLEY, DENNIS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:[fn*] [fn*] Pursuant to 5TH CIR R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.

Dequintan Arnick appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty plea conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Arnick argues that the district court erred in determining that his prior Texas state conviction for evading arrest using a vehicle was a crime of violence and in enhancing his sentence under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(1). As Arnick concedes, this issue is foreclosed by United States v. Harrimon, 568 F.3d 531 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S.Ct. 1015, 175 L.Ed.2d 621 (2009). However, he argues that Harrimon was wrongly decided and notes that there is a circuit split on the issue and that the Supreme Court has granted a petition for writ of certiorari in a similar case. See Sykes v. United States, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 63, 177 L.Ed.2d 1152 (2010).

Harrimon held that the Texas state offense of evading arrest or detention by use of a vehicle is a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). This court has recognized that the definition of a violent felony under the ACCA is the same as the definition of "crime of violence" under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(a), the section applicable to Arnick's prior offense. See United States v. Mohr, 554 F.3d 604, 609 n. 4 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S.Ct. 56, 175 L.Ed.2d 45 (2009). Therefore, the district court did not err in determining that Arnick's prior offense was a crime of violence and in enhancing his sentence on this basis. We are bound by our precedent even when an issue is pending before the Supreme Court. See In re Broim, 457 F.3d 392, 395 n. 1 (5th Cir. 2006).

Accordingly, the Government's motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, its alternative motions to dismiss the appeal or for an extension of time to file a brief are DENIED, and the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.