AMENDMENT 614
The Commentary to §2A2.2 captioned "Application Notes" is amended by striking Notes 1 through 3 as follows:
"1. ‘Aggravated assault’ means a felonious assault that involved (A) a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm (i.e., not merely to frighten), or (B) serious bodily injury, or (C) an intent to commit another felony.
2. Definitions of ‘more than minimal planning,’ ‘firearm,’ ‘dangerous weapon,’ ‘brandished,’ ‘otherwise used,’ ‘bodily injury,’ ‘serious bodily injury," and ‘permanent or life-threatening bodily injury,’ are found in the Commentary to §1B1.1 (Application Instructions).
3. This guideline also covers attempted manslaughter and assault with intent to commit manslaughter. Assault with intent to commit murder is covered by §2A2.1 (Assault With Intent to Commit Murder). Assault with intent to commit rape is covered by §2A3.1 (Criminal Sexual Abuse).",
and inserting the following:
"1. Definitions.—For purposes of this guideline:
‘Aggravated assault’ means a felonious assault that involved (A) a dangerous weapon with intent to cause bodily injury (i.e., not merely to frighten) with that weapon; (B) serious bodily injury; or (C) an intent to commit another felony.
‘Brandished,’ ‘bodily injury,’ ‘firearm,’ ‘otherwise used,’ ‘permanent or life-threatening bodily injury,’ and ‘serious bodily injury,’ have the meaning given those terms in §1B1.1 (Application Instructions), Application Note 1.
‘Dangerous weapon’ has the meaning given that term in §1B1.1, Application Note 1, and includes any instrument that is not ordinarily used as a weapon (e.g., a car, a chair, or an ice pick) if such an instrument is involved in the offense with the intent to commit bodily injury.
2. Application of Subsection (b)(2).—In a case involving a dangerous weapon with intent to cause bodily injury, the court shall apply both the base offense level and subsection (b)(2).
3. More than Minimal Planning.—For purposes of subsection (b)(1), ‘more than minimal planning’ means more planning than is typical for commission of the offense in a simple form. ‘More than minimal planning’ also exists if significant affirmative steps were taken to conceal the offense, other than conduct to which §3C1.1 (Obstructing or Impeding the Administration of Justice) applies. For example, waiting to commit the offense when no witnesses were present would not alone constitute more than minimal planning. By contrast, luring the victim to a specific location or wearing a ski mask to prevent identification would constitute more than minimal planning.".
The Commentary to §2A2.2 captioned "Background" is amended by striking the text of the background as follows:
" This section applies to serious (aggravated) assaults. Such offenses occasionally may involve planning or be committed for hire. Consequently, the structure follows §2A2.1.
There are a number of federal provisions that address varying degrees of assault and battery. The punishments under these statutes differ considerably, even among provisions directed to substantially similar conduct. For example, if the assault is upon certain federal officers ‘while engaged in or on account of . . . official duties,’ the maximum term of imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 111 is three years. If a dangerous weapon is used in the assault on a federal officer, the maximum term of imprisonment is ten years. However, if the same weapon is used to assault a person not otherwise specifically protected, the maximum term of imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 113(c) is five years. If the assault results in serious bodily injury, the maximum term of imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 113(f) is ten years, unless the injury constitutes maiming by scalding, corrosive, or caustic substances under 18 U.S.C. § 114, in which case the maximum term of imprisonment is twenty years.",
and inserting the following:
" This guideline covers felonious assaults that are more serious than minor assaults because of the presence of an aggravating factor, i.e., serious bodily injury, the involvement of a dangerous weapon with intent to cause bodily injury, or the intent to commit another felony. Such offenses occasionally may involve planning or be committed for hire. Consequently, the structure follows §2A2.1 (Assault with Intent to Commit Murder; Attempted Murder). This guideline also covers attempted manslaughter and assault with intent to commit manslaughter. Assault with intent to commit murder is covered by §2A2.1. Assault with intent to commit rape is covered by §2A3.1 (Criminal Sexual Abuse; Attempt to Commit Criminal Sexual Abuse).
An assault that involves the presence of a dangerous weapon is aggravated in form when the presence of the dangerous weapon is coupled with the intent to cause bodily injury. In such a case, the base offense level and the weapon enhancement in subsection (b)(2) take into account different aspects of the offense, even if application of the base offense level and the weapon enhancement is based on the same conduct.".
Reason for Amendment: This amendment responds to a circuit conflict regarding whether the four-level enhancement in subsection (b)(2)(B) of §2A2.2 (Aggravated Assault) for use of a dangerous weapon during an aggravated assault is impermissible double counting. Compare United States v. Williams, 954 F.2d 204, 205-08 (4th Cir. 1992) (applying the dangerous weapon enhancement under §2A2.2(b)(2)(B) for defendant’s use of his chair as a dangerous weapon did not constitute impermissible double counting even though that conduct increased the defendant’s offense level twice: first, by triggering the application of the aggravated assault guideline, and second, as the basis for the four-level enhancement for use of a dangerous weapon), with United States v. Hudson, 972 F.2d 504, 506-07 (2d Cir. 1992) (in a case in which the use of an automobile caused the crime to be classified as an aggravated assault, the court may not enhance the base offense level under §2A2.2(b) for use of the same, non-inherently dangerous weapon).
This amendment addresses the circuit conflict by providing in the aggravated assault guideline that (1) both the base offense level of level 15 and the weapon use enhancement in subsection (b)(2) shall apply to aggravated assaults that involve a dangerous weapon with intent to cause bodily harm; and (2) an instrument, such as a car or chair, that ordinarily is not used as a weapon may qualify as a dangerous weapon for purposes of the use of the aggravated assault guideline and the application of subsection (b)(2) when the defendant involves it in the offense with the intent to cause bodily harm.
Effective Date: The effective date of this amendment is November 1, 2001.