United States v. Michael J. Stoops

Opinion by Judge BEEZER.

BEEZER, Circuit Judge:

Michael Stoops appeals the sentence imposed under the United States Sentencing Guidelines following his plea of guilty to one count of bank robbery. Stoops received a two-level downward adjustment for acceptance of responsibility pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3El.l(a). He contends that the district court erred by denying him an additional one-level reduction pursuant to § 3El.l(b). We vacate the sentence and remand.

I

On August 13, 1992, Stoops approached a teller in a First Interstate Bank branch and handed her a demand note. He falsely claimed to have a…