United States v. Yahnke

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER OF JUDGMENT ON SENTENCING

BENNETT, Chief Judge.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION.1177

A. Factual Background.1177

1. The charged offense.1177

2. Yahnke’s criminal historg.1178

B. Procedural Background.1180

1. Yahnke’s present charge and plea.1180

2. Sentencing recommendations and disputes.1180

II. LEGAL ANALYSIS.1181

A. Defendant’s Guideline Sentence.1181

B. Upward Departure .1182

1. Arguments of the parties.1182

2. Guidelines determination and authority to depart.1182

a. The general scheme.1182

b. The grounds for departure at issue here.1183

3. Prior murder conviction.1185

a.…