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United States v. Lawrence Fay Laroche

UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Lawrence Fay LaROCHE, Appellant

United States v. Laroche, 83 F.3d 958 (8th Cir. 1996)
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Court
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit · U.S. Courts of Appeals
Decided
May 13, 1996
Docket
No. 95-3415
Judges
Fagg, Bowman, Hansen
Citations
83 F.3d 9581996 WL 2425431996 U.S. App. LEXIS 11181

Opinion — Per Curiam

*959 PER CURIAM.

Lawrence Fay LaRoche appeals the sentence imposed by the district court 1

after he pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1158 and 2241(c). For reversal, LaRoche argues the district court erred by relying on “contested” facts in the presentence report (PSR) as the basis for assessing the use-of-foree enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2A3.1(b)(l). We affirm.

LaRoehe’s PSR recommended a four-level increase under section 2A3.1(b)(l) because he used force and threats to commit the instant offense. LaRoche objected to the recommended enhancement, and to the factual statements contained in paragraphs four and five of the PSR. At sentencing, the district, relying on the unchallenged factual allegations contained in paragraphs six, seven, and ten of LaRoehe’s PSR, found that LaRoche had used force and threats to commit the instant offense, and overruled LaRoehe’s objection.

2

The district court sentenced La-Roehe to 235 months imprisonment and five years supervised release.

Section 2A3.1(b)(l) states that “[i]f the offense was committed by the means set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 2241 (a) or (b) ... increase by 4 levels.” Section 2241(a) includes the act of causing another person to engage in a sexual act by using force against that person, see 18 U.S.C. § 2241 (a)(1), or by threatening or placing the other person in fear that any person will be subject to death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping, see 18 U.S.C. § 2241 (a)(2).

A district court may accept as true all factual allegations contained in the PSR that are not specifically objected to by the parties.

United States v. Montanye, 996 F.2d 190, 192-93 (8th Cir.1993) (en banc). Because LaRoche did not specifically object to the factual allegations contained in paragraphs six, seven, and ten of the PSR, we conclude the district court did not err by relying on those paragraphs in assessing the challenged enhancement.

See United States v. Beatty, 9 F.3d 686, 690-91 (8th Cir.1993). Moreover, we conclude the district court did not clearly err in assessing the use-of-force enhancement.

See United States v. Saknikent, 30 F.3d 1012, 1013 (8th Cir.1994) (standard of review). The uncontested facts show that LaRoche forced the victim to perform various sexual acts, that he threatened her with retaliation if she told anyone about the abuse, and that the victim feared retaliation by LaRoche.

Cf. United States v. Knife, 9 F.3d 705, 706-07 (8th Cir.1993) (evidence that defendant weighing 210 pounds lay on victim, held her down during contact, and told her not to tell or “ ‘he would do more’ that victim felt defendant’s presence physically threatening; that victim continued to fear defendant after leaving his home; and that defendant struck victim, though not during sexual conduct, was more than sufficient to show offense was committed by use of force or threat).

Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court.

1

. The Honorable Charles B. Kommaim, United States District Judge for the District of South Dakota.

2

. Consistent with the government’s plea-agreement obligation, the Assistant United States Attorney declined the court’s invitation to present evidence at the sentencing hearing.

How later courts describe this case

Explanatory parentheticals written by citing courts — 1 in all; the most informative distinct ones are shown.

Cited by 21 cases

View all citing references →
1996: 21997: 71998: 11999: 42000: 12001: 12002: 22003: 22007: 119962026peak 1997 · 7

Relies on it most ⓘ

  1. United States v. Frenklyn Piggie316 F.3d 789 (8th Cir. 2003)
  2. United States v. John McFarland Also Known as Buggy, United States of America v. Darryl Warren, Also Known as Monk116 F.3d 316 (8th Cir. 1997)
  3. United States v. Jeffrey Paul Moser168 F.3d 1130 (8th Cir. 1999)
  4. United States v. Flores223 F. Supp. 2d 1016 (N.D. Iowa 2002)
  5. United States v. Johnson492 F.3d 254 (4th Cir. 2007)
  6. United States v. Allie Harper111 F.3d 136 (8th Cir. 1997)

Most recent

  1. United States v. Johnson492 F.3d 254 (4th Cir. 2007)
  2. United States v. Frankie Lee Chappell84 F. App'x 715 (8th Cir. 2003)
  3. United States v. Frenklyn Piggie316 F.3d 789 (8th Cir. 2003)
  4. United States v. Flores223 F. Supp. 2d 1016 (N.D. Iowa 2002)
  5. United States v. Michael Clauff35 F. App'x 292 (8th Cir. 2002)
  6. United States v. Julio Oviedo27 F. App'x 708 (8th Cir. 2001)

Citing references are not a citator: they show that a later opinion cites this case, not whether it followed, distinguished, or overruled it. Check negative history before relying on this case.

Authorities cited 4

DepthCaseCited by
United States v. Montanye, 996 F.2d 190 (8th Cir. 1993) 145
United States v. Beatty, 9 F.3d 686 (8th Cir. 1993) 73
United States v. Saknikent, 30 F.3d 1012 (8th Cir. 1994) 32
United States v. Knife, 9 F.3d 705 (8th Cir. 1993) 13

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