United States v. Golden

Golden was convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine and served approximately eight years in prison. Weeks after his release, Golden allegedly stole $1500 from the gas station where he worked, repeatedly failed to report to the probation office, and failed to submit to drug tests. The probation office petitioned to revoke his supervised release. Golden was arrested. While detained at the Sangamon County Jail, Golden and other inmates attacked a fellow inmate, Brown. In a videotaped recording, Golden can be seen throwing Brown to the ground and repeatedly punching and kicking Brown in or near his head. The judge found that Golden had committed aggravated battery and mob action, concluded that both were Grade A violations of supervised release, and sentenced Golden to 42 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. The Seventh Circuit affirmed. Golden unquestionably battered Brown. Because it occurred on public property, the battery was aggravated; the Grade A label was appropriate, since Golden’s conduct qualifies as a “crime of violence” under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Golden waived an argument that the judge failed to make requisite factual findings that supported the duration and conditions of his newly-imposed supervised release by asking for the duration he received and by withdrawing his objections to the conditions. View "United States v. Golden" on Justia Law