United States of America v. Maurice Cumberbatch

1
NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
No. 04-3587
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
v.
MAURICE CUMBERBATCH,
Appellant.
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. No. 03-cr-00269-1)
District Judge: Honorable Sylvia H. Rambo
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
November 8, 2005
Before: ROTH, FUENTES, and GARTH, Circuit Judges.
(Filed: March 22, 2006)
_______________________
OPINION OF THE COURT
_______________________
FUENTES, Circuit Judge.

-- 1 of 3 --

2
Appellant Maurice Cumberbatch’s response to this Court’s Order dated March 1,
2005, regarding the applicability of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005),
requests that this Court “remand his case for reconsideration of sentence in light of the
discretion now allowed under United States v. Booker.” Pursuant to said Order, such a
statement is to be “construed as waiving any issues related to the conviction.” We
therefore address only the sentencing issue.
Cumberbatch pled guilty to Count II (possession of a firearm in furtherance of
drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 924(c)) and Count III (possession of a firearm
by a previously convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)) of a three-count
indictment. The District Court sentenced Cumberbatch to a total of 90 months in prison,
which consisted of the statutory minimum of 60 months for Count II, possession of a
firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and an additional 30 months calculated under
the Sentencing Guidelines for Count III, possession of a firearm by a previously
convicted felon.
In United States v. Davis, 407 F.3d 162 (3d Cir. 2005) (en banc), this Court stated
that except in limited circumstances, we will presume prejudice and direct a remand for
resentencing where the District Court imposed a sentence in the belief that the applicable
Sentencing Guidelines were mandatory. Here, Davis does not affect the 60-month
sentence imposed on Cumberbatch for Count II, possession of a firearm in furtherance of
drug trafficking, because the statutory minimum punishment for that offense is 60

-- 2 of 3 --

3
months. However, our review of the record in this case shows that the District Court
based the 30-month sentence imposed on Cumberbatch for Count III, possession of a
firearm by a convicted felon, on the Sentencing Guidelines, apparently applying them as
mandatory in violation of Booker.
Having determined that the sentencing issues Cumberbatch raises are best
determined by the District Court in the first instance, we will vacate Cumberbatch’s
sentence with regard to Count III, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and
remand this matter for resentencing in accordance with Booker.

-- 3 of 3 --