United States v. Johnson

¶6PER CURIAM:

¶7In this case, the defendant contends that the government broke its plea bargain not to make a sentence recommendation when it opposed the defendant’s Rule 35, F.R. Crim.Proc.,1 reduction of sentence motion.

¶8Since we are without power to entertain this appeal if the motion for reduction of sentence was not filed within 120 days, United States v. Mehrtens, 494 F.2d 1172, 1175, n. 1 (5 Cir. 1974); United States v. Granville, 456 F.2d 1073 (5 Cir. 1972), we have determined, sua sponte, that a discussion of jurisdiction is appropriate. On August 26, 1977, the defendant pled guilty to various criminal indictments brought against him. On Tuesday, December 27, 1977, the defendant filed his Rule 35, F.R. Crim.Proc., motion for reduction of sentence. According to Rule 45, F.R.Crim. Proc.,2 time does not begin to run until the first day following the event. Therefore, for our purposes, the first day is August 27, 1977, with the one hundred and twentieth day being Saturday, December 24, 1977. But, according to Rule 45, F.R.Crim.Proc., time does not expire on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday. By operation of this rule, Monday, December 26, 1977, would appear to be the last day on which to file the reduction of sentence motion. However, Monday, December 26, 1977, was designated as a holiday by the President of the United States in Executive Order No. 11582,3reprinted 5 U.S.C. § 6103, and therefore the motion for reduction of sentence was properly filed on Tuesday, December 27, 1977.4

¶9*337The defendant’s sole argument is based on United States v. Ewing, 480 F.2d 1141 (5 Cir. 1973). In Ewing, the defendant pled guilty to two counts of a five count indictment in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining three counts and a promise by the government not to oppose his request for probation. At the guilty plea, the government kept its part of the bargain, however, the government opposed Ewing’s Rule 35, F.R.Crim.Proc. arguments in favor of probation. We held that the government’s opposition to Ewing’s Rule 35 motion amounted to a breach of the plea bargain since the Rule 35 motion is an integral part of the sentencing process. See Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 92 S.Ct. 495, 30 L.Ed.2d 427 (1971).

¶10We find Ewing distinguishable from the present case because we hold that the government did not breach its bargain not to make a sentence recommendation. In Johnson’s Rule 35 motion, he argued that he was in need of psychiatric treatment and such treatment was unavailable at his place of incarceration, Terre Haute, Indiana. Johnson suggested that if his sentence were reduced to five years he would be eligible for psychiatric care at the federal facility at Lexington, Kentucky. The government responded that if Johnson is in need of psychiatric care it is available at Terre Haute.

¶11The government agreed not to make a sentence recommendation. It did not agree to stand mute in the face of misinformation concerning the availability of treatment at various federal correctional facilities. See United States v. Miller, 565 F.2d 1273 (3 Cir. 1977). We therefore conclude that the government did not breach its bargain not to make a sentence recommendation. United States v. Ewing, supra,does not give the defendant the right to present an unopposed Rule 35 motion. The government violates Ewing only when its opposition violates the essence of the plea bargain.

¶12AFFIRMED.