2009 FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL

CHAPTER 2 - PART J - OFFENSES INVOLVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

§2J1.5.       Failure to Appear by Material Witness

                   (a)       Base Offense Level:

                               (1)       6, if in respect to a felony; or

                               (2)       4, if in respect to a misdemeanor.

                   (b)       Specific Offense Characteristic

                               (1)       If the offense resulted in substantial interference with the administration of justice, increase by 3 levels.

Commentary

Statutory Provisions: 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b)(1)(B). For additional statutory provision(s), see Appendix A (Statutory Index).

Application Notes:

1.      "Substantial interference with the administration of justice" includes a premature or improper termination of a felony investigation; an indictment, verdict, or any judicial determination based upon perjury, false testimony, or other false evidence; or the unnecessary expenditure of substantial governmental or court resources.

2.      By statute, a term of imprisonment imposed for an offense under 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b)(1)(B) runs consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b)(2).

Background: This section applies to a failure to appear by a material witness. The base offense level incorporates a distinction as to whether the failure to appear was in respect to a felony or misdemeanor prosecution. The offense under 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b)(1)(B) is a misdemeanor for which the maximum period of imprisonment authorized by statute is one year.

Historical Note: Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective November 1, 1989 (see Appendix C, amendment 177); November 1, 1991 (see Appendix C, amendment 401); November 1, 2009 (see Appendix C, amendment 737).