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"paragraph_id": "para_1" }, { "text": "FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT", "paragraph_id": "para_2" }, { "text": "No. 25-2502", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "v.", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "CHARLES SUMMERS,", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "Appellant", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "_____________________________", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "On Appeal from the U.S. District Court, D.N.J.", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "Judge Karen M. Williams, No. 1:25-cr-00074-001", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "Before: RESTREPO, MONTGOMERY-REEVES, and BOVE,", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "Circuit Judges", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "Argued: June 11, 2026; Decided: Oct. 6, 2026", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "_____________________________", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "OPINION OF THE COURT", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "BOVE, Circuit Judge. Defendant Charles Summers tried to", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "rape a 13-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty in New York to that", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "heinous crime. New York authorities warned him that he", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "needed to register as a sex offender. When he got out of jail in", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "New York, he started to live and work in New Jersey. He did", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "not register in his new state. That was a violation of the federal", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, or SORNA.", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "Defendant pleaded guilty to his SORNA offense.", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "This is a two-issue sentencing appeal. First, Defendant", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "argues that the District Court erred in its calculation of his", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "2", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "Criminal History under the Guidelines. This part of the appeal", "paragraph_id": "para_27", "court_paragraph": 2 }, { "text": "is moot. Defendant recently finished his jail sentence, and the", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "District Court already sentenced him to the statutory minimum", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "amount of supervised release. Thus, no effectual relief is", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "available to him on this issue and we must dismiss this aspect", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "of the appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "Second, Defendant challenges his classification as a Tier III", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "SORNA offender, which is the most serious classification. See", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "34 U.S.C. § 20911. This issue is not moot because it impacts", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "the duration of his registration requirement and the frequency", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "of the related in-person reporting requirement. See id.", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "§§ 20915(a)(3), 20918(3). On the merits, we join other Circuits", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "that have applied a hybrid categorical approach on similar facts", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "when comparing state and federal sex crimes to make SORNA", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "tiering decisions. Applying that approach here, we agree with", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "the District Court that Defendant’s New York sex crime", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "qualifies for SORNA Tier III.", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "Although Defendant has not identified an error that merits", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "appellate relief, the government has notified us that a remand", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "is necessary, on consent, so that the District Court can", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "memorialize the Tier III obligation in the judgment. See Fed.", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "R. Crim. P. 36. Accordingly, we will dismiss the appeal insofar", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "as Defendant challenges the District Court’s Criminal History", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "calculation, otherwise affirm the judgment, and remand for the", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "limited purpose of correcting the judgment.", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "I.", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "In October 2015, Defendant was convicted of First Degree", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "Attempted Rape in violation of New York Penal Law § 130.35.", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "A New York judge sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "and eight years of parole. While serving his term of", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "incarceration for the attempted-rape conviction, Defendant", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "signed paperwork acknowledging that he was required to", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "3", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "notify New York of a change in address and abide by any", "paragraph_id": "para_60", "court_paragraph": 3 }, { "text": "applicable sex-offender registration requirements in other", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "jurisdictions.", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "He did not. At some point in 2021, Defendant started to live", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "and work in New Jersey. He failed to notify New York of the", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "changes. He also failed to register as a sex offender in New", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "Jersey. In April 2024, law enforcement arrested Defendant in", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "New Jersey and later extradited him to New York based on", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "parole violations relating to the attempted-rape conviction.", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "Later that month, Defendant was adjudicated guilty of the", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "violations and sentenced to time served. He returned to New", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "Jersey.", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "In September 2024, federal authorities arrested Defendant", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "in New Jersey based on an alleged violation of SORNA. In", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "February 2025, Defendant consented to the filing of an", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "Information based on the same violation and pleaded guilty", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "pursuant to a plea agreement.", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "The District Court sentenced Defendant in July 2025. The", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "District Court determined that Defendant qualified as a Tier III", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "sex offender, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A3.5(a) and 34 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "§ 20911, based on his New York sex crime. The District Court", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "then calculated a Guidelines range of 24 to 30 months based on", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "Offense Level 13 and Criminal History Category IV. Following", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "that calculation, the District Court imposed a sentence of 24", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "months’ imprisonment followed by 60 months’ supervised", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "release.", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "Defendant timely appealed. He was released from prison", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "while the appeal was pending. He is currently serving the term", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "of supervised release.", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "II.", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231.", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "4", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_92", "court_paragraph": 4 }, { "text": "§ 3742(a). We review procedural-error sentencing claims for", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "abuse of discretion, which includes de novo review of legal", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "questions. United States v. Jackson, 132 F.4th 266, 272 (3d Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "2025).1", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "III.", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "Defendant challenges the District Court’s determinations", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "regarding his Criminal History and placement in SORNA Tier", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "III. The Criminal History issue is moot. The SORNA tiering", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "issue is live, but we agree with the District Court’s conclusion.", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "A.", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "The mootness doctrine prohibits courts from", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "“pronounc[ing] on past actions that do not have any", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "‘continuing effect’ in the world.” FBI v. Fikre, 601 U.S. 234,", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "241 (2024). This limitation on our authority arises from Article", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "III’s case-or-controversy requirement. The requirement is not", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "satisfied, and a case is moot, “when it is impossible for a court", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "to grant any effectual relief whatever to the prevailing party.”", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "Chafin v. Chafin, 568 U.S. 165, 172 (2013). To be effectual,", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "“the relief sought must likely redress the purported injury.”", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "Mejia-Henriquez v. AG, --- F.4th ----, 2026 WL 2489594, at *8", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "n.10 (3d Cir. 2026).", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "These principles apply to criminal appeals on an issue-by-", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "issue basis. See, e.g., United States v. Jackson, 523 F.3d 234,", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "237-38 (3d Cir. 2008). Speculation about the “possibility” of a", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "far-removed injury at some point in the future, rather than a", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "1 Unless otherwise indicated, case quotations omit all internal", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "citations, quotation marks, footnotes, alterations, and", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "subsequent history.", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "5", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "“certainty or even a probability,” is typically not enough to", "paragraph_id": "para_122", "court_paragraph": 5 }, { "text": "avoid mootness. Spencer v. Kemna, 523 U.S. 1, 14 (1998). The", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "continuing effects we care about most are collateral", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "consequences arising from the case at issue that function as", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "ongoing restrictions of a defendant’s liberty. See United States", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "v. Kissinger, 309 F.3d 179, 182 (3d Cir. 2002).", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "The District Court’s determination regarding SORNA Tier", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "III has ongoing consequences despite the fact that Defendant is", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "out of jail. Based on the District Court’s determination,", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "SORNA requires him to register as a sex offender for the rest", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "of his life and to appear in person to verify his registration", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "every three months. See 34 U.S.C. §§ 20915(a)(3), 20918(3).", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "A decision in Defendant’s favor could result in direct relief", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "from some or all of those consequences. That is why his", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "challenge relating to SORNA Tier III is not moot.", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "The same is not true for Defendant’s appeal of the Criminal", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "History calculation. There is no dispute that the calculation was", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "relevant to the applicable Guidelines range, which at least", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "arguably affected the District Court’s sentencing decisions on", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "imprisonment and supervised release. See 18 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "§§ 3553(a)(4)(A), 3583(c). Nevertheless, Defendant’s", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "argument that the District Court erred in that calculation by", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "relying on an offense-commencement date that is different", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "from the date in the charging instrument—which overlooks 18", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "U.S.C. § 3661—could not lead to effectual relief at this point.", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "In a sentencing remand, the District Court could not reduce the", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "jail sentence that Defendant already completed. And, because", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "the District Court already imposed the mandatory minimum", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "term of supervised release, the court could not reduce that", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "aspect of his punishment either. See 18 U.S.C. § 3583(k); see", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "also Jackson, 523 F.3d at 239.", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "Our constitutional authority to adjudicate this part of", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "6", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "Defendant’s appeal is not saved by the potential relevance of", "paragraph_id": "para_155", "court_paragraph": 6 }, { "text": "his federal sentence to the ongoing parole-violation", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "proceedings and open criminal cases that Defendant faces in", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "New York and New Jersey. Defendant argues that a finding", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "here that he served too much jail time would work to his", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "advantage in those cases. Too much speculation for us. The", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "argument requires us to presume that the state proceedings will", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "be resolved against Defendant and that sentencing judges in", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "those proceedings addressing conceptually distinct misconduct", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "would credit a federal error to Defendant’s benefit. Reaching", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "the merits based on those presumptions would stretch the case-", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "or-controversy requirement well beyond the breaking point.", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "Accordingly, Defendant’s challenge to the District Court’s", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "calculation of his Criminal History is moot. We will dismiss", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "that aspect of the appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "B.", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "The District Court was correct that Defendant is a Tier III", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "offender under SORNA. We adopt the hybrid categorical", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "approach employed by other Circuits to resolve the issue in this", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "appeal. Under that approach, Defendant’s New York", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "attempted-rape crime is a categorical match for attempted", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "sexual abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2242(1).", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "1.", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "This appeal requires us to interpret statutory text from the", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "definitions of SORNA Tier II and Tier III. See 34 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "§ 20911(3)-(4). Tier I serves as a catch-all for the remainder of", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "sex offenders. See id. § 20911(2). For Tiers II and III, the main", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "task is an assessment of whether the offender’s sex crime is", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "either (1) “comparable to,” or (2) “more severe than,” a list of", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "offenses from Title 18 of the U.S. Code. Id. § 20911(3)(A),", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "(4)(A).", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "7", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "Other Circuits have employed the categorical approach", "paragraph_id": "para_187", "court_paragraph": 7 }, { "text": "when applying the first part of this text to consider whether the", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "state crime is “comparable to” a federal crime from Congress’s", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "list. See, e.g., United States v. Coulson, 86 F.4th 1189, 1194-95", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "(8th Cir. 2023). In other settings, we have noted flaws in that", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "methodology. See, e.g., United States v. Vines, 134 F.4th 730,", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "733 (3d Cir. 2025). And the categorical approach is not a", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "perfect fit here due to Congress’s use of the second phrase,", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "“more severe than.” See United States v. Walker, 931 F.3d 576,", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "579 n.2 (7th Cir. 2019). That language is not dispositive in this", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "appeal. So we need not address the delta it creates between", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "SORNA’s Tier definitions and other federal statutes where", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "precedent requires us to use the categorical approach. See id.", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "We are persuaded that “SORNA triggers at least” the", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "categorical approach with respect to the phrase “comparable", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "to . . . the following offenses” in the definitions of Tier II and", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "Tier III. Id. We need not, and do not, go further in this appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "In addition to the comparison of state and federal crimes,", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "other features of SORNA’s Tiers have a “circumstance-specific", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "thrust.” Ndungu v. AG, 126 F.4th 150, 162 (3d Cir. 2025). For", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "example, one of the Tier II federal comparators requires that", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": "the offense have been committed “against a minor.” 34 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "§ 20911(3)(A). A Tier III comparator requires that the federal", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "crime have been committed “against a minor who has not", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "attained the age of 13 years.” Id. § 20911(4)(A)(ii). These", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "features of the statute apply to “specific circumstances", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "surrounding an offender’s commission of [the crime] . . . on a", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "specific occasion.” Nijhawan v. Holder, 557 U.S. 29, 40", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "(2009).", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "Based on Nijhawan, we hold that District Courts are to", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "apply the circumstance-specific features of the SORNA Tier", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "definitions based on documents relating to the state offense,", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "8", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "including the charging instrument, the judgment, presentence", "paragraph_id": "para_220", "court_paragraph": 8 }, { "text": "reports, and any other sentencing material that provides", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "evidence relating to Defendant’s conduct in connection with", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "the sex crime. See Rad v. AG, 983 F.3d 651, 659 (3d Cir. 2020).", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "This is why it is known as the hybrid categorical approach.", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "Categorical as to the generic federal crimes listed in the Tier", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "definitions, and circumstance-specific as to the victim’s age.", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "See Coulson, 86 F.4th at 1194; Walker, 931 F.3d at 580; United", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": "States v. Berry, 814 F.3d 192, 197 (4th Cir. 2016).", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "2.", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "Applying the hybrid categorical approach, we agree with", "paragraph_id": "para_230" }, { "text": "the District Court that Defendant is a Tier III offender. We", "paragraph_id": "para_231" }, { "text": "reach that conclusion, however, based on a different federal", "paragraph_id": "para_232" }, { "text": "comparator than the one relied upon at Defendant’s sentencing.", "paragraph_id": "para_233" }, { "text": "Defendant’s sex crime is a categorical match for the federal", "paragraph_id": "para_234" }, { "text": "crime of attempted sexual abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_235" }, { "text": "§ 2242(1). See 34 U.S.C. § 20911(4)(A)(i).", "paragraph_id": "para_236" }, { "text": "Defendant contends that § 2242(1) is off the table because", "paragraph_id": "para_237" }, { "text": "the government did not cite that crime at his sentencing or in", "paragraph_id": "para_238" }, { "text": "its main appellate brief. The government concedes having", "paragraph_id": "para_239" }, { "text": "overlooked the argument, but there is no indication that we are", "paragraph_id": "para_240" }, { "text": "dealing with an intentional waiver. See United States v.", "paragraph_id": "para_241" }, { "text": "Dowdell, 70 F.4th 134, 140 (3d Cir. 2023). “[W]e may, and here", "paragraph_id": "para_242" }, { "text": "do, affirm on any ground supported by the record as long as the", "paragraph_id": "para_243" }, { "text": "appellee did not waive—as opposed to forfeit—the issue.”", "paragraph_id": "para_244" }, { "text": "United States v. Brow, 62 F.4th 114, 119 n.4 (3d Cir. 2023). In", "paragraph_id": "para_245" }, { "text": "addition, we may excuse forfeitures based on extraordinary", "paragraph_id": "para_246" }, { "text": "circumstances. See Dowdell, 70 F.4th at 140. In this case, the", "paragraph_id": "para_247" }, { "text": "public’s interest in reaching the argument presents such a", "paragraph_id": "para_248" }, { "text": "circumstance because of the sensitive class of victims that", "paragraph_id": "para_249" }, { "text": "SORNA protects.", "paragraph_id": "para_250" }, { "text": "9", "paragraph_id": "para_251" }, { "text": "The dispositive comparison between Defendant’s", "paragraph_id": "para_252", "court_paragraph": 9 }, { "text": "attempted-rape crime and the federal sexual abuse statute turns", "paragraph_id": "para_253" }, { "text": "on the level of coercion required. For both, coerciveness turns", "paragraph_id": "para_254" }, { "text": "on the victim’s fear. Defendant’s state sex offense required", "paragraph_id": "para_255" }, { "text": "proof of “forcible compulsion.” N.Y. Penal Law § 130.35(1)", "paragraph_id": "para_256" }, { "text": "(2015). New York defines “forcible compulsion” to include a", "paragraph_id": "para_257" }, { "text": "threat that “places a person in fear of immediate death or", "paragraph_id": "para_258" }, { "text": "physical injury to himself, herself or another person.” Id.", "paragraph_id": "para_259" }, { "text": "§ 130.00(8)(b). Under the relevant federal statute, attempted", "paragraph_id": "para_260" }, { "text": "sexual abuse is defined as causing “another person to engage", "paragraph_id": "para_261" }, { "text": "in a sexual act by threatening or placing that other person in", "paragraph_id": "para_262" }, { "text": "fear.” 18 U.S.C. § 2242(1). The fear-based compulsion that", "paragraph_id": "para_263" }, { "text": "was necessary to establish Defendant’s New York sex crime is", "paragraph_id": "para_264" }, { "text": "a categorical match for the threat element of 18 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_265" }, { "text": "§ 2242(1). Cf. United States v. Valder, 188 F.4th 183, 193 (2d", "paragraph_id": "para_266" }, { "text": "Cir. 2026) (“[T]here is no form of compulsion a person can use", "paragraph_id": "para_267" }, { "text": "to commit that state crime without necessarily engaging in", "paragraph_id": "para_268" }, { "text": "compulsive conduct that would be a Federal sex", "paragraph_id": "para_269" }, { "text": "offense . . . .”); United States v. Gavin, 959 F.2d 788, 791 (9th", "paragraph_id": "para_270" }, { "text": "Cir. 1992). This is enough to sustain the District Court’s", "paragraph_id": "para_271" }, { "text": "placement of Defendant in Tier III.", "paragraph_id": "para_272" }, { "text": "Seeking to avoid that conclusion, Defendant argues that the", "paragraph_id": "para_273" }, { "text": "New York crime is broader than the federal comparator", "paragraph_id": "para_274" }, { "text": "because “forcible compulsion” includes fear of harm to", "paragraph_id": "para_275" }, { "text": "“another person.” N.Y. Penal Law § 130.00(8)(b). We are not", "paragraph_id": "para_276" }, { "text": "persuaded. Forcible compulsion under § 130.00(8)(b), like", "paragraph_id": "para_277" }, { "text": "attempted sexual abuse under § 2242(1), requires proof that the", "paragraph_id": "para_278" }, { "text": "perpetrator coerced the victim through fear. Under New York", "paragraph_id": "para_279" }, { "text": "law, the “‘proper focus is on the state of mind produced in the", "paragraph_id": "para_280" }, { "text": "victim by the defendant’s conduct.’” Valder, 188 F.4th at 197", "paragraph_id": "para_281" }, { "text": "(quoting People v. Thompson, 530 N.E.2d 839, 842 (N.Y.", "paragraph_id": "para_282" }, { "text": "1988)). The forcible-compulsion definition “does not suggest", "paragraph_id": "para_283" }, { "text": "that compulsion of a victim can be proved by instilling fear in", "paragraph_id": "para_284" }, { "text": "10", "paragraph_id": "para_285" }, { "text": "a third party in the absence of any fear in the victim.” Id. at 12.", "paragraph_id": "para_286", "court_paragraph": 10 }, { "text": "Defendant has cited no evidence demonstrating even a", "paragraph_id": "para_287" }, { "text": "“theoretical possibility,” much less the required “realistic", "paragraph_id": "para_288" }, { "text": "probability,” that New York prosecutors would apply the", "paragraph_id": "para_289" }, { "text": "statute in such an atextual fashion. United States v. Henderson,", "paragraph_id": "para_290" }, { "text": "80 F.4th 207, 213 n.6 (3d Cir. 2023). Therefore, the term", "paragraph_id": "para_291" }, { "text": "“another person” in New York Penal Law § 130.00(8)(b) does", "paragraph_id": "para_292" }, { "text": "not undermine the categorical match between Defendant’s sex", "paragraph_id": "para_293" }, { "text": "crime and the federal crime of attempted sexual abuse.", "paragraph_id": "para_294" }, { "text": "IV.", "paragraph_id": "para_295" }, { "text": "Based on the foregoing, we will dismiss the appeal insofar", "paragraph_id": "para_296" }, { "text": "as Defendant challenges the District Court’s Criminal History", "paragraph_id": "para_297" }, { "text": "calculation, otherwise affirm the judgment, and remand for the", "paragraph_id": "para_298" }, { "text": "limited purpose of allowing the District Court to modify the", "paragraph_id": "para_299" }, { "text": "judgment by memorializing that Defendant is a Tier III", "paragraph_id": "para_300" }, { "text": "SORNA offender.", "paragraph_id": "para_301" }, { "text": "Counsel for Appellant", "paragraph_id": "para_302" }, { "text": "Alison Brill [Argued]", "paragraph_id": "para_303" }, { "text": "Office of Federal Public Defender", "paragraph_id": "para_304" }, { "text": "Counsel for Appellee", "paragraph_id": "para_305" }, { "text": "Mark E. Coyne", "paragraph_id": "para_306" }, { "text": "Steven G. 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