Ninth Circuit panel debates sentencing enhancement

Anyone seeking an interesting Scooter sentencing break can check out today’s split Ninth Circuit panel decision in US v. Gonzales, No. 05-10543 (9th Cir. July 3, 2007) (available here).  The majority in Gonzales upholds a “district court’s decision to impose a nine-level sentencing enhancement for reckless endangerment of the aircraft” over a lengthy dissent by Judge Tashima.  (Given the colorful facts described by the majority, I doubt President Bush will be reducing Salvador Gonzalez’s sentence anytime soon.)