The following is a copy of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This section covers the failure to appear by a material witness.

§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).

(EFFECTIVE November 1, 2010)

United States Sentencing Commission