United States V. Bell

In an earlier opinion, a panel of this court vacated the sentence of George Robert Bell and remanded for resentencing within the guideline range of 87-108 months imprisonment. See United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, (Nov. 1989); United States v. Bell, 974 F.2d 537 (4th Cir. 1992) (Bell I). On remand, rather than follow the mandate, the district court vacated Bell's guilty plea to sexual exploitation of children, see 18 U.S.C.A. § 2251 (a) (West Supp. 1993), and dismissed the indictment. Because the district court was in error, we reverse, reinstate Bell's conviction, and remand for resentencing.