ÿWPCg! ­¿½5P¤Ç"YžÕ‘}'SОëWS“â_²cW w’²™¯kWwÊøž‡ÔùÃU\¾ü–,H¦2ªÅƤ[œÈ¥>±ü;ƒíG j ¥3µ"…é (K2–»¤ <64§·Ä:Ü丿œ]Ɖکã3‹P©ÊF–s}+‚×ê#ÖÕó†<>ྎÎ!—ŽYyoPÐœ\ŬùÔ°ÊVÙ Ÿ|dn²y¬Õr+òµëìè>þyA‚8ñXÑçÀõ9Ì£ð·¡Dè¡fêXe»u ó. ÇuŠW sË·mÍ\ÎyÅè¹îÛGuÜ E’_ÍÌ«P("*r3©†]­/yû[&øíA%ºûu[@,ÆZ8¡ÆÁ‘Ôiqpâf_&ÝÅžBœ÷½6admT(%}Q™;tà Ž(#!0 %Q 0DW 0(›U:à 0ÆýUNÃUFNWU>Y—^ Ÿw@«4ëÿEfa m(N? 1‡A 1uÈ 0c= 1‡  1‡' 0w® UB% 1‡g bî éö …ß yd 1‡ÝLdD°ôD BJ!˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0X(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó($¡¡<þ6X9`("Courier NewTT(d:2ÈX$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€v}XÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóvÖr Z‹6Times New Roman Regular´¾½Q 9Z+‹.Courier New Regular<è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular ±–$+Æ çEèéïêEëìEíîEïðïS‡+.bk23|xðøÀTABLE AÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(Š½CEKQW]cioAutoList1A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à(EhCEKQW]cioAutoList2IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII “rCEKSY_ekqAutoList3A.(a)A.A.A.A.A.A.(Oé;$µµà0  àÔ2#ÔÚ  ÚaÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0` (#(#à<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpi(º½CEKQW]cioAutoList4A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.- ù- ßÝ ƒÈX$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€æyXÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Originally,€the€indictment€against€Peter€Nedd€issued€withÐ ° Ðsix€counts,€four€counts€of€interstate€threats€(Counts€I„IV),€oneÏcount€of€interstate€stalking€(Count€V),€and€one€count€of€interstateÏviolation€of€a€restraining€order€(Count€VI).€The€governmentÏdismissed€Count€V€at€sentencing.€ {Ý ƒÈX$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€æyXÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€The€Carpenters€filed€a€complaint€for€contempt€of€theÐ ° Ðrestraining€order€in€Massachusetts,€but€Ô_ÔNeddÔ_Ô€never€appeared€for€theÏcontempt€hearing.Ìà  à oÝ ƒÈX$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€æyXÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Such€a€grouping€method€would€look€like€this:Ð ° Ðà  àGroup€One:€For€Richard€Carpenter,€includes€Counts€I,€II,€III,ÏIV€and€VI;Ìà  àGroup€Two:€For€Andrea€Carpenter,€includes€Counts€II€and€IV;Ð X  Ðà  àGroup€Three:€For€Chantelle€Carpenter,€includes€Counts€II,€III,ÏIV€and€VI.Ìà  àThis€would€put€Counts€II€and€IV,€for€example,€in€all€threeÏgroups€and€Counts€III€and€VI€in€two€groups.Ì€(ʽCEKQW]cioAutoList5A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A. BÝ ƒÈX$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€æyXÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Another€example€illustrates€the€further€point€that€someÐ ° Ðoffenses€may€be€grouped€based€not€only€on€the€interlockingÏrelationship€of€the€two€offenses€but€on€the€enhancement€factorsÏtriggered€by€the€sentencing€guideline€for€the€more€serious€of€the€Ïoffenses€in€the€indictment.€ð ðOther€offenses,€such€as€an€assaultÏcausing€bodily€injury€to€a€teller€during€a€bank€robbery,€are€soÏclosely€related€to€the€more€serious€offense€[bank€robbery]€that€itÏwould€be€appropriate€to€treat€them€as€part€of€the€more€seriousÏoffense,€leaving€the€sentence€enhancement€to€result€fromÏapplication€of€a€specific€offense€characteristic€[assault].ðð€€òòId.óó€ :Ý ƒÈX$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€æyXÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Section€2A6.2€of€the€Ô_ÔU.S.S.G.Ô_Ô€is€essentially€the€same.€òòSeeóóÐ ° Ððð€2A6.2,€cmt.€n.€4. Ý ƒÈX$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€æyXÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€The€background€commentary€to€the€grouping€rules€òòóósupportsÐ ° Ðthis€conclusion.€€That€note€says,€in€relevant€part:ÌÌà8  àA€primary€consideration€in€this€section€is€whether€theÏoffenses€involve€different€victims.€€For€example,€aÏdefendant€may€stab€three€prison€guards€in€a€single€escapeÏattempt.€€Some€would€argue€that€all€counts€arising€out€ofÏa€single€transaction€or€occurrence€should€be€groupedÏtogether€even€when€there€are€distinct€victims.€€AlthoughÏsuch€a€proposal€was€considered,€it€was€rejected€becauseÏit€probably€would€require€departure€in€many€cases€inÏorder€to€capture€adequately€the€criminal€behavior.€€CasesÏinvolving€injury€to€distinct€victims€are€sufficientlyÏcomparable,€whether€or€not€the€injuries€are€inflicted€inÏdistinct€transactions,€so€that€each€such€count€should€beÏtreated€separately€rather€than€grouped€together.€€Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÔ_ÔU.S.S.G.Ô_Ô€ðð€3D1.2,€cmt.€background.€€An€implication€to€be€drawn€fromÏthis€commentary€is€that€distinct€victims€to€a€single€crime€whenÏnamed€in€separate€counts€(òòi.e.óó€Counts€I,€II,€and€III€naming€VictimsÐ ˆØ ÐA,€B€and€C€respectively€as€victims€of€assault€during€a€single€bankÏrobbery)€shall€not€be€bundled€together€just€because€they€were€allÏinjured€at€the€same€time€for€the€same€reason.€This,€in€addition€toÏthe€argument€that€follows,€òòinfraóó,€undermines€defendantððs€contentionÐ ¨ø Ðthat€all€five€counts€should€be€bundled€together€in€one€group.€ÌØØÓL€ Eh((LÓò òó óÌ :Ý ƒÈX$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€æyXÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€It€is€also€possible€to€group€these€same€Counts€III€and€VIÐ ° Ðunder€ðð€3D1.2(c)(ð ðWhen€one€of€the€counts€embodies€conduct€that€isÏtreated€as€a€specific€offense€characteristic€in,€or€anotherÏadjustment€to,€the€guideline€applicable€to€another€of€the€countsðð),Ïas€Count€III€would€be€a€specific€offense€characteristic€forÏsentencing€based€on€Count€VI.€€òòSeeóó€Ô_ÔU.S.S.G.Ô_Ô€ðð€2A6.2€(directing€thatÐ ˜è Ðthe€base€offense€level€be€raised€by€two€if€the€offense€involved,Ïòòinteróó€òòaliaóó,€ð ðstalking,€threatening,€harassing€or€assaulting€theÐ ( x Ðsame€victimðð). dÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑTRXà3Ø'Xà3Ø' Letter3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÑ ? ÑÙ*ƒ !ÙÔ€XÂzXXXÔÔ€°õ<°XXÂzÔò òÓ  ÓÓ  ÓUnited€States€Court€of€AppealsÔ€„O‡„°°õ<ÔÐ ° ÐFor€the€First€Circuitó óÔ€„_?„„„O‡ÔÔ€X…¢X„„_?ÔÐ „Ô ÐÓ÷ÓÌÌßA€') °°` dE< ` AßÐ  à ÐÌÌÔ€ XæyXXX…¢ÔNo.€00„2569Ð K › ÐÌà@¤¤#ìàUNITED€STATES,ˆÌÌà@ÐÐ&ìàAppellee,ˆÌÌà@tt)ìàv.ˆÌÌà@¤¤#ìàPETER€A.€Ô_ÔNEDDÔ_Ô,ˆÌÌà@ ìàDefendant,€Appellant.ˆÌÌßA€') °°` dE<ª` AßÐ «û ÐÌà@œ œ ìàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€UNITED€STATES€DISTRICT€COURTˆÌÌà@0 0 ìàFOR€THE€DISTRICT€OF€MASSACHUSETTSˆÌÌà@  ìà[Hon.€Patti€B.€Saris,€òòU.S.€District€Judgeóó]ˆÐ ¢ò ÐÌßA€') °°` dE<1` AßÐ 2‚ ÐÌà@„„'ìàBeforeˆÌÌÓ  Óà@@((ìà€Torruella,€òòCircuit€Judgeóó,Ð ™é ÐÌCampbell€and€Bownes,€òòSenior€Circuit€Judgesóó.Ð )y! ÐÌÌßA€') °°` dE<€ ` AßÐ  Ñ$ ÐÌÓ  ÓÓ  Óà  àòòOwen€S.€Walkeróó,€Federal€Public€Defender,€for€appellant.Ð X!¨& Ðà  àòòJohn€T.€Ô_ÔMcNeilÔ_Ôóó,€Assistant€U.S.€Attorney,€with€whom€òòDonald€K.Ð  "p' ÐSternóó,€United€States€Attorney,€was€on€brief€for€appellee.Ð è"8( ÐÌÌÔ*‹ƒ'ddd Xdd Xdd X°(#°(#‹ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ  @% + ‹‹ÐÓÇÓñéññðñÐ SI¤%ô ,  "â@37137„„‰ "â@‰‹‹SÐñðññðñÐ SI¤%ô , €!â@37132„„‰€!â@‰‹‹SÐñðñÔ_ÔñéññéñÐ SI¤%ô , @!â@37130„„‰@!â@‰‹‹SÐñéñÌñêññâñAugust€ñâññêññìññëñZSñëññìññíñSeptñíññîññíñmerbñíññîññïñember€4ñïññçññâñ2ñâññçññêññèñ30ñèññêññçññæñ30ñæññçñ,€2001ÌÔ_ÔÐ SID4'„"/"  "â@37137  "â@ ‹‹SÐÐ(¤%ô 0  (ÐÓ  ÓÙ* !ÙÌÌÓ  ÓÌÐ  „*Ô%3? ÐÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÓÓÑ8€æyXXdÈXXdÈ8ÑÑ€ÑÓ*°,X°` ¨ ƒX°œX*ÓÝ ƒÿÝÝ  Ýà ` àò òCAMPBELL,€òòSenior€Circuit€Judgeóó.ó ó€€Peter€Nedd€appeals€fromÐ ° Ðhis€sentence€of€thirty„three€months€imprisonment€imposed€afterÏpleading€nolo€contendere€to€four€counts€of€transmitting€threateningÏcommunications€in€interstate€commerce€in€violation€of€18€U.S.C.€ððÏ875(c)€and€pleading€guilty€to€one€count€of€interstate€violation€ofÏa€restraining€order€in€violation€of€18€U.S.C.€ðð€2262(a)(1).€€HeÏargues€that€the€district€court€erred€in€its€application€of€theÏgrouping€rules€of€the€United€States€Sentencing€Guidelines,€inÏparticular,€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.2€(ð ðGroups€of€Closely€Related€Countsðð),Ïby€grouping€the€five„count€indictment€into€three€groups€instead€ofÏinto€one€group.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€We€affirm,€although€on€an€interpretation€of€theÐ  ð Ðgrouping€rules€different€from€that€of€the€district€court.ÌÌÓ  Óò òI.€ó ó€ò òBACKGROUNDó óÐ P  ÐÓ0Óà ` àThe€facts€underlying€this€appeal€are€not€in€dispute.€€WeÏtake€the€facts€and€sentencing€details€from€the€Presentence€ReportÏ(PSR)€and€the€transcript€of€proceedings€below.€òòUnited€Statesóó€v.Ð P   ÐòòLindiaóó,€82€F.3d€1154,€1158€(1st€Cir.€1996).Ð à0" ÐÓL€ “r 3LÓò òÝ ‚3£ ÝÝ  ÝÝ‚3£ñÝÔ2“rÔÚ  ÚAÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0 ` àÝ  ÝDefendantððs€Personal€Historyó ó݃3£ñÝŒÐp!À$` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  Ýà ` àDefendant€Peter€Nedd€is€a€thirty„eight€year€old€man€withÏâ âa€history€of€mental€illness€such€as€manic€depression€andÐ à$0 ( Ðschizophrenia,€both€of€which€were€diagnosed€in€1989€when€he€wasÏliving€in€Boston€and€hospitalized€for€a€brief€time.€€Ìâ âà ` àWhile€a€resident€of€Boston,€Nedd€attended€the€KingdomÏHall€of€Jehovah€Witnesses€in€Cambridge.€€There€he€met€the€CarpenterÏfamily,€Richard€and€Andrea€Carpenter€and€their€daughter€Chantelle.€ÏNedd€became€obsessed€with€Chantelle,€desiring€her€romanticÏaffection.€€Nedd€would€call€the€Carpentersðð€house€repeatedlyÏrequesting€to€see€Chantelle€and€would€send€Chantelle€gifts.€€HisÏattention€was€unreciprocated.€€Richard€Carpenter€became€especially€Ïconcerned€with€Neddððs€behavior€when,€in€1996,€Nedd€falsely€claimedÏthat€Richard€Carpenter€had€given€Chantelle€permission€to€marryÏNedd.€€At€the€time,€Chantelle€was€a€teenager€and€Nedd€in€his€earlyÏthirties.€€Ìà ` àAlthough€Nedd€moved€to€New€York€in€1996,€his€obsessionÏwith€Chantelle€did€not€end.€€He€continued€to€call€the€CarpentersððÏhome€and€to€send€letters€and€gifts€to€Chantelle.€€The€CarpentersÏfelt€harassed€by€Neddððs€repeated€communications.€€They€stoppedÏanswering€their€phone€and€began€to€record€all€of€his€telephoneÏmessages€with€their€answering€machine.Ìà ` àThe€Carpenters€describe€Neddððs€messages€left€on€the€theirÏanswering€machine€in€the€fall€of€1998€as€changing€in€tone€fromÏromantic€obsession€to€threatening€violence.€€Those€messagesÏdemanded€that€Richard€Carpenter€allow€Chantelle€to€marry€Nedd€orÏthat€Chantelle€return€all€the€gifts€Nedd€had€sent€her.€€TheÏâ âCarpenters€did€not€return€Neddððs€calls.Ð 0*€%0 Ðà ` àIn€May€1999,€Nedd€came€from€New€York€to€Boston€to€seeÏâ âChantelle.€€When€Richard€and€Andrea€Carpenter€learned€that€Nedd€wasÏin€Boston,€they€sent€Chantelle€into€hiding€and€obtained€a€temporaryÏrestraining€order€against€Nedd.€€That€restraining€order€was€madeÏpermanent€on€June€3,€1999€and€prohibits€Nedd€from,€among€otherÏthings,€threatening€either€Richard€or€Chantelle€Carpenter.€Ìò òÝ ‚3£ ÝÝ  ÝÝ‚3£"ÝÔ2“rÔÚ  ÚBÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0 ` àÝ  ÝCriminal€Conduct€for€the€Instant€Caseó ó݃3£"MÝŒÐ` ` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  Ýà ` àAlthough€Nedd€returned€to€New€York€without€further€callsÏor€attempted€visits€to€the€Carpentersðð€home,€during€the€summer€ofÏ1999,€he€persisted€in€harassing€the€Carpenters€as€before.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Then,Ð ` Ðon€October€14,€1999,€Nedd€called€the€Carpenters€from€New€York€andÏleft€what€would€be€the€first€of€four€recorded€violent€messages€onÏtheir€home€telephone€answering€machine€that€form€the€bulk€of€theÏpresent€charges.€€On€that€day€he€left€the€following€message€on€theÏCarpentersðð€answering€machine:€€ð ðHey€Richard€Carpenter,€did€you€getÏthat€letter€I€sent€your€fucking€daughter,...€if€I€see€you€andÏyou€come€near€me€I€will€break€your€fucking€jaw.€€If€you€have€aÏfucking€gun,€I€will€shove€that€shit€up€your€fucking€hole€and€blowÏyour€fucking€brains€out....ðð€€This€conduct€forms€Count€I€of€theÏindictment€issued€against€Nedd€in€this€case€(ð ðInterstate€ThreatsððÏin€violation€of€18€U.S.C.€ðð€875(c)).Ìà ` àOn€October€18,€1999,€Nedd€again€called€the€Carpenters,Ïthis€time€saying€that€he€was€on€his€way€to€Boston.€€After€arriving€Ð `'°", Ðin€Boston,€he€made€several€calls€to€the€Carpenters€and€tried€toÏvisit€them€at€their€home,€to€no€avail.€€This€behavior€violated€theÏpermanent€restraining€order€and€is€the€conduct€that€forms€Count€VIÏof€the€indictment€(ð ðInterstate€Violation€of€a€Restraining€Orderðð€inÏviolation€of€18€U.S.C.€ðð€2262(a)(1)).€€Ìà ` àOn€November€30,€1999,€Nedd€left€another€message€from€NewÏYork€on€the€Carpentersðð€answering€machine€that€said,€in€relevantÏpart:€€ð ðHey€Richard,€if€I€donððt€get€my€fucking€shit€back€that€IÏgave€your€daughter...with€a€fucking€note€that€says€I€am€sorryÏI€hurt€your€feelings...,€I€will€fucking€kill€you,€and€her,€andÏyour€fucking€wife€[slams€the€phone€down].ðð€€This€conduct€formsÏCount€II€of€the€indictment€(ð ðInterstate€Threats,ðð€18€U.S.C.€ððÏ875(c)).Ìà ` àOn€December€4,€1999,€Nedd€left€the€following€message€thatÏforms€Count€III€of€the€indictment€(ð ðInterstate€Threats,ðð€18€U.S.C.Ïðð€875(c)):€ð ðHey€Richard€Carpenter,€guess€what?€...Iððm€going€toÏkill€you€and€I€am€going€to€beat€the€shit€out€of€you€and€if€I€seeÏyour€fucking€daughter€Iððll€beat€the€shit€out€of€her€and€fuck€her€upÏthe€ass€like€a€fucking€dog....ððÌà ` àOn€December€6,€1999,€Nedd€left€the€last€of€the€fourÏmessages€described€in€the€indictment.€€This€one€forms€Count€IV€Ï(ð ðInterstate€Threats,ðð€18€U.S.C.€ðð€875(c)).€€It€said:€ð ðHey€RichardÏCarpenter...Iððm€going€to€fucking€kill€you...Iððm€coming€toÏBoston,€Richard,€and€this€time€you€wonððt€see€me.€€And€when€you€comeÏâ âto€your€fucking€house€I€will€break€your€fucking€head€open.€€IððllÐ 0*€%0 Ðkill€your€wife€and€your€fucking€daughter€if€you€do€not€send€all€myÏpersonal€things€back.€.€..ððÌâ âò òC.€€€à0 ` àCharges€and€Pleaó óÐÐ ` (#` (# Ðà ` àOn€April€26,€2000,€Nedd€was€charged€with€four€counts€ofÏinterstate€threats€in€violation€of€18€U.S.C.€ðð€875(c)€(Counts€I„IV)Ïand€one€count€of€interstate€violation€of€a€restraining€order€inÏviolation€of€18€U.S.C.€ðð€2262(a)(1)(Count€VI).€€On€July€13,€2000,Ïthe€district€court€accepted€Neddððs€plea€of€nolo€contendere€toÏCounts€I„IV€and€accepted€Neddððs€plea€of€guilty€to€Count€VI.€€TheÏcharges€to€which€he€pleaded€read€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 ` àòòò òCOUNT€ONEóó:€€ó ó18€U.S.C.€ðð€875(c)€„€InterstateÐ  ð ÐThreats€Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ à...Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àOn€or€about€October€14,€1999,€atÏBoston,€in€the€District€of€Massachusetts,Ð ` x` x ÐÓ  Ó€ò òPETER€A.€NEDDó ó€Ð ° ÐÓÁ*Óà8 ` àdefendant€herein,€knowingly€and€willfullyÏtransmitted€in€interstate€commerce€aÏcommunication€containing€a€threat€to€injureÏthe€person€of€another,€to€wit:€€a€telephoneÏcall€originating€outside€the€Commonwealth€ofÏMassachusetts€placed€to€a€telephone€in€Boston,ÏMassachusetts€which€threatened€to€break€theÏjaw€and€to€blow€the€brains€out€of€RichardÏCarpenter.€Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àAll€in€violation€of€Title€18,€UnitedÏStates€Code,€Section€875(c).Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8 ` àòòò òCOUNT€TWOóó:€ó ó€18€U.S.C.€ðð€875(c)€„€InterstateÐ #P& ÐThreatsÐ ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ à...Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àOn€or€about€November€30,€1999,€atÏBoston,€in€the€District€of€Massachusetts,Ð ` x` x ÐÓ  Ó€ò òPETER€A.€NEDDó ó€Ð '`"+ ÐÓ&.Óà8 ` àdefendant€herein,€knowingly€and€willfullyÏtransmitted€in€interstate€commerce€aÏcommunication€containing€a€threat€to€injureÏthe€person€of€another,€to€wit:€a€telephoneÏcall€originating€outside€the€Commonwealth€ofÏMassachusetts€placed€to€a€telephone€in€Boston,Ð è+8'1 ÐMassachusetts€which€threatened€to€kill€RichardÏCarpenter,€Andrea€Carpenter,€and€ChantelleÏCarpenter.Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àAll€in€violation€of€Title€18,€UnitedÏStates€Code,€Section€875(c).€Ð ` x` x Ðà ` àÌò òòòà ` àCOUNT€THREEóóó ó:€€18€U.S.C.€ðð€875(c)€„€Interstate€ThreatsÐ ` ° Ðà8 ` àà ¨ à...Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àOn€or€about€December€4,€1999,€atÏBoston,€in€the€District€of€Massachusetts,Ð ` x` x ÐÓ  Ó€ò òPETER€A.€NEDDó ó€Ð ¨ ø  ÐÓ™1Óà8 ` àdefendant€herein,€knowingly€and€willfullyÏtransmitted€in€interstate€commerce€aÏcommunication€containing€a€threat€to€injureÏthe€person€of€another,€to€wit:€a€telephoneÏcall€originating€outside€the€Commonwealth€ofÏMassachusetts€placed€to€a€telephone€in€Boston,ÏMassachusetts€which€threatened€to€kill€RichardÏCarpenter,€and€to€beat€and€to€forciblyÏsodomize€Chantelle€Carpenter.Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àAll€in€violation€of€Title€18,€UnitedÏStates€Code,€Section€875(c).Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8 ` àòòò òCOUNT€FOURó óóó:€€18€U.S.C.€ðð€875(c)€„€InterstateÐ øH ÐThreatsÐ ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ à...Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àOn€or€about€December€6,€1999,€atÏBoston,€in€the€District€of€Massachusetts,Ð ` x` x ÐÓ  Óò òPETER€A.€NEDDó ó€Ð X ÐÓ5Óà8 ` àdefendant€herein,€knowingly€and€willfullyÏtransmitted€in€interstate€commerce€aÏcommunication€containing€a€threat€to€injureÏthe€person€of€another,€to€wit:€a€telephoneÏcall€originating€in€New€York€State€placed€to€aÏtelephone€in€Boston,€Massachusetts€whichÏthreatened€to€kill€Richard€Carpenter,€AndreaÏCarpenter,€and€Chantelle€Carpenter.Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àAll€in€violation€of€Title€18,€UnitedÏStates€Code,€Section€875(c).Ð ` x` x ÐÌà ` à...ÌÌà8 ` àòòò òCOUNT€SIXó óóó:€€18€U.S.C.€ðð€2262(a)(1)€„Ð  &p!* ÐInterstate€Violation€of€a€Protective€OrderÐ ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ à...Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àOn€or€about€October€18,€1999,€atÏBoston,€in€the€District€of€Massachusetts,Ð ` x` x ÐÓ  Ó€ò òPETER€A.€NEDDó ó€Ð 0*€%/ ÐÓ‹8Óà8 ` àdefendant€herein,€traveled€across€the€StateÏline€of€the€Commonwealth€of€Massachusetts€withÐ è+8'1 Ðthe€intent€to€engage€in€conduct€that€violatedÏthat€portion€of€the€protection€order€issued€byÏthe€Commonwealth€of€Massachusetts€SuperiorÏCourt€that€involved€protection€of€RichardÏCarpenter€and€Chantelle€Carpenter€againstÏrepeated€harassment,€and€the€defendantÏsubsequently€engaged€in€repeated€harassment€inÏviolation€of€that€protective€order€byÏrepeatedly€telephoning€the€residence€ofÏRichard€and€Chantelle€Carpenter€on€or€aboutÏOctober€18€and€19,€1999,€and€by€attempting€toÏvisit€them€at€their€residence€on€or€aboutÏOctober€18,€1999.Ð ` x` x Ðà8 ` àà ¨ àAll€in€violation€of€Title€18,€UnitedÏStates€Code,€Section€2262(a)(1).Óˆ)ÓÐ ` x` x Ðà ` àOn€November€29,€2000,€the€district€court€sentenced€NeddÏto€thirty„three€months€incarceration€and€three€years€of€supervisedÏrelease,€imposing€a€number€of€special€conditions€including€that€theÏdefendant€continue€to€take€his€anti„psychotic€medication€and€thatÏhe€have€no€contact€with€the€Carpenters.ÌØØÓL€ "ʽ( LÓÝ ‚3£ ÝÝ  Ýò òÝ‚3£¢=ÝÔ2ʽÔÚ  ÚDÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0 ` àÝ  ÝThe€Sentencing€Determination€Made€Belowó ó݃3£¢=Ð=ÝŒÐP` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  Ýà ` àAt€the€sentencing€hearing€in€the€district€court,€theÏcourt€discussed€with€the€parties€the€most€appropriate€method€underÏthe€Sentencing€Guidelines€for€grouping€the€five€counts€of€theÏindictment.€€òòSeeóó€òògenerallyóó€U.S.S.G.,€Ch.€3,€Pt.€D,€introductoryÐ à" Ðcmt.€(entitled€ð ðMultiple€Countsðð,€one€purpose€of€which€is€toÏð ðdetermin[e]€a€single€offense€level€that€encompasses€all€the€countsÏof€which€the€defendant€is€convictedðð).€€Probation€recommendedÏgrouping€the€five€counts€according€to€victim,€positing€threeÏgroups,€one€for€each€of€the€three€members€of€the€Carpenter€family.׃!×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р`'°", ÐThe€government€advocated€probationððs€position€with€proffers€ofÏvictim€impact€statements€from€each€of€the€Carpenters.€€NeddððsÏcounsel€objected€to€this€method,€arguing€that€grouping€by€victimÏwas€not€permitted€under€the€Sentencing€Guidelines€as€such€a€methodÏsplit€a€count€among€several€groups,€putting€one€count€into€moreÏthan€one€group,€òòseeóó€òòinfraóó€note€3,€and€therefore€had€the€potentialÐ € Ð  Ðto€create€more€groups€than€counts€and€would€thwart€the€purposes€ofÏgrouping,€which€is€to€lessen€the€amount€of€sentencingÏdeterminations€and€to€ð ðprevent€multiple€punishment€forÏsubstantially€identical€offense€conduct.ðð€€òòId.óó€€It€was€and€remainsÐ À Ðthe€defendantððs€position€that€all€five€counts€should€form€oneÏgroup.€€According€to€the€defendant,€all€five€counts€involveÏsubstantially€the€same€harm€within€the€meaning€of€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.2Ï(stating€that€ð ð[a]ll€counts€involving€substantially€the€same€harmÏshall€be€grouped€together€into€a€single€Groupðð).€€This€would€resultÏin€a€sentence€of€eighteen€to€twenty„four€months,€as€opposed€to€theÏtwenty„seven€to€thirty„three€month€range€for€the€three€victim„¼defined€groups€advocated€by€the€government.Ìà ` àThe€district€court€sentenced€Nedd€to€thirty„three€monthsÏin€prison,€the€high„end€of€the€governmentððs€proposed€guidelineÏrange.€€In€so€doing,€the€district€court€settled€on€three€groups€forÏthe€five€counts€of€the€indictment,€accepting€probationððs€and€theÏgovernmentððs€position€that€grouping€the€counts€of€the€indictmentÐ '`", Ðinto€three€groups€by€victim,€each€a€member€of€the€Carpenter€family,Ïwas€the€correct€application€of€the€Sentencing€Guidelines.€€Nedd€hasÏappealed€from€this€sentencing€determination.ÌÌò òÓ  ÓII.€€DISCUSSIONÐ ð @ Ðó óÓDHÓà ` àThis€appeal€presents€two€related€questions.€€First,Ð Ð   Ðwhether€the€district€court€erred€when€it€refused€defendantððsÏrequest€to€group€all€five€counts€of€the€indictment€as€one€groupÏunder€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.2€(ð ðGroups€of€Closely€Related€Countsðð).€ÏSecond,€if€grouping€more€than€one€group€was€appropriate,€whetherÏthe€district€court€erred€when€it€split€the€counts€of€the€indictmentÏbetween€three€groups,€each€corresponding€to€a€primary€victim,Ïeither€Richard,€Andrea€or€Chantelle€Carpenter.€ÌØØÓL€ º½(("LÓò òÝ ‚3£ ÝÝ  ÝÝ‚3£KÝÔ2º½ÔÚ  ÚAÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0 ` àÝ  ÝThe€Grouping€Rulesó ó݃3£K.KÝŒÐP ` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  Ýà ` àWe€look€first€at€the€language€and€purpose€of€the€groupingÏrules€in€the€Sentencing€Guidelines.€€The€Introductory€Commentary€toÏthe€chapter€at€issue,€U.S.S.G.,€Ch.€3,€Pt.€D€(ð ðMultiple€Countsðð),Ïindicates€that€the€grouping€rules€are€meant€to€serve€at€least€twoÏmain€objectives.€€One€such€objective€is€to€bundle€multi„countÏindictments€into€sets€of€counts€that€share€the€same€harm€or€can€beÏotherwise€characterized€as€the€same€type€of€wrongful€conduct€inÏorder€ð ðto€provide€incremental€punishment€for€significant€additionalÏcriminal€conduct.ðð€€U.S.S.G.€Ch.€3,€Pt.€D,€introductory€cmt.€€ð ðSomeÏoffenses€that€may€be€charged€in€multiple„count€indictments€are€soÏclosely€intertwined€with€other€offenses€that€conviction€for€themÏordinarily€would€not€warrant€increasing€the€guideline€range.ð ð€€òòId.óó€Ð `,°'2 ÐFor€example,€ð ð[e]mbezzling€money€from€a€bank€and€falsifying€theÏrelated€records,€although€legally€distinct€offenses,€representÏessentially€the€same€type€of€wrongful€conduct€with€the€sameÏultimate€harm,€so€that€it€would€be€more€appropriate€to€treat€themÏas€a€single€offense€for€purposes€of€sentencing.ðð׃#×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€òòId.óó€€Ð ð @ Ðà ` àAnother€objective€of€the€guidelinesðð€grouping€rules€is€toÏlimit€the€effect€of€prosecutorial€choices€in€the€design€of€theÏindictment€which,€by€charging€multiple€offenses€intend€to€exact€(orÏthreaten)€greater€punishment€but€which,€nevertheless,€may€be€fairlyÏcharacterized€with€fewer€counts€and€thus€punishable€by€a€lessÏsevere€sentence.€ÌÓÓà8 ` àIn€order€to€limit€the€significance€of€theÏformal€charging€decision€and€to€preventÏmultiple€punishment€for€substantiallyÏidentical€offense€conduct,€this€Part€providesÏrules€for€grouping€offenses€together.€ÏConvictions€on€multiple€counts€do€not€resultÏin€a€sentence€enhancement€unless€theyÏrepresent€additional€conduct€that€is€notÏotherwise€accounted€for€by€the€guidelines.€€InÏessence,€counts€that€are€grouped€together€areÏtreated€as€constituting€a€single€offense€forÏpurposes€of€the€guidelines.€Ð ` x` x ÐÌâ âÓ1RÓòòId.óóÐ  X# ÐÓÓà ` àÓ”TÓThe€rules€that€instruct€a€district€court€how€to€groupÏð ðclosely€related€countsðð€€reflect€the€above„stated€goals.€€ThoseÏrules€state€in€relevant€part:Ìâ âÓÓà8 ` àAll€counts€involving€substantially€the€sameÏharm€shall€be€grouped€into€a€single€Group.€ÏCounts€involve€substantially€the€same€harmÏwithin€this€rule:Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8 ` à(a)€à0¨ ` x` xàWhen€counts€involve€the€same€victim€andÐ H ˜  Ðthe€same€act€or€transaction.Ð ¨ x¨ x ÐÌà8 ` àØØ(b)€à0¨ ` x` xàWhen€counts€involve€the€same€victim€andÐ  ð  Ðtwo€or€more€acts€or€transactionsÏconnected€by€a€common€criminalÏobjective€or€constituting€part€of€aÏcommon€scheme€or€plan.Ð ¨ x¨ x ÐÌà8 ` à(c)€à0¨ ` x` xàWhen€one€of€the€counts€embodies€conductÐ P  Ðthat€is€treated€as€a€specific€offenseÏcharacteristic€in,€or€other€adjustmentÏto,€the€guideline€applicable€to€anotherÏof€the€counts.Ð ¨ x¨ x ÐÌà8 ` à(d)€à0¨ ` x` xàWhen€the€offense€level€is€determinedÐ P Ðlargely€on€the€basis€of€the€totalÏamount€of€harm€or€loss,€the€quantity€ofÏa€substance€involved,€or€some€otherÏmeasure€of€aggregate€harm,€or€if€theÏoffense€behavior€is€ongoing€orÏcontinuous€in€nature€and€the€offenseÏguideline€is€written€to€cover€suchÏbehavior.Ð ¨ x¨ x ÐÌU.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.2.ÌÓmUÓà ` àÌà ` àIn€addition€to€the€above€rules,€the€district€court€citedÏto€the€Application€Notes€to€the€guidelines€ðð€2A6.1€and€ðð€2A6.2€thatÏcorrespond€to€the€offenses€of€conviction,€18€U.S.C.€ðð€875(c)€and€18ÏU.S.C.€ðð€2262(a)(1)€respectively.€€Those€notes€say€that€ð ð[f]orÏpurposes€of€Chapter€Three,€Part€D€(Multiple€Counts),€multipleÏcounts€involving...threatening€or€harassing€...the€sameÏvictim€are€grouped€together€under€ðð€3D1.2€(Groups€of€CloselyÐ ˆ,Ø'3 ÐRelated€Counts).€€òòMultiple€counts€involving€different€victims€areÐ ° Ðnot€to€be€grouped€under€ðð€3D1.2óó.ðð€€U.S.S.G.€ðð€2A6.1,€cmt.€n.€2Ð @ Ð(emphasis€added).׃$×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€From€this€directive,€and€in€light€of€U.S.S.G.Ð Ð  Ððð€3D1.2,€the€district€court€determined€that€counts€with€distinctÏvictims€despite€describing€the€same€crime€could€not€be€groupedÏtogether.€€Neither€party€quarrels€with€that€generalization.€ÏIndeed,€the€plain€language€of€the€guideline€commentary€quoted€aboveÏleaves€scarce€room€for€any€other€interpretation.׃% ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð  ð  Ðâ âÝ ‚3£ ÝÝ  Ýò òÝ‚3£|_ÝÔ2º½ÔÚ  ÚBÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0 ` àÝ  ÝFirst€Question€Presentedó ó݃3£|_ª_ÝŒÐ0€ ` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  Ýà ` àBased€upon€the€premise€that€counts€with€the€same€victimÏâ âmay€be€grouped€and€those€with€different€victims€may€not€be€grouped,Ïthe€defendant€urged€the€district€court€to€group€all€five€countsÏinto€one€group€because€all€five€counts€shared€the€same€primaryÏvictim€(Richard€Carpenter)€and€a€common€criminal€objective€(toÏharass€Richard€Carpenterððs€family).€€Nedd€contends€that€Andrea€andÏChantelle€Carpenter€were€mere€secondary€or€indirect€victims€of€hisÏthreatening€behavior.€€òòSeeóó€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.2,€cmt.€n.€2€(ð ðThe€termÐ  ð  Ðððvictimðð€is€not€intended€to€include€indirect€or€secondary€victims.€ÏGenerally€there€will€be€one€person€who€is€directly€and€mostÏseriously€affected€by€the€offense€and€is€therefore€identifiable€asÏthe€victim.ðð).€€If€this€were€so€here€„„€and€defendant€argues€it€wasÏby€virtue€of€the€fact€that€all€four€of€his€phone€calls€began€ð ðHeyÏRichardðð€„„€ðð€3D1.2(b)€might€be€invoked€to€form€just€a€single€groupÏfrom€all€five€counts,€thereby€resulting€in€a€lower€guidelineÏsentencing€range.€€Ìà ` àThe€district€court€rejected€this€contention€finding€thatÏð ð[t]he€plain€reading€of...the€communication€[the€four€threats],Ïsuggests€there€were€three€primary€victims,€there€were€threatsÏdirectly€to€three€different€people.ðð€€The€district€court€thereforeÏrefused€to€find€that€Richard€Carpenter€was€the€sole€primary€victim,Ïand€that€Chantelle€and€her€mother€Andrea€were€not€also€primaryÏvictims,€of€Neddððs€threatening€conduct.€€Finding€three€primaryÏvictims,€the€court€determined€that€it€could€not€group€all€fiveÏâ âcounts€as€one.Ð 0*€%0 Ðà ` àThe€district€court€based€its€factual€finding€that€allÏâ âthree€victims€were€ð ðprimaryðð€on€the€language€of€the€indictment,€theÏtape€recordings€of€the€threats,€and€the€written€victim€impactÏstatements€submitted€by€each€of€the€three€Carpenters.€€TheseÏsources€attested€to€the€independent,€personal,€and€deeply€traumaticÏeffects€of€Neddððs€harassing,€threatening€and€stalking€behavior€uponÏeach€member€of€the€Carpenter€family.€€We€can€find€no€error€in€theÏdistrict€courtððs€assessment€to€this€effect,€let€alone€clear€error.€ÏWe€accept€the€district€courtððs€ruling€that€there€were€three€primaryÏvictims€across€all€five€counts.€€òòSeeóó€òòUnited€Statesóó€v.€òòFreemanóó,€176Ð À ÐF.3d€575,€578€(1st€Cir.€1999)€(reviewing€a€district€courtððs€factualÏdeterminations€at€sentencing€for€clear€error).€€DefendantððsÏargument€„„€that€each€threat€begins€with€ð ðHey€Richardðð€„„€does€notÏobviate€the€fact€that€each€threat,€except€the€first,€names€anotherÏCarpenter€and€holds€out€the€prospect€of€terrifying€violence€againstÏher.€€It€follows,€then,€that€the€court€did€not€err€in€denyingÏdefendantððs€request€to€form€one€group€from€the€five€counts€based€onÏa€common€primary€victim€where€some€counts,€although€not€all,Ïcontained€additional€primary€victims.€€òòSeeóó€U.S.S.G.€ðð€2A6.1,€cmt.Ð Ð $ Ðn.€2€(ð ðMultiple€counts€involving€different€victims€are€not€to€beÏgrouped..€..ðð).€€Ìò òÝ ‚3£ ÝÝ  ÝÝ‚3£xlÝÔ2º½ÔÚ  ÚCÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0 ` àÝ  ÝSecond€Question€Presentedó ó݃3£xl£l݌Ѐ%Ð *` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  Ýà ` àA€second€question€concerns€the€district€courtððs€decisionÏto€split€the€five€counts€among€three€groups€according€to€eachÏprimary€victim.€€While€we€ultimately€conclude€that€dividing€theÏcounts€into€three€groups€was€correct,€we€are€not€persuaded€thatÐ ,`'2 Ðgrouping€by€victim€fits€within€the€guidelinesðð€rationale.€€ContraryÏto€its€position€below,€the€government€similarly€now€contends€thatÏgrouping€by€victim,€when€doing€so€results€in€splitting€counts€as€itÏdoes€here,€is€a€mistaken€interpretation€of€the€guidelines.€€TheÏgovernment€nevertheless€urges€that€we€affirm€the€judgment€below€onÏthe€theory€that€application€of€the€proper€alternative€groupingÏmethod€will€result€in€the€same€number€of€groups€(three)€and€theÏsame€combined€sentencing€range€(twenty„seven€to€thirty„threeÏmonths).€€Reviewing€the€district€courtððs€legal€interpretation€ofÏthe€guidelines€de€novo,€òòseeóó€òòUnited€Statesóó€v.€òòNicholasóó,€133€F.3dÐ À Ð133,€134€(1st€Cir.€1998),€we€agree€with€the€government€that€anyÏmethodological€error€by€the€district€court€was€harmless.€Ìà ` àThe€grouping€rules€come€into€play€only€with€respect€toÏmulti„count€indictments.€€òòSeeóó€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D€(ð ðMultiple€Countsðð).Ð P ÐThey€are€not€written€so€as€to€apply€to€a€single€count€indictment.€ÏNor,€even€in€the€case€of€multi„count€indictments,€would€it€beÏconsistent€to€split€single€counts€therein€among€several€groups.€ÏThe€same€prohibition€against€grouping€within€a€single€countÏindictment€would€apply€to€multiple€grouping€within€any€given€singleÏcount€of€a€multi„count€indictment.€€Supporting€this€view€is€theÏfact€that€where€the€guidelines€wish€to€split€a€single€count€amongÏtwo€or€more€groups€according€to€individual€victims,€they€giveÏspecific€directions€on€the€matter.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€U.S.S.G.€ððÐ '`", Ð2N1.1(d)(1)€(ð ðTampering€or€Attempting€to€Tamper€Involving€Risk€ofÏDeath€or€Bodily€Injuryðð)€(ð ðIf€the€defendant€is€convicted€of€aÏsingle€count€involving€(A)€the€death€or€permanent,€life„Ð À+'2 Ðthreatening,€or€serious€bodily€injury€of€more€than€one€victim,€orÏ(B)€conduct€tantamount€to€the€attempted€murder€of€more€than€oneÏvictim,€Chapter€Three,€Part€D€(Multiple€Counts)€shall€be€applied€asÏif€the€defendant€has€been€convicted€of€a€separate€count€for€eachÏsuch€victim.ðð);€U.S.S.G.€ðð€2G1.1(d)(1)€(ð ðPromoting€Prostitution€orÏProhibited€Sexual€Conductðð)€(ð ðIf€the€offense€involved€more€than€oneÏvictim,€Chapter€Three,€Part€D€(Multiple€Counts)€shall€be€applied€asÏif€the€promoting€of€prostitution€or€prohibited€sexual€conduct€inÏrespect€to€each€victim€had€been€contained€in€a€separate€count€ofÏconviction.ðð);€U.S.S.G.€ðð€2G2.1(c)(1)€(ð ðSexual€Exploitation€of€aÏMinorðð)€(ð ðIf€the€offense€involved€the€exploitation€of€more€than€oneÏminor,€Chapter€Three,€Part€D€(Multiple€Counts)€shall€be€applied€asÏif€the€exploitation€of€each€minor€had€been€contained€in€a€separateÏcount€of€conviction.ðð).€€Moreover,€were€a€district€court€permittedÏwithout€special€guideline€instruction€to€split€a€single€count€amongÏtwo€or€more€groups,€several€purposes€of€the€grouping€rules€mightÏarguably€be€jeopardized,€òòe.g.óó,€to€provide€only€ð ðincrementalÐ °  Ðpunishment€for€significant€additional€criminal€conductðð€and€ð ðtoÏprevent€multiple€punishment€for€substantially€identical€offenseÏconduct,ðð€òòseeóó€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D,€introductory€cmt.€Ð `"°& Ðà ` àBut€while,€as€said,€splitting€individual€counts€by€victimÏis€therefore€problematic,€bundling€counts€according€to€those€thatÏcontain€the€exact€same€primary€victims€„„€the€approach€now€urged€byÏthe€government€„„€seems€appropriate€in€circumstances€like€theÏâ âpresent.Ð 0*€%0 Ðà ` àIn€taking€this€approach,€we€note€the€following€breakdownÏâ âof€the€counts€of€the€indictment€by€number,€date€of€threat€andÏvictim.Ìòòà ` àCountóóà0 ¨ àòòDateóóà0¨ (#¨ (#àà0X(#(#àòòVictimóóà0@((#(#àòòà @( àà @( àà @( àóó€€€€Ð` °X(#X(# Ðà ` àIà0 ¨ à10/14/99à0X¨ (#¨ (#àRichard€à0@(#(#à€€à0@(#(#àà0@X(#X(#àà0@(#(#àà0@p(#p(#à€€€€Ðð @X(#X(# Ðà ` àIIà0 ¨ à11/30/99à0X¨ (#¨ (#àRichard,€Andrea,€Chantelle€à0@¸ (#¸ (#àЀ Ð X(#X(# Ðà ` àIIIà0 ¨ à12/4/99à0X¨ (#¨ (#àRichard,€Chantelleà0@È` (#` (#à€€€€€à0@ (#(#àÐ` X(#X(# Ðà ` àIVà0 ¨ à12/6/99à0X¨ (#¨ (#àRichard,€Andrea,€Chantelle€Ð ð X(#X(# Ðà ` àVIà0 ¨ à10/18/99à0X¨ (#¨ (#àRichard,€Chantelleà0@È` (#` (#à€€€€€Ð0€ X(#X(# ÐLooking€at€this€breakdown,€we€observe€that€the€guideline€commentaryÏrelevant€to€the€crimes€at€issue€instruct€that€ð ðmultiple€countsÏinvolving€different€victims€are€not€to€be€grouped.ðð€€U.S.S.G.€ððÏ2A6.1,€cmt.€n.€2.€€This€commentary€strongly€suggests€that€countsÏwith€different€primary€victims,€such€as€Counts€I€and€II€(Count€IIÏnames€Andrea€and€Chantelle€and€Count€I€does€not),€should€not€beÏgrouped€together.€€The€fact€that€Counts€I€and€II€share€a€commonÏprimary€victim,€Richard,€does€not€alter€this€effect€of€theÏcommentaryððs€prohibition.€€We€also€observe€that€the€grouping€rulesÏthemselves€instruct€a€district€court€to€group€counts€ð ðinvolvingÏsubstantially€the€same€harmðð,€harm€being€defined€as€ð ðthe€sameÏvictim€and€the€same€act€or€transactionðð€or€ð ðthe€same€victim€and€twoÏor€more€acts€or€transactions€connected€by€a€common€criminalÏobjective€or€constituting€part€of€a€common€scheme€or€plan.ðð€ÏU.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.2(a),€(b).€€Ìà ` àIn€light€of€these€considerations,€a€group€would€form€ofÏCounts€II€and€IV,€as€they€both€contain€all€three€Carpenters€asÐ À+'2 Ðprimary€victims€and€both€consist€of€identical€acts€committed€onÏdifferent€days,€that€is,€threatening€behavior€toward€the€sameÏvictims€over€the€phone.€€òòSeeóó€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.2(b).€€Similarly,€aÐ Ð  Ðgroup€would€form€of€Counts€III€and€VI,€as€they€both€contain€RichardÏand€Chantelle€as€primary€victims€and€both€consist€of€acts€connectedÏby€the€common€objective€of€harassment€and€stalking.€€òòSeeóó€òòidóó.׃&×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€ThisÐ € Ð  Ðleaves€Count€I€as€a€single€count€in€its€own€group,€being€the€onlyÏcount€naming€Richard€Carpenter€alone€as€a€primary€victim.€€We€findÏthe€above€to€be€the€appropriate€grouping€methodology€here.Ìà ` àDefendant€complains€that€this€grouping€analysis€has€theÏpotential€of€punishing€worse€conduct€less€severely€and€thus€forÏreasons€of€common€sense€cannot€be€the€correct€grouping€scenario.€ÏFor€example,€defendant€points€out€that,€under€this€analysis,€aÏdefendant€who€threatens€Person€A€on€Day€1€and€Person€B€on€Day€2Ï(ð ðscenario€oneðð)€will€be€sentenced€based€on€the€calculation€for€twoÏgroups,€whereas€a€defendant€who€threatens€Persons€A,€B€and€C€on€DayÏ1,€Persons€A,€B€and€C€on€Day€2,€and€Persons€A,€B€and€C€on€Day€3Ï(ð ðscenario€twoðð)€will€be€sentenced€based€on€the€calculation€forÏonly€one€group€(assuming€that€all€three€persons€are€primaryÏvictims)€and€will€therefore€receive€a€lesser€sentence€than€theÏdefendant€in€scenario€one.€Defendant€argues€that€the€scenario€twoÐ ð#@( Ðis€worse,€however€ð!ð€threatening€three€people€three€times€ð!ð€andÐ ° Ðshould€result€in€a€higher€sentence€than€scenario€one€ð!ð€threateningÐ @ Ðonly€a€total€of€two€people,€each€on€one€day€only.Ìà ` àWhile€there€is€some€force€to€this€argument,€it€is€flawedÏin€several€respects.€€First,€we€decide€questions€presented€to€usÏbased€primarily€on€the€factual€circumstances€of€the€particularÏcase.€€While€answering€hypotheticals€may€provide€useful€insightÏinto€the€overall€cogency€of€a€particular€rationale,€we€need€not€andÏcannot€resolve€satisfactorily€every€imaginable€hypothetical€beforeÏreaching€a€result€in€the€case€at€hand.€€Second,€in€future€cases,Ïother€factors€not€now€before€us€may€point€the€way€to€a€just€andÏperhaps€diverging€result.€€For€example,€were€a€defendant€toÏthreaten€the€same€three€people€on€three€different€days,€hisÏsentence,€although€based€on€only€one€grouping,€could€be€lengthenedÏ(via€a€higher€base€offense€level)€to€account€for€the€repeatedÏinstances€of€the€same€offense,€òòseeóó€U.S.S.G.€ðð€2A6.1(b)(2)€(ð ðIf€theÐ  p Ðoffense€involved€more€than€two€threats,€increase€by€2€levels.ðð),€orÏthe€repeated€instances€against€the€same€victim,€òòseeóó€U.S.S.G.€ððÐ @" Ð2A6.2(b)(1)(C)€(ð ðIf€the€offense€involved...a€pattern€ofÏactivity€involving€stalking,€threatening,€harassing,€or€assaultingÏthe€same€victim,€increase€by€2€levels.ðð).€€It€is€not€necessarilyÏthe€case,€therefore,€that€defendantððs€hypothetical€scenario€twoÏwould€not€be€subject€to€the€same€or€greater€punishment€thanÏscenario€one.€€Lastly,€we€note€that€a€multi„group€indictment,€suchÏas€that€posed€by€defendantððs€scenario€one,€does€not€inevitably€leadÏto€a€higher€punishment€than€that€mandated€by€a€single„groupÐ À+'2 Ðindictment.€€For€example,€in€a€two„group€indictment,€if€one€groupÏhas€an€offense€level€nine€levels€below€the€other€group,€that€lower„¼level€group€is€not€factored€into€the€sentencing€calculation€at€all.€ÏòòSeeóó€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.4(c).€Ð ` ° Ðà ` àWe€recognize€that€the€grouping€analysis€proposed€by€theÏgovernment€requires€us€to€read€into€the€grouping€rules€theÏpossibility€that€the€word€ð ðvictimðð€in€subsections€(a)€and€(b)€of€Ïðð€3D1.2€could€also€represent€its€plural€ð ðvictimsðð.€€But€thisÏinterpretation€seems€entirely€reasonable€under€relevant€guidelineÏpolicy€considerations.€€Ìà ` àWe€must€recognize,€also,€that€the€drafters€of€theÏguideline€rules€may€not€themselves€have€provided€for€everyÏcontingency.€€Here€the€drafters€may€not€have€focused€fully€on€aÏsituation€involving€multiple€primary€victims€listed€in€a€singleÏcount€that€forms€but€one€of€several€in€an€indictment€describing€anÏon„going€campaign€of€harassment€and€threatening€violence.€€òòSeeóóÐ  p ÐòòUnited€Statesóó€v.€òòAdelmanóó,€168€F.3d€84,€87€(2d€Cir.€1999)€€(ð ðTheÐ °  ÐGuidelines€do€not€provide€for€consideration€of€harm€to€multipleÏvictims€of€threatening€communications.ðð).€€Courts€must€do€the€bestÏthey€can€within€the€less€than€perfect€legal€landscape.Ìà ` àFinally,€we€note€that€had€the€charging€document€been€moreÏfully€itemized€and€differentiated,€structured€by€individual€victimÏand€date€and€charging€nine€instances€of€interstate€threats€insteadÏof€four,€under€the€governmentððs€proposed€grouping€method,€theÏdistrict€court€could€have€appropriately€still€found€only€threeÏgroups.€€This€confirms€that€although€grouping€by€victim€when€thatÐ À+'2 Ðmethod€results€in€splitting€counts€may€not€be€contemplated€by€theÏguidelines,€grouping€multiple€counts€when€they€contain€the€exactÏsame€primary€victim€or€victims€and€ð ðthe€same€act€or€transaction,ððÏU.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.2(a),€or€ð ðtwo€or€more€acts€or€transactions€connectedÏby€a€common€criminal€objective€or€constituting€part€of€a€commonÏscheme€or€plan,ðð€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.2(b),€is€prescribed€by€the€languageÏand€purpose€of€the€grouping€rules.€€Ìà ` àHad€the€district€court€applied€the€analysis€we€nowÏendorse€to€the€facts€of€this€case,€it€would€have€reached€theÏfollowing€conclusion€based€on€its€finding€of€three€primary€victims:Ï(1)€the€indictment€is€properly€divided€into€three€groups,€hereÏbeing€Count€I,€Counts€II/IV,€and€Counts€III/VI;€(2)€the€group€withÏthe€highest€offense€level€(18)€controls,€that€being€the€groupÏnaming€both€Richard€and€Chantelle€victims,€Counts€III/VI,€òòseeóóÐ P ÐU.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.4;€(3)€this€results€in€a€combined€offense€level€ofÏ21,€òòseeóó€U.S.S.G.€ðð€3D1.4(a);€and€(4)€with€a€three„level€reductionÐ  p Ðfor€acceptance€of€responsibility,€the€total€offense€level€becomesÏ18,€which,€at€a€criminal€history€category€I,€corresponds€to€aÏsentencing€range€of€twenty„seven€to€thirty„three€months.€€This€isÏthe€same€range€as€that€reached€by€the€district€court€under€theÏapplication€of€the€guidelines€it€adopted.€€The€error€was€thereforeÏharmless€and€the€judgment€below€is€òòò òaffirmedó óóó.€Ð €%Ð * Ð