Case ID: f-appx_497/html/0410-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Deante Demone BLACKMON, also known as Dopey, also known as B-Murder, also known as Deon, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 11-51253
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Nov. 15, 2012.
    Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Deante Demone Blackmon, Bastrop, TX, pro se.
    Before REAVLEY, JOLLY and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Deante Demone Blackmon, federal prisoner #35542-180, filed a 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) motion to reduce his sentence based on the Fair Sentencing Act and recent amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines relating to offenses involving crack cocaine. The district court denied Blackmon’s § 3582(c)(2) motion and his motion for reconsideration of that denial. Blackmon filed a timely notice of appeal.

Blackmon argues that the district court procedurally erred when it failed to make the initial determination whether he was eligible for relief under § 3582(c)(2) as required by Dillon v. United States,—U.S. -, 130 S.Ct. 2683, 2691, 177 L.Ed.2d 271 (2010). The district court’s determination that Blackmon was eligible for such relief was implied by its consideration of the issue whether relief was warranted in this case. See United States v. Larry, 632 F.3d 933, 936 (5th Cir.2011). Blackmon also argues that the district court did not comply with Dillon’s requirement that it consider the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors contemporaneously in making the discretionary decision whether relief was warranted. See Dillon, 130 S.Ct. at 2692. This argument, however, is contradicted by the record.

Asserting further procedural error, Blackmon argues that the district court failed to consider his post-sentencing conduct. In deciding whether relief is warranted under § 3582, a district court is allowed to consider such conduct, but it is not required to do so. United States v. Evans, 587 F.3d 667, 673 & n. 10 (5th Cir.2009); U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10, comment. (n.l(B)(iii)). Blackmon’s post-sentencing argument was presented in the district court, and we assume that the district court considered the argument. See Evans, 587 F.3d at 672-73. Blackmon’s contention that the law-of-the-case doctrine prevented the district court from considering his past criminal activity and the fact that his criminal history score underrepresented that criminal history is unavailing as the Sentencing Guidelines instruct the district court to consider such information. See § 1B1.10, comment. (n.l(B)(i-ii)).

Finally, Blackmon maintains that the district court’s denial of relief indicates that it was blind to the guidelines amendments’ purpose of reducing the disparity between sentences for crack and powder cocaine offenses. The order denying relief referenced the § 3553(a) factors and reflects that the district court gave due consideration to Blackmon’s motion as a whole. Thus, there was no abuse of discretion. See Evans, 587 F.3d at 674; United States v. Whitebird, 55 F.3d 1007, 1010 (5th Cir.1995).

AFFIRMED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.