Case ID: f-appx_269/html/0206-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "IRENAS, Senior District Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, v. David HOWARD, Appellant.
    No. 06-4523.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) Feb. 5, 2008.
    Filed March 17, 2008.
    Ewald Zittlau, Office of United States Attorney, Philadelphia, PA, for United States of America.
    Robert Epstein, Defender Association of Philadelphia Federal Court Division, Philadelphia, PA, for David Howard.
    Before: MCKEE, AMBRO, Circuit Judges, and IRENAS, Senior District Judge.
    
      
       Honorable Joseph E. Irenas, Senior United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, sitting by designation.
    
   OPINION

IRENAS, Senior District Judge.

Appellant, David Howard, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment, the lowest end of the Sentencing Guideline range of 37 to 46 months. Howard contends that the sentence imposed was unreasonable because it violated the statutory mandate that the sentence be sufficient but not greater than necessary (the “parsimony provision”), did not adequately reflect the history and characteristics of the defendant, and relied too heavily on the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1) & (6). He does not challenge the calculation of the Guideline range, nor does he challenge the District Court’s rejection of his request for a downward departure under the Guidelines.

I.

We review the District Court’s sentencing decision for abuse of discretion. See Gall v. United States, — U.S.-, 128 S.Ct. 586, 597-98, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007). This review is limited to determining whether the sentence imposed was “reasonable.” Id. at 594; United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 764-67, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), United States v. Cooper, 437 F.3d 324, 327 (3d Cir.2006). We consider the relevant § 3553(a) factors to decide “whether the district judge imposed the sentence he or she did for reasons that are logical and consistent with the [these] factorsf.]” Cooper, 437 F.3d at 330 (quoting United States v. Williams, 425 F.3d 478, 481 (7th Cir.2005)). A within-Guidelines sentence may be (but is not necessarily) presumed reasonable by this Court. See Rita v. United States, — U.S. ——, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 2462, 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007); Gall, 128 S.Ct. 586, 597,. Appellant bears the burden of proving the unreasonableness of a sentence. Cooper, 437 F.3d at 332.

II.

Howard contends that his significant rehabilitation efforts during his seven month period of home detention pending sentencing render the District Court’s imposition of a 37 month sentence unreasonable. Despite a lifelong dependency on alcohol, he became completely drug and alcohol free over this time, and was able to hold a steady job.

The District Court, however, considered his rehabilitation efforts. After properly calculating the Guideline range, it expressed agreement with the government that the offense was serious, given that Howard was intoxicated and carrying a gun. (App.92-93). It also agreed with defense counsel that Howard had taken “positive steps” since the inception of the prosecution and home detention. (Id.). The District Court noted that it was “particularly impressed” with a letter from Howard’s co-worker attesting to the quality of his work and by his increasing level of maturity. (App.66, 93).

Ultimately, however, the Court concluded that Howard’s rehabilitation efforts were “significant” but not “unusual,” and that a sentence at the bottom end of the Guideline range was in accordance with the parsimony provision, and avoided unwarranted sentencing disparities. (App.93-94). The reasons given by the District Court in imposing a 37 month sentence are logical and consistent with the relevant § 3553(a) factors. Howard has not met his burden of demonstrating that the sentence imposed was unreasonable.

III.

For the reasons set forth above, the judgment of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will be affirmed. 
      
      . Howard’s base offense level of 20 was reduced by 3 for acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. 3El.l(a) & (b), yielding a final offense level of 17. (App.9, 72, 92-4). His criminal history category was IV.(Id). We have jurisdiction to review Howard's sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3742.
     
      
      . 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sets forth the '‘[fjactors to be considered in imposing a sentence”. Subsections (1) and (6) require the court to consider: "the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant” and "the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct."