Case ID: f-appx_284/html/0725-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ronald E. SMITH, Jr., Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 08-10187
    Non-Argument Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
    July 3, 2008.
    Jennifer Green, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Phoenix, AZ, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Roberto Cruz Gaxiola-Valenzuela, pro se.
    Jerry Matthew Hernandez, Law Office of Jerry Hernandez, Tempe, AZ, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before ANDERSON, HULL and MARCUS, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Ronald E. Smith, Jr., appeals from the 21-month term of imprisonment imposed following the revocation of his supervised release, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3). On appeal, Smith argues that his sentence was unreasonable in length because the district court: (1) did not give sufficient consideration to the length of time Smith had served for the substantive criminal conviction that resulted in the revocation of his supervised release; and (2) did not consider the fact that Smith had neck cancer. After careful review, we affirm.

We review the sentence imposed upon the revocation of supervised release for reasonableness. United States v. Sweeting, 437 F.3d 1105, 1106-07 (11th Cir. 2006). “[Reasonableness” review “merely asks whether the trial court abused its discretion.” United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1189 (11th Cir.2008) (quoting Rita v. United States, — U.S.-, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 2465, 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007)). “The party who challenges the sentence bears the burden of establishing that the sentence is unreasonable.... ” United States v. Thomas, 446 F.3d 1348, 1351 (11th Cir.2006) (internal quotation omitted).

Section 3583 of Title 18 of the United States Code provides that a district court may revoke a term of supervised release and impose a sentence of imprisonment for the violation after considering factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), (a)(2)(B)(D), and (a)(4)-(7).! 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e). Chapter 7 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines provides guidance on the length of the sentence to be imposed after revocation, but Chapter 7 is not binding; the district court need only be aware of and consider its recommendations. United States v. Aguillard, 217 F.3d 1319, 1320 (11th Cir.2000).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Smith to 21 months’ imprisonment after revoking his supervised release. The district court expressly noted that it was considering the arguments advanced by Smith, and even that it was not sentencing Smith to a longer term of imprisonment based on the sentence served by Smith for his state conviction. Moreover, the 21-month sentence at the low end of the guidelines range was reasonable and supported by the district court’s explanation.

AFFIRMED. 
      
      . These factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need for the sentence imposed to afford adequate deterrence; (3) the need to protect the public; (4) the need to provide the defendant with educational or vocational training or medical care; (5) the Sentencing Guidelines range; (6) the pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Commission; (7) the need to avoid unwanted sentencing disparities; and (8) the need to provide restitution to victims. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), (a)(2)(B)-(D), and (a)(4)—(7).
     
      
      . See also Rita, 127 S.Ct. at 2462 (holding that a court of appeals may afford a presumption of reasonableness to a within-Guidelines sentence); United States v. Campbell, 491 F.3d 1306, 1314 n. 8 (11th Cir.2007) (noting that, although we have not normally afforded a within-Guidelines sentence a presumption of reasonableness, the Rita decision calls that policy into question).