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Parties Involved:
Anthony Vincent Cartman
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

________________________

Nos. 12-16603; 13-12600

Non-Argument Calendar

________________________

D.C. Docket No. 1:10-cr-00512-JEC-LTW-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

ANTHONY VINCENT CARTMAN, 

a.k.a. Anthony Vincent,

 Defendant-Appellant.

________________________

Appeals from the United States District Court

for the Northern District of Georgia

________________________

(April 8, 2015)

Before MARCUS, WILLIAM PRYOR, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM: 

Anthony Cartman appeals his convictions and sentences for one count of 

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conspiracy to cause false representations to be made in a federal firearm licensee’s 

records, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, seven counts of causing false 

representations to be made, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(1)(A), and five 

counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 

§ 922(g). Cartman argues that his convictions should be reversed because he was 

denied the right to self-representation in violation of the Sixth Amendment. In the 

event this argument does not prevail, Cartman asserts that his total sentence was 

unreasonable because of the sentencing disparity between him and a codefendant.

Whether a defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel 

is a mixed question of law and fact that we review de novo. United States v. Cash, 

47 F.3d 1083, 1088 (11th Cir. 1995). We review the reasonableness of a sentence 

under an abuse-of-discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 46, 128 

S. Ct. 586, 594 (2007).

I.

Cartman first argues that the district court erred by denying his requests to 

represent himself. A violation of the right to self-representation triggers automatic 

reversal. United States v. Davila, 133 S. Ct. 2139, 2149 (2013).

A criminal defendant has a constitutional right to self-representation when 

he knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently chooses to waive the right to counsel. 

Cash, 47 F.3d at 1088. Whether a defendant knowingly waived his right to 

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counsel depends on the particular facts and circumstances of the case. United 

States v. Garey, 540 F.3d 1253, 1266 (11th Cir. 2008) (en banc). We may look to 

subsequent events to determine if the defendant’s decision to waive the right to 

counsel was made knowingly and voluntarily. United States v. Stanley, 739 F.3d 

633, 646 (11th Cir. 2014), cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 2317 (2014). If the district court 

concludes that a defendant’s irrational or uncooperative conduct is the result of 

“serious mental illness, confusion, or any other condition indicative of a lack of 

understanding,” it should prohibit the defendant from proceeding pro se even if the 

defendant affirmatively requests to do so. Garey, 540 F.3d at 1267 n.9.

We have identified eight factors relevant to determining whether a 

defendant’s waiver of the right to counsel was valid: (1) the defendant’s age, 

health, and education; (2) the defendant’s contact with lawyers before trial; (3) the 

defendant’s knowledge of the nature of the charges and the possible defenses and 

penalties; (4) the defendant’s understanding of the rules of evidence, procedure, 

and courtroom decorum; (5) the defendant’s prior experience in criminal trials; (6) 

whether standby counsel was appointed and, if so, the extent to which standby 

counsel aided in the trial; (7) mistreatment or coercion of the defendant; and (8) 

whether the defendant was trying to manipulate the trial. United States v. Kimball, 

291 F.3d 726, 730-31 (11th Cir. 2002). 

If a defendant had significant contact with an attorney before trial, exposing 

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the defendant to the complexity of the case and the legal process, the contact 

weighs in favor of a valid waiver. Stanley, 739 F.3d at 647-48. A defendant’s 

technical legal knowledge, such as an understanding of the rules of hearsay, is not 

relevant to the inquiry of whether a waiver was valid. Kimball, 291 F.3d at 731. 

However, the defendant must be aware that rules exist to govern the procedure of 

the trial, the introduction of evidence, and the behavior of advocates, and that he or 

she will be bound by those rules. Id. 

Cartman did not validly waive his right to counsel. Cartman did not say that 

he understood the nature of the charges against him or possible defenses open to 

him and did not acknowledge the elements of the offenses that the Government 

was required to prove. He never acknowledged that he knew he would be bound 

by the rules applicable to criminal trials. Moreover, he failed to show an 

understanding of courtroom decorum. Prior to trial, Cartman refused to answer 

questions posed to him by the district court, and at his sentencing hearing, he 

refused to follow explicit instructions and repeatedly interrupted the court and the 

Government. He also had no prior criminal trial experience. While other factors 

may weigh in favor of the validity of his waiver, the above considerations control. 

Accordingly, the district court did not err in denying Cartman the right to selfrepresentation.

II.

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Cartman also contends that his total sentence was unreasonable in light of 

the sentencing disparity between him and a codefendant, Tchaka Shields. In 

determining whether a sentence was substantively reasonable, we take into account 

the totality of the circumstances. Gall, 552 U.S. at 51, 128 S. Ct. at 597. The party 

challenging the sentence bears the burden of showing that the sentence was 

unreasonable in light of the record and the § 3553(a) factors. United States v. 

Early, 686 F.3d 1219, 1221 (11th Cir. 2012).

The district court must impose a sentence “sufficient, but not greater than 

necessary, to comply with the purposes set forth” in § 3553(a)(2), including the 

need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for 

the law, provide just punishment for the offense, deter criminal conduct, and 

protect the public from the defendant’s future criminal conduct. 18 U.S.C. 

§ 3553(a), (a)(2). The district court must consider the nature and circumstances of 

the offense, the history and characteristics of the defendant, the kinds of sentences 

available, the applicable guidelines range, pertinent policy statements issued by the 

Sentencing Commission, the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities 

between defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar 

conduct, and the need to provide restitution to victims of the offense. Id. 

§ 3553(a)(1), (3)-(7). 

The weight to be accorded to any given § 3553(a) factor lies in the sound 

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discretion of the district court. United States v. Clay, 483 F.3d 739, 743 (11th Cir. 

2007). We will not vacate a sentence as substantively unreasonable unless we are 

left with a definite and firm conviction that the district court clearly erred in 

weighing the § 3553(a) factors and imposed a sentence outside the reasonable 

range of sentences warranted by the facts of the case. United States v. Irey, 612 

F.3d 1160, 1190 (11th Cir. 2010) (en banc). A disparity in sentences between 

codefendants is generally not an appropriate basis for relief on appeal. United 

States v. Regueiro, 240 F.3d 1321, 1325-26 (11th Cir. 2001). Finally, while we do 

not automatically presume that a sentence within the Sentencing Guidelines range 

is reasonable, we ordinarily expect such a sentence to be reasonable. United States 

v. Hunt, 526 F.3d 739, 746 (11th Cir. 2008).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing a 137-month total 

sentence despite the fact that one of Cartman’s codefendants received only a 37-

month sentence. Even if disparities in sentences between codefendants were an 

appropriate basis for relief, Cartman’s sentence was substantively reasonable. It 

was within the Guidelines range, and several § 3553(a) factors, such as the danger 

Cartman presented to the public and the need to promote respect for the law, 

weighed in favor of his sentence. Cartman was previously convicted for being a 

felon in possession of a firearm and committed the instant offenses, all of which 

involve firearms, while on probation for that conviction. Finally, Cartman and 

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Shields were not similarly situated for purposes of § 3553(a)(6). While Shields 

may have committed the same underlying conduct as Cartman, he was not found 

guilty of the same conduct.

Upon review of the record and consideration of the parties’ briefs, we 

perceive no error in the district court’s denial of Cartman’s requests to represent 

himself or in the reasonableness of Cartman’s total sentence. Accordingly, we 

affirm Cartman’s convictions and total sentence.

AFFIRMED.

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