Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-05-01861/USCOURTS-ca8-05-01861-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Shawn Rogers
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

*

The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, United States District Judge for the

District of Nebraska. 

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 05-1861

___________

United States of America, *

*

Appellee, * Appeal from the United States

* District Court for the District

v. * of Nebraska.

*

Shawn Rogers, * [UNPUBLISHED]

*

Appellant. *

___________

Submitted: February 13, 2006

Filed: February 17, 2006

___________

Before WOLLMAN, FAGG, and ARNOLD, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

Shawn Rogers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent

to distribute five hundred grams or more of methamphetamine. At his post-Booker

sentencing, Rogers moved for a downward departure under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3 arguing

his criminal history was overstated. The district court*

 denied the motion and

sentenced Rogers at the low end of the guidelines range to 151 months in prison and

five years of supervised release. On appeal, Rogers contends the district court should

have granted his motion for a downward departure under § 4A1.3. 

Appellate Case: 05-1861 Page: 1 Date Filed: 02/17/2006 Entry ID: 2011105
-2-

Section 4A1.3(b)(1) provides a downward departure may be warranted if

reliable information shows a defendant’s criminal history category substantially

overrepresents the seriousness of the defendant’s criminal history or the likelihood

that the defendant will commit other crimes. Rogers contends his criminal history

category of IV substantially overrepresents the seriousness of his criminal history,

which includes a conviction for possession of marijuana, a conviction for issuing a

bad check, and two convictions for nonpayment of child support. 

At sentencing, the district court recognized Rogers had filed a motion for a

downward departure based on the overrepresentation of his criminal history. Rogers

declined to present evidence regarding his motion and relied on his argument that the

repeated nonsupport convictions caused his criminal history to be overrepresented.

After hearing argument, the district court stated that although there are more serious

offenses than nonpayment of child support, Rogers’s level of nonsupport indicated

a disregard for court orders and the justice system. The court also observed that

Rogers’s criminal history pattern indicated a need for rehabilitation to affect a change

of lifestyle. The district court clearly recognized its authority to depart and simply

chose not to do so. Under the circumstances, the district court’s refusal to depart is

not reviewable. United States v. Morell, 429 F.3d 1161, 1164 (8th Cir. 2005). 

We thus affirm the district court.

______________________________

Appellate Case: 05-1861 Page: 2 Date Filed: 02/17/2006 Entry ID: 2011105