Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-09-01389/USCOURTS-ca10-09-01389-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Brandy Merie Keller
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

*

 This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the

doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. It may be cited,

however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th

Cir. R. 32.1.

FILED

United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit

April 13, 2010

Elisabeth A. Shumaker

Clerk of Court

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.

BRANDY MERIE KELLER,

Defendant-Appellant.

No. 09-1389

(D.Ct. No. 1:07-CR-00496-JLK-1)

(D. Colo.)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before BARRETT, ANDERSON, and BRORBY, Senior Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination

of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is

therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Defendant-Appellant Brandy Merie Keller appeals her sentence following

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 1
-2-

revocation of her supervised release. She asserts the district court abused its

discretion in imposing a variant sentence above the advisory United States

Sentencing Guidelines (“U.S.S.G.” or “Guidelines”) range, resulting in a

substantively unreasonable twenty-four-month sentence. We exercise jurisdiction

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm Ms. Keller’s

twenty-four-month term of imprisonment following revocation of her supervised

release.

I. Procedural Background

According to the uncontested “Supervised Release Violation Report”

prepared by a federal probation officer, Ms. Keller pled guilty in 2005 in the

federal court, district of Oregon, to making a false material declaration to a

federal grand jury in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1623; she received a sentence of

twelve months and one day imprisonment and three years supervised release. Ms.

Keller’s term of supervised release began on July 7, 2006, and, thereafter, in

December 2007, jurisdiction over her and her supervised release transferred to the

federal court in Colorado, where she resumed her residency. Besides standard

conditions concerning supervised release, such as not committing any federal or

state crime, the special conditions of her release required her: (1) cooperation in

collection of DNA; (2) employment subject to approval by a probation officer; (3)

residence and participation in an inpatient drug treatment program for a period

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 2
-3-

not to exceed ninety days; (4) use of psychotropic medication; and (5)

participation in other substance abuse treatment, including submission to not more

than eight drug tests each month. 

In July 2006, after her release from prison, the probation office referred

Ms. Keller to a mental health center in Grand Junction, Colorado, for substance

abuse treatment, where she participated in individual and group substance abuse

treatment through August 2007. During the early portion of her supervised

release, Ms. Keller lived with her mother and then-four-year-old son in Clifton,

Colorado. 

In August 2006, she obtained employment as a cook at a restaurant in

Grand Junction but for undisclosed reasons was fired in May 2007. In June 2007,

Ms. Keller began working for a catering company in Grand Junction. On

September 10, 2007, Ms. Keller violated the terms of her supervised release by

possessing and using a controlled substance, specifically cocaine, and was again

referred to the mental health center in Grand Junction for group substance abuse

treatment. A month later, in October 2007, the conditions of her supervised

release were modified so that the special condition she participate in inpatient

drug treatment was removed and a special condition she reside in a residential

reentry center for a period of up to 180 days was added. In October 2007 she also

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 3
-4-

enrolled at a technical school to become an auto mechanic, where she maintained,

at least for a year, an A average and completed the program in February 2009. 

During this time, she continued to work at the same catering business with which

she began employment in June 2007. 

In January 2008, her treatment at the mental health treatment center was

modified to include individual treatment to address family issues, which she

completed in May 2008. In July 2008, Ms. Keller and her son moved in with

friends for a month until they moved into their own apartment in Clifton in

August 2008. 

Starting in late 2008, Ms. Keller’s violations of her supervised release

escalated. On November 17, 2008, Ms. Keller violated the terms of her

supervised release by possessing and using a controlled substance, specifically

marijuana, and was again referred to a mental health center in Grand Junction for

group substance abuse treatment. In addition, prior to March 2009, Ms. Keller

was arrested and charged in three state cases for: (1) driving under restraint,

driving under the influence of alcohol, and failure to yield the right of way; (2)

driving under restraint–alcohol related and defective vehicle; and (3) a felony

charge of vehicle eluding, second-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft,

obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest, failure to obey a traffic control

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 4
1

 While the first two of these cases were set for jury trial in December

2009, and the last one was set for jury trial in October 2009, neither party has

advised this court of the disposition of those cases. 

-5-

device, failure to signal for a turn, and reckless driving.1 As a result, in March

2009, her treatment was again modified to increase her group substance abuse

counseling. In May 2009, treatment was once again modified to increase

counseling in response to family issues. Also, from January 29, 2009, through

June 2, 2009, Ms. Keller failed to participate in her treatment program eight times

– each in violation of the conditions of her supervised release. In addition, on

April 24, 2009, she tested positive again for marijuana, which she denied using. 

On June 3, 2009, her substance abuse treatment was terminated based on both her

eight unexcused absences from substance abuse treatment and her denial of using

marijuana. 

On June 24, 2009, a warrant issued charging Ms. Keller with the following

five violations of her supervised release: (1) possession and use of cocaine on

September 10, 2007; (2) possession and use of marijuana on November 17, 2008;

(3) possession and use of marijuana on April 24, 2009; (4) failure on eight

occasions, from January 29, 2009, to June 2, 2009, to participate in her drug

treatment program; and (5) failure to submit written reports in March, April, and

May 2009. In addition to the foregoing, a non-extraditable warrant issued for Ms.

Keller in Oregon for nonpayment of court costs. 

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 5
-6-

Following Ms. Keller’s arrest on July 27, 2009, she waived her right to

both preliminary and detention hearings; thereafter, the probation officer prepared

the “Supervised Release Violation Report,” calculating her Guidelines range at

four to ten months imprisonment and supervised release at two to three years. In

addition, the probation officer noted Ms. Keller could not receive a sentence over

two years imprisonment, under 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3), because the underlying

offense was a Class D felony, and, further, she could not receive a term of

supervised release of more than three years because the statutory maximum

supervised release of three years was imposed at sentencing. Following these

calculations, the probation officer made the following observations and

recommendations:

The defendant has been on supervision for three years. During that

time, she has had three positive urine screens for cocaine and

marijuana. She participated and completed substance abuse

treatment twice and yet continued to use drugs. The third course of

treatment was terminated due to unexcused absences and her denial

regarding the use of marijuana. The defendant failed to pay court

costs for her Oregon state probation and a nonextraditable warrant

has been issued. She has two traffic cases and a felony case pending

in Mesa County, Colorado, for alleged law violations. 

During her time on supervision, the defendant had maintained

employment and completed the automotive course through IntelliTec

College. She was the sole provider for her son and her residence was

stable. 

The defendant has shown through various aspects of her life that she

can be a productive hard worker and provide for her son. In other

aspects, she shows a disregard for the law and lacks responsibility. 

A sentence to time served will impress upon the defendant the

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 6
-7-

seriousness of supervision and the negative impact of drug use. This

sentence is below the guidleline [sic] range and felt appropriate

because the use of drugs was spread out over a three year time

period, the success she had in college, and that she had maintained

employment. Also, she is likely to receive a significant sentence on

her state case[s] due to her prior record. The defendant is a marginal

candidate for supervision and treatment given her continuing drug

use and new law violations.

R., Vol. 3 at R-1.

At Ms. Keller’s revocation hearing, government counsel noted he had read

the “Supervised Release Violation Report” and had “nothing to add.” Ms.

Keller’s counsel did not object to the report and, instead, asked the court to

follow the probation officer’s recommendation of a sentence of time served of

thirty-one days, based on the fact Ms. Keller did well in school and maintained

employment and wanted to regain custody of and support her son, who was in her

mother’s care. After her counsel’s argument, Ms. Keller declined the opportunity

to make a statement to the court. 

At the conclusion of the hearing, the district court stated it was not going to

follow the probation officer’s recommendation, explaining:

I hear this so often from people that have children come in and say

they want to be back with their children and provide them support. 

That’s just not true. Whenever you wanted to do something else, you

did it, and you’ve been gaming this system for a long time, and I’m

not going along with that. The supervised release has been a

complete failure, and you’ve been given more and more

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 7
-8-

opportunities.

I find that these are Grade C violations and your Criminal

History Category is II, which results in a recommended sentence of

four to ten months under the policy statements issued by the

sentencing commission. I’ve reviewed these reports, and I do not

concur with that. There have been repeated violations and a

complete lack of interest in trying to comply with the conditions of

probation.

Based on that finding that the defendant has violated the

conditions of supervised release as alleged in the probation officer’s

[report], it is ordered and adjudged that the defendant’s supervised

release is revoked and the defendant is sentenced to two years

imprisonment. ... There will be no supervised release following

service of sentence.

R., Vol. 2 at 14-15. Thereafter, the district court entered a formal judgment and

commitment order on revocation of supervised release, recounting Ms. Keller’s

violations of supervised release and sentencing her to twenty-four months

imprisonment and no supervised release. 

II. Discussion

On appeal, Ms. Keller contends the district court abused its discretion in

imposing a variant sentence above the Guidelines range of four to ten months

imprisonment by imposing a twenty-four-month sentence. She argues such a

sentence is substantively unreasonable as evidenced by the fact it is twice the

length of her original sentence and twice the length of the applicable Guidelines

range. She suggests the district court imposed the maximum sentence for three

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 8
-9-

manifestly unreasonable criteria because it: (1) found her desire to be with her

son insincere; (2) thought she was “gaming the system”; and (3) concluded her

supervised release to be a complete failure. She also intimates a twenty-fourmonth sentence is unreasonable considering the fact she had almost completed her

three years of supervised release under close supervision of the probation office. 

The government opposes the appeal.

In reviewing a sentence imposed after revocation of supervised release, we

review the district court’s factual findings for clear error and its legal conclusions

de novo. United States v. Tsosie, 376 F.3d 1210, 1217-18 (10th Cir. 2004). We

will not reverse a sentence following revocation of supervised release if the

record establishes the sentence is “reasoned and reasonable.” United States v.

Contreras-Martinez, 409 F.3d 1236, 1241 (10th Cir. 2005). As to the principle

involving revocation of supervised release and resentencing, we have held “[i]t is

well-settled that supervised release is part of the penalty for the initial offense.” 

See United States v. Cordova, 461 F.3d 1184, 1186 (10th Cir. 2006) (internal

quotation marks omitted). When supervised release is revoked and a sentence

imposed, the court is “merely requiring the defendant to serve in prison all or part

of the term of supervised release.” Tsosie, 376 F.3d at 1216 (internal quotation

marks omitted).

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 9
-10-

Thus, under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and 18 U.S.C. § 3583,

when a person violates the conditions of supervised release, the district court may

modify the conditions of release or revoke the term of supervised release and

impose prison time. See United States v. Kelley, 359 F.3d 1302, 1304 (10th Cir.

2004); 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(2) and (3); Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.1(b); U.S.S.G.

§ 7B1.3. In imposing a sentence following revocation of supervised release, the

district court is required to consider both the Guidelines Chapter Seven policy

statements as well as the factors provided in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). See Cordova,

461 F.3d at 1188. The Chapter Seven policy statements apply to violations of

probation and supervised release and include advisory guideline ranges for

sentences following revocation of supervised release. See generally U.S.S.G. Ch.

7 and §§ 7B1.3 and 7B1.4. 

The 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors include:

The nature and circumstances of the offense; the history and

characteristics of the defendant; the need for the sentence imposed to

afford adequate deterrence, protect the public, and provide the

defendant with needed educational or vocational training, medical

care or other correctional treatment in the most effective manner;

pertinent guidelines; pertinent policy statements; the need to avoid

unwanted sentence disparities; and the need to provide restitution.

Cordova, 461 F.3d at 1188-89 (quoting Contreras-Martinez, 409 F.3d at 1242

n.3) (emphasis added). “The sentencing court ... is not required to consider

individually each factor listed in § 3553(a), nor is it required to recite any magic

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 10
-11-

words to show us that it fulfilled its responsibility to be mindful of the factors

that Congress has instructed it to consider before issuing a sentence.” Id. at 1189

(internal quotation marks omitted). Instead, the district court must “state in open

court the reasons for its imposition of the particular sentence,” 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(c), and satisfy us that it “has considered the parties’ arguments and has a

reasoned basis for exercising [its] own legal decisionmaking authority.” Rita v.

United States, 551 U.S. 338, 356 (2007). Finally, under § 3553(a), a defendant’s

history and characteristics are included in the list of sentencing factors considered

in revocation proceedings, so that “[t]he very language of the statute instructs the

sentencing court to consider the defendant’s ‘history and characteristics.’” 

United States v. Hahn, 551 F.3d 977, 985 (10th Cir. 2008) (quoting 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a)(1)), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 1687 (2009).

In this case, Ms. Keller did not object to revocation of her supervised

release or the facts presented in the “Supervised Release Violation Report” on

which the district court relied in imposing her sentence. In that report, the

probation officer recounted that during her three years of supervised release, Ms.

Keller: (1) tested positive three times for cocaine or marijuana, (2) had eight

unexcused absences from the substance abuse program; (3) did not complete her

third round of substance abuse treatment because it was terminated due to her

own actions; and (4) was arrested and charged twice for driving under the

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 11
-12-

influence and for a felony offense involving second-degree aggravated motor

vehicle theft, obstructing a peace officer, and resisting arrest. In recounting these

circumstances, the probation officer noted Ms. Keller’s disregard for the law and

lack of responsibility and the need to impress upon her the seriousness of

supervision and the negative impact of drug use. 

It is evident the district court relied on these circumstances in departing

upward from the imprisonment range set out in Chapter Seven, noting Ms.

Keller’s “repeated violations” and “complete lack of interest in trying to comply

with the conditions of probation,” despite the many “opportunities” afforded her. 

R., Vol. 2 at 15. In considering her history and characteristics, it not only

considered this cumulative conduct of non-compliance with the terms of her

supervised release but the fact that she had been given opportunities each time she

tested positive for an illegal substance to enter substance abuse treatment and

continue her supervised release. In other words, rather than have revocation

proceedings brought against her the three times she tested positive, she was given

opportunities to correct her problems and remain on supervised release. The

district court also considered and rejected the probation officer’s and her

argument she deserved a sentence of time served based on her steady employment

and completion of her training program. Instead, it determined her ongoing

disregard of the law during her supervised release, as evidenced by her multiple

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 12
-13-

violations and failure to take advantage of the opportunities afforded her,

warranted an upward variant sentence, despite her continued employment and

training. 

As Ms. Keller contends, on considering her violations and failure to take

advantage of the opportunities afforded her, the district court found her expressed

desire to be with her son insincere, she had been “gaming” the system, and her

supervised release to be a complete failure. However, because the district court

presided over Ms. Keller’s revocation, it was in a better position than us to assess

her sincerity and the extent and description of her abuse of supervised release. 

Moreover, the terms it chose to describe her abuse, inappropriate or not, do not

change the fact that she continued to repeatedly violate the terms of her

supervised release, even after being afforded opportunities to correct her

problems and proceed on supervised release. 

While Ms. Keller argues her sentence is substantively unreasonable because

it is twice the length of her original sentence and twice the length of the

applicable Guidelines range, we note the district court rejected the probation

officer’s recommended sentence of time served, as well as the advisory

Guidelines sentence of four to ten months imprisonment, as not adequately

reflecting her multiple infractions. Furthermore, the variant sentence it imposed

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 13
-14-

did not exceed the maximum sentence of two years allowed by law See 18 U.S.C.

§ 3583(e). 

In addition, Ms. Keller’s argument her sentence is unreasonable because

she almost completed her three years of supervised release ignores the fact that

the conditions of supervised release applied to all three years, and most of her

violations occurred during the last six months of her supervised release, including

testing positive for marijuana, allegedly driving under the influence on two

occasions, allegedly participating in felony auto theft, and missing eight of her

substance abuse treatment sessions. While, commendably, she started her

supervised release by completing substance abuse treatment, obtaining

employment, and receiving technical training, she nevertheless repeatedly failed

to comply with the conditions of her supervised release, especially toward the end

of the time imposed. Thus, a review of the record leaves us satisfied the district

court considered the parties’ arguments, had a reasoned basis for revoking her

supervised release, and imposed a sentence which did not exceed the maximum

allowable sentence. For the reasons discussed, we conclude the district court

imposed a reasoned and reasonable sentence that does not warrant reversal on

appeal. 

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 14
-15-

III. Conclusion

Accordingly, we AFFIRM Ms. Keller’s twenty-four-month term of

imprisonment following revocation of her supervised release. 

Entered by the Court:

WADE BRORBY

United States Circuit Judge

Appellate Case: 09-1389 Document: 01018401244 Date Filed: 04/13/2010 Page: 15