Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-14-60212/USCOURTS-ca5-14-60212-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
John Segretto
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 14-60212

Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

JOHN SEGRETTO,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Southern District of Mississippi

USDC No. 1:11-CR-67-6

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, JONES, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges. 

PER CURIAM:*

John Segretto has appealed the district court’s judgment revoking his 

supervised release and imposing a statutory maximum 24-month term of 

imprisonment and a 12-month period of supervised release. He contends that 

the sentence imposed was greater than necessary to fulfill the sentencing 

objectives of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and was, therefore, unreasonable. He asserts 

that the district court improperly considered factors listed in § 3553(a)(2)(A)

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not 

be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH 

CIR. R. 47.5.4.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

January 13, 2015

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 

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No. 14-60212

and that the sentence was unreasonably harsh under the circumstances of this

case.

Ordinarily, revocation sentences are reviewed under a “plainly 

unreasonable” standard. United States v. Miller, 634 F.3d 841, 843 (5th Cir. 

2011). However, because no objection was made at the revocation hearing, this 

court’s review of Segretto’s revocation sentence is limited to plain error. See 

United States v. Whitelaw, 580 F.3d 256, 259-60 (5th Cir. 2009). To show plain 

error, Segretto must show a forfeited error that is clear or obvious and that 

affects his substantial rights. See Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 

(2009). If he makes such a showing, this court has the discretion to correct the 

error but only if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation 

of judicial proceedings. See id.

The district court may impose any sentence that falls within the 

statutory maximum term of imprisonment allowed for the revocation sentence. 

18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3). However, the court is directed to consider the factors 

enumerated in § 3553(a), including the nonbinding policy statements found in 

Chapter Seven of the Sentencing Guidelines. United States v. Mathena, 23 

F.3d 87, 90-93 (5th Cir. 1994). Because § 3583(e) omits from its directive the 

sentencing factors listed in § 3553(a)(2)(A), which include the need for the 

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

law, and to provide just punishment for the offense,” § 3553(a)(2)(A), “it is 

improper for a district court to rely on § 3553(a)(2)(A) for the modification or 

revocation of a supervised release term.” Miller, 634 F.3d at 844.

Any error in the district court’s consideration of the § 3553(a)(2)(A) 

factors did not affect Segretto’s substantial rights because the district court 

also relied on other, permissible factors. See § 3553(a)(1), (2)(B), (2)(C) & (4)(B). 

The district court’s comments were made in the context of Segretto’s failure to 

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No. 14-60212

comply with his obligations under the terms and conditions of his supervised 

release term and not in connection with the underlying offense. See United 

States v. Ellsworth, 490 F. App’x 663, 664 (5th Cir. 2012); see also 5TH CIR. R.

47.5.4. Segretto does not dispute that the district court imposed a statutory 

maximum sentence. See § 3583(e)(3). In imposing the sentence, the court 

considered the guidelines policy statements and appropriate statutory 

sentencing factors. See Mathena, 23 F.3d at 90-93. The judgment is 

AFFIRMED.

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