FI L ED
U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S

EL EVENTH CI RCUI T MARCH 3, 2010

J OHN L EY
CL ERK [ D O N O T P U B L I S H ]

I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C I R C U I T

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o

. 0 9

- 1 2 8 8 6

N o n

- A r g u m e n t C a l e n d a r

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

D

. C

. D o c k e t N o

. 0 7

- 0 0 0 0 1

- C R

- O R L

- 1 8

- D A B

U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A

,

P l a i n t i f f

- A p p e l l e e ,

v e r s u s

T R O Y N O L A N H A R K N E S S

,

D e f e n d a n t

- A p p e l l a n t

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A p p e a l f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t
f o r t h e M i d d l e D i s t r i c t o f F l o r i d a

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ( M a r c h 3

, 2 0 1 0 )

B e f o r e E D M O N D S O N

, B I R C H a n d K R A V I T C H

, C i r c u i t J u d g e s

.

P E R C U R I A M :

T r o y N o l a n H a r k n e s s a p p e a l s h i s 1 1 0

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e f o r p o s s e s s i o n o f a

f i r e a r m a n d a m m u n i t i o n b y a c o n v i c t e d f e l o n , i n v i o l a t i o n o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

.§ 9 2 2 ( g ) ( 1 ) ; a n d p o s s e s s i o n o f b o d y a r m o r b y a c o n v i c t e d f e l o n , i n v i o l a t i o n o f

1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 9 3 1 ( a ) ( 1 )

. A f t e r a r e v i e w o f t h e r e c o r d

, w e a f f i r m

.

H a r k n e s s w a s c o n v i c t e d o f p o s s e s s i o n o f a f i r e a r m a n d a m m u n i t i o n b y a

c o n v i c t e d f

e l o n a n d p o s s e s s i o n o f b o d y a r m o r b y a c o n v i c t e d f e l o n i n 2 0 0 7

. T h e

g u i d e l i n e s c a l c u l a t i o n s i n t h e p r e s e n t e n c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n r e p o r t ( “ P S I ” ) i n c l u d e d

i n c r e a s e s i n t h e o f

f e n s e l e v e l a n d c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y b e c a u s e H a r k n e s s w a s a

c a r e e r o f f e n d e r

. A t s e n t e n c i n g , t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a p p l i e d t h e c a r e e r

- c r i m i n a l

e n h a n c e m e n t a n d s e n t e n c e d H a r k n e s s t o 2 1 0 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

. O n a p p e a l

,

t h i s c o u r t v a c a t e d a n d r e m a n d e d f o r r e s e n t e n c i n g a f

t e r c o n c l u d i n g t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t e r r e d b y a p p l y i n g t h a t s e n t e n c i n g e n h a n c e m e n t

. U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. H

a r k n e s s ,

3 0 5 F e d

. A p p x

. 5 7 8 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 ) ( u n p u b l i s h e d )

.

P r i o r t o r e s e n t e n c i n g , t h e p r o b a t i o n o f f i c e r s u b m i t t e d a s u p p l e m e n t a l

m e m o r a n d u m t o r e f

l e c t t h i s c o u r t ’ s m a n d a t e

. W i t h o u t t h e c a r e e r

- c r i m i n a l

e n h a n c e m e n t

, H a r k n e s s ’ s g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e w a s 1 1 0 t o 1 3 7 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

.

H a r k n e s s u r g e d t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o c o n s i d e r a d o w n w a r d d e p a r t u r e o r v a r i a n c e

b a s e d o n h i s “ e x t r a o r d i n a r y r e h a b i l i t a t i o n w h i l e i n p r i s o n , ” i n c l u d i n g t e a c h i n g

n u t r i t i o n a n d f

i t n e s s c l a s s e s a n d a l a c k o f d i s c i p l i n a r y i n f r a c t i o n s

.

T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t n o v a r i a n c e o r d e p a r t u r e w a s w a r r a n t e d

.

T h e c o u r t a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t E l e v e n t h C i r c u i t p r e c e d e n t d i d n o t p e r m i t i t t o

2c o n s i d e r p o s t

- s e n t e n c i n g r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , b u t s t a t e d t h a t i t f o u n d t h e s e f

a c t s t o b e

r e l e v a n t t o t h e s e n t e n c e i m p o s e d u n d e r 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 3 5 5 3 ( a )

. A f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g a n d

d i s c u s s i n g t h e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c t o r s , t h e c o u r t s e n t e n c e d H a r k n e s s t o 1 1 0 m o n t h s ’

i m p r i s o n m e n t

. H a r k n e s s r a i s e d n o o t h e r o b j e c t i o n s t o h i s s e n t e n c e

. T h i s a p p e a l 1 2

f o l l o w e d

.

H a r k n e s s a r g u e s t h a t b y n o t c o n s i d e r i n g h i s p o s t

- s e n t e n c i n g r e h a b i l i t a t i o n a t

r e s e n t e n c i n g , t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t r e a t e d t h e g u i d e l i n e s a s m a n d a t o r y a n d i m p o s e d a n

u n r e a s o n a b l e s e n t e n c e t h a t f a i l e d t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e m a n d a t e s o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

.

§ 3 5 5 3 ( a )

. H a r k n e s s a c k n o w l e d g e s , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h i s c o u r t h a s h e l d t h a t p o s t

s e n t e n c i n g r e h a b i l i t a t i o n i s n o t a p r o p e r s e n t e n c i n g c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. S e e U n i t e d

S t a t e s v

. L o r e n z o , 4 7 1 F

. 3 d 1 2 1 9 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 6 )

.

I n r e v i e w i n g s e n t e n c e s f o r r e a s o n a b l e n e s s , w e p e r f o r m t w o s t e p s

. U

n i t e d

S t a t e s v

. P u g h

, 5 1 5 F

. 3 d 1 1 7 9

, 1 1 9 0 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 )

. F i r s t

, w e m u s t “ e n s u r e t h a t

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t c o m m i t t e d n o s i g n i f i c a n t p r o c e d u r a l e r r o r , s u c h a s f a i l i n g t o

c a l c u l a t e ( o r i m p r o p e r l y c a l c u l a t i n g ) t h e G u i d e l i n e s r a n g e , t r e a t i n g t h e G u i d e l i n e s

The g overnme nt objected to the c ourt’s consider ation of Ha rkness’s post-se ntencing 1

reha bilitation efforts. And, althoug h it asserts that the district cour t arg uably err ed, it has not

cross-a ppeale d the sentenc e imposed.

We note that Har

kness made no obje ction befor e the district cour t to the sentence 2 imposed. Arg uably , then, he ha s not preser ved any challeng e to the re asonable ness of his

sentenc e. This cour

t has not y et dec ided whethe r plain er ror r eview is a

ppropriate under the se circ umstances, a

nd we ne ed not dec ide her e bec ause unde r either the abuse -of- discretion
standard or

plain err or re view, Ha

rkness’s c laim fails.

3a s m a n d a t o r y , f a i l i n g t o c o n s i d e r t h e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c t o r s , s e l e c t i n g a s e n t e n c e b a s e d

o n c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s f

a c t s , o r f a i l i n g t o a d e q u a t e l y e x p l a i n t h e c h o s e n s e n t e n c e

–

i n c l u d i n g a n e x p l a n a t i o n f o r a n y d e v i a t i o n f

r o m t h e G u i d e l i n e s r a n g e

. ” G a l l v

.

U n i t e d S t a t e s , 5 5 2 U

. S

. 3 8

, 5 1 ( 2 0 0 7 )

. 3

I f w e c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t p r o c e d u r a l l y e r r , w e m u s t

c o n s i d e r t h e “ ‘ s u b s t a n t i v e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f t h e s e n t e n c e i m p o s e d u n d e r a n

a b u s e

- o f

- d i s c r e t i o n s t a n d a r d

, ’ ” b a s e d o n t h e “ ‘ t o t a l i t y o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. ’ ”

P u g h

, 5 1 5 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 9 0 ( q u o t i n g G a l l

, 5 5 2 U

. S

. a t 5 1 )

. A s e n t e n c e m a y b e

s u b s t a n t i v e l y u n r e a s o n a b l e i f i t d o e s n o t a c h i e v e t h e p u r p o s e s o f s e n t e n c i n g s t a t e d

i n 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 3 5 5 3 ( a )

. I d

. a t 1 1 9 1

. A s e n t e n c e w i t h i n t h e g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e i s

o r d i n a r i l y e x p e c t e d t o b e r e a s o n a b l e

. U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. T

a l l e y , 4 3 1 F

. 3 d 7 8 4

, 7 8 8

( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 5 )

.

T h e w e i g h t a c c o r d e d t o t h e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c t o r s i s l e f

t t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s

d i s c r e t i o n , a n d w e w i l l n o t s u b s t i t u t e o u r j u d g m e n t i n w e i g h i n g t h e r e l e v a n t

f a c t o r s

. U

n i t e d S t a t e s v

. A m e d e o , 4 8 7 F

. 3 d 8 2 3

, 8 3 2 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 7 )

. “ [ T ] h e

The § 3553(a ) fa ctors include: ( 1) the na ture a nd circ umstances of

the offe nse and the 3 history and cha rac teristics of the de fenda nt; (2) the nee d for the se ntence imposed to refle ct the
seriousness of the offe nse, to promote re spect for the law, a

nd to provide just punishment for the
offe nse; (3) the need f

or the sente nce imposed to a ffor d adequa te deter renc e; (4) the need to
protec t the public; (5) the ne ed to provide the defe ndant with educational or voca tional training
or medica l car e; (6) the kinds of sentenc es ava ilable; (7) the Sente ncing Guidelines ra ng e; (8) the pertinent policy

statements of the Sente ncing Commi ssion; (9) the nee d to avoid unwanted

sentenc ing dispa

rities; and (10) the need to pr ovide re stitut ion to victims . 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).

4p a r t y w h o c h a l l e n g e s t h e s e n t e n c e b e a r s t h e b u r d e n o f e s t a b l i s h i n g t h a t t h e

s e n t e n c e i s u n r e a s o n a b l e i n t h e l i g h t o f b o t h t h e r e c o r d a n d t h e f a c t o r s i n s e c t i o n

3 5 5 3 ( a )

. ” U

n i t e d S t a t e s v

. T

h o m a s , 4 4 6 F

. 3 d 1 3 4 8

, 1 3 5 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 6 )

( q u o t a t i o n a n d b r a c k e t s o m i t t e d )

.

U p o n r e v i e w , w e c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e r e i s n o m e r i t t o H a r k n e s s ’ s c l a i m o f

p r o c e d u r a l e r r o r

. U n d e r t h e p r i o r

- p a n e l

- p r e c e d e n t r u l e , w e a r e b o u n d b y p r i o r

d e c i s i o n s o f t h i s c o u r t u n l e s s o r u n t i l t h e d e c i s i o n i s o v e r r u l e d b y t h i s c o u r t s i t t i n g

e n b a n c o r t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t

. U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. K a l e

y , 5 7 9 F

. 3 d 1 2 4 6

, 1 2 5 5 ( 1 1 t h

C i r

. 2 0 0 9 )

. T h e r u l e a p p l i e s e v e n i f a s u b s e q u e n t p a n e l m a y b e l i e v e t h e p r i o r p a n e l

w a s w r o n g

. U

n i t e d S t a t e s v

. S t e e l e , 1 4 7 F

. 3 d 1 3 1 6

, 1 3 1 7

- 1 8 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 8 ) ( e n

b a n c )

.

A s H a r k n e s s c o n c e d e s , t h i s c o u r t h a s r e j e c t e d t h e a r g u m e n t t h a t a c o u r t

c o u l d c o n s i d e r p o s t

- s e n t e n c i n g r e h a b i l i t a t i o n a t r e s e n t e n c i n g

. U n i t e d S t a t e s v

.

L o r e n z o , 4 7 1 F

. 3 d 1 2 1 9

, 1 2 2 0

- 2 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 6 )

. H a r k n e s s h a s n o t i d e n t i f i e d

a n y c a s e

– a n d w e h a v e f o u n d n o n e

– o v e r t u r n i n g t h a t p r e c e d e n t

. T h e r e f o r e ,

L o r e n z o c o n t r o l s , a n d H a r k n e s s ’ s a r g u m e n t i s w i t h o u t m e r i t

.

W e f u r t h e r c o n c l u d e t h a t H a r k n e s s f a i l e d t o s h o w t h e s e n t e n c e i m p o s e d w a s

s u b s t a n t i v e l y u n r e a s o n a b l e

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e x p l a i n e d i t s r e a s o n s a n d d i s c u s s e d

5t h e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c t o r s

. H a r k n e s s h a s o f f e r e d n o t h i n g t o s h o w t h i s s e n t e n c e w a s

u n r e a s o n a b l e

.

A F F I R M E D

.

6