# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 4- 19 61

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Mar io A. Thib eau x

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Weste rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur i - Kan sa s C it y

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Jan ua ry

13 , 20 15
Fil ed : M ay

4, 2 01 5

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re LOKEN, MURPHY, and MELLOY, Circu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

LOKEN, Ci rcu it Ju dg e.

A ju ry c o n v ic te d Mar io Thi be au x of be in g a fel on in po ss es si on of a fir earm

in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. § 92 2( g) (1 ). The di st ric t co ur t im po se d a se nt en ce of 12 0 1

m on th s in pr is on

. Thi be au x ap pe al s, ch al le ng in g th e su ffi ci en cy of th e ev id en ce th at

The Hon or ab le Greg Kay s, Ch ie f Ju dg e, Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e 1

W es te rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur ihe po ss es se d th e ha nd gu n in qu es ti on , th e di st ric t co ur t’s ex cl us io n of ev id en ce of a

su bs eq ue nt fir earm

off en se by the ot he r su sp ect , and hi s s en te nc e. W e aff irm.

I. Su ffi ci ency of t he Ev id ence

W e rev ie w a su ffi ci en cy

of t he ev id en ce cl ai m do no vo an d wi ll rev ers e o nl y

if no reas on ab le jury co ul d ha ve fo un d Thi be au x gu il ty, vi ewin g th e ev id en ce in th e

li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e jury’ s ve rd ic t. S e e, e.g ., Uni te d St at es v. Co wli ng , 64 8

F.3 d 69 0, 70 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 1 1 )

, c ert

. de ni ed

, 13 2 S. Ct

. 19 05 (2 01 2)

. Thi be au x

st ip ul at ed th at he ha d p rev io us ly been co nv ic te d o f a cri m e pu ni sh ab le by a term of

im pr is on m en t ex ceed in g on e y ear, an d th at th e fir earm in qu es ti on was m an uf act ur ed

in Arg en ti na

. Thu s, as in m an y f e l o n

- i n -p os se ss io n cas es , th e is su e at tri al was
whe th er Th ib eau x k no win gl y po ss es se d t he fir earm . See i d.

The go ve rn m en t’s fi rs t wi tn es s at th e Aug us t 2 01 3 t ria l was Geral di ne Sco tt

. Sh e te st ifi ed th at sh e awo ke to th e so un d of a wom an ’s sc ream s ou ts id e he r ho m e on

Mo nt ga ll Ave nu e at 2: 00 a.m

. on Feb ru ary 22

, 20 13

, th e ni gh t of a he av y sn ows to rm

. Sh e ca l l e d 9 11

, lo ok ed ou t he r be dr oo m win do w, an d rep or te d th at two m en an d a

wom an were ru nn in g aro un d a ve hi cl e in th e st reet

. One m an , weari ng “ li ke a bl ack

an d whi te jack et ,” was po in ti ng a ha nd gu n at th e o th er m an . Sco tt tes ti fie d t he tri o

wen t in to a ho us e acro ss th e st reet

, th en th e ot he r m an an d th e wom an cam e ou t, go t

in th e ve hi cl e, an d ba ck ed it do wn Mo nt ga ll Ave nu e, a on e-way st r e e t

, un ti l it go t

st uc k in th e sn ow at a ne arb y in te rs ect io n. “ The gu y in th e whi te jack e t c a me ou t

la te r” an d wen t to th e in te rs ect io n whe re th e car was

. Sco tt vi ewed th e po li ce

of f i cers ’ da sh cam vi de o of th e ev en ts aft er th e of fic ers arri ve d, li st en ed to he r

reco rd ed cal l to th e 91 1 op erat or , an d po si ti ve ly id en ti fie d Thi be au x as th e m an in th e
whi te jack et sh e sa w wit h a gu n. On cros s exa m in at io n, Sc ot t tes ti fie d th at sh e was

fir st ask ed if s he co ul d m ak e an id en ti fic at io n a few week s b efo re t ria l.

-2

-The ne xt wit ne s s , Fi el d Trai ni ng Offi cer Ry an Kaig he n of th e Kan sa s Ci ty

Po li c e D ep art m en t, te st ifi ed th at he dr ov e th e le ad pa tro l car to th e sc en e of th e

rep or te d di st ur ba nc e in vo lv in g a pe rs on arm ed wit h a gu n. Kaig he n’s pa ss en ge r was

hi s pr ob at io na ry po li ce of fic er tra in ee, Kam ero n Hy lt on , who was pu t in ch arg e of th e

sc en e un de r Offi cer Kaig he n’s di rect io n. Th e i r pa tro l car was eq ui pp ed wit h a

st at io na ry da sh cam era t ha t re co rd ed th e su bs eq ue nt ev en ts

.

As th e Offi cers ap pr oa ch ed , t he y ob se rv ed a m aro on SUV st uc k i n t h e sn ow

at th e in te rs ect io n of Mo nt ga ll Ave nu e an d 25 th St reet

, faci ng to th ei r rig ht do wn

Mo nt ga ll

. Two m al es an d on e fem al e were ou ts id e th e pa ss en ge r si de of th e ve hi cl e.
The two m al es were la te r id en ti fie d as Mar io Thi be au x an d Je r mai n e M u rray.

Thi be au x was weari ng a br ig ht ne on sa fet y ve st

. Mu rray was weari ng a he av y be ig e

co at ov er a bl ack sh irt or jack et

. As th e pa tro l car ne ared

, Mu rray an d Thi be au x

m ov ed to th e fro nt of th e SUV. The Offi cers ex it ed th e car an d co m m an de d ev eryone

to pl ace th ei r ha nd s in th e ai r an d ap pr oa ch

. The wom an co m pl ie d im m ed ia te ly.

Mu rray m ov ed aro un d th e fro nt of th e ve hi cl e to th e dr iv er’s sid e wit h a sh ov el an d

pa us ed ne ar th e dr iv er’s si de fro nt ti re. Thi be au x cam e fo rward an d in it ia ll y pu t hi s

ha nd s in th e ai r, th en pu t hi s rig ht ha nd in to hi s fron t po ck et

, tu rn ed hi s bac k on th e
Offi cers , and m ov ed alo ng th e rea r of th e v eh ic le

.

Kaig he n te st ifi ed th at

, al arm ed by Thi be au x’s act io ns , he dr ew hi s weap on an d

m ov ed to th e le ft fro m th e dr iv er’s si de of th e pa tro l car to a sn owb an k, whe re he ha d

a fu ll vi ew of Thi be au x at th e rear of th e SUV. Kaig he n sa w Thi be au x reac h in to hi s

po ck et an d to ss a “ bl ack ob ject” al on g th e dr iv er’s si de of th e SUV. The da sh cam
vi de o, ta ke n fro m th e rig ht si de of th e pa tro l car’s fro nt win ds hi el d, sh ows Thi be au x

m ak in g a to ss in g m ot io n as he m ov ed away fro m th e Offi cers al on g t h e r e a r of th e SUV, bu t wha t Thi be au x to ss ed (if an y th in g) can no t be se en

. W he n al l th ree pe rs on s

h a d be en se cu red

, Kaig he n walk ed to th e dr iv er’s si de of th e SUV an d fo un d a

ha nd gu n la y in g “on to p of th e sn ow wit h no sn ow co ve rin g it

, rig ht ne xt to th e

-3

-dr iv er’s si de of th e ve hi cl e ne ar th e fro nt whe el ,” ne ar whe re Mu r r a y br ie fly st oo d

whe n th e of

fic ers fir st arri ve d. Kaig he n te st ifi ed th at he co ul d on ly se e th at Thi be au x
th rew a b la ck ob

ject, bu t th ere were no ot he r it em s o n t he gro un d. Kai gh en lef t t he

gu n i n t he sn ow fo r Hy lt on to reco ve r.

Hy lt on te s t i f

ie d th at whe n he ex it ed th e pa tro l car on th e pa ss en ge r si de

, he

ke pt hi s ey es on Mu rray, ha d an un ob st ru ct ed vi ew of Mu rray’ s ha nd s as he cam e

fro m th e far si de of th e SUV, an d di d no t s e e h i m d r op or th ro w an y th in g. At
Kaig he n’s di rect io n, Hy lt on reco ve red th e bl ack gu n lying on to p of th e sn ow on th e
dr iv er’s si de of th e SUV an d un lo ad ed it

. Hy lt on te st ifi ed th at he di d no t kn ow who

ha d th ro wn th e gu n b u t u n d ers to od fro m th ei r co nv ers at io n th at Kaig he n be li ev ed

Thi be au x ha d th ro wn th e gu n. On cro ss ex am , Hy lt on was sh own th e vi de o an d

ag reed h e reco ve red th e gu n whe re Mu rray ha d be en st an di ng

. Hy lt on ’s in ci de nt

rep or t di d no t in cl ud e th e fact th at Mu rray ha d m o v ed to th e dr iv er’s si de of th e

ve hi cl e, pa us ed th ere, an d di d no t co m pl y wit h th e Offi cers ’ co m m an ds fo r twen ty or

th irt y se co nd s. W he n Mu rray was la t er se arch ed

, a gl as s vi al co nt ai ni ng PCP was

fo un d i n h is lef

t fr on t p oc ke t.

The reco ve red gu n was a Bers a Pi cco la Thu nd er Sem ia ut om at ic .38 0, lo ad ed

w i t h on e li ve ro un d an d a m ag azi ne co nt ai ni ng fif te en ro un ds

. A fo ren si c ex pe r t

te st ifi ed th at he to ok two swa bs fro m th e fir earm bu t was un ab le to m at ch th e ge ne ti c

pr of il es to Mu rray or Thi be au x, whi ch was no t un co mm o n

. Afte r th e go ve rn m en t

res te d, th e de fen se cal le d Po li ce Offi cer Eli zab et h Cl ark

, who te st ifi ed th at on Mar ch

30

, 20 13 sh e in it ia te d a tra ffi c st op of a ve hi cl e reg is te red to Ash le y Ro bi ns on

. The

on l y oc cu pa nt

, a bl ack m al e wit h dr ead lo ck s, dr ov e of f, cras he d th e ve hi cl e in to a

fen ce, an d fle d. Offi cer Cl ark se arch ed th e v eh ic le , fin di ng a gl as s v ia l be li ev ed to

co nt ai n PCP, a ni ne m il li m et er Bers a Thu nd er 9 Co m pa ct Pro ha nd gu n, an d a dr iv er’s

li cen se be lo ng in g t o J erm ai ne Mu rray. The go ve rn m en t’s re bu tt al wit ne ss tes ti fie d

-4

-th at Bers a ha nd gu ns are ava il ab le at m os t gu n sh op s in Kan sa s Ci ty an d th ro ug ho ut

th e Uni te d S ta te s.

O n a p pe al

, Thi be au x arg ue s th e ev id en ce was in su ffi ci en t be cau se th e da s h

cam vi de o sh ows Mu rray at th e pl ace whe re th e fir earm was reco ve red

, Mu rray ha d

a m ot iv e to dr op th e gu n be cau se he was a fel on th en in po s s e s s i on of PCP, an d

Mu rray was in vo lv ed in a si m il ar in ci de nt in vo lv in g PCP an d a Bers a ha nd gu n a few

week s la te r. Thi be au x arg u e s n o o n e s a w hi m th ro w a gu n, an d th e gu n’s po si ti on

l yin g on to p of th e sn ow su gg es ts it was dr op pe d an d no t th ro wn. He ch a l l e n g e s
Geral di ne Sco tt ’s cred ib il it y be cau se sh e was no t co nt act ed un ti l a few week s be fo re

tri al an d di d no t m en ti on Thi be au x’s co ns pi cu ou s ne on sa f e t y v e st to th e 91 1

o p e r a t o r. Thi be au x in effe ct as ks us to re-a ss es s Geral di ne Sco tt ’s cred ib il it y an d

Offi cer Kaig he n’s de sc rip ti on of th e ev en ts

. Bu t th is wou ld be co nt rary to th e

st an da rd go ve rn in g o ur rev ie w of a jury ve rd ic t. “ W e do no t weig h th e ev id en ce or

as se ss t h e c r e d i b il it y of th e wit ne ss es

. The jury ha s th e res po ns ib il it y of res ol vi ng

co nf li ct s or co nt rad ic ti on s in te st im on y , an d we res ol ve an y cred ib il it y is su es in fav or

of th e v erd ic t.” Un it ed Sta te s v . Aug us ti ne , 66 3 F .3d 36 7, 3 73 (8t h C ir. 2 01 1)

.

Dur in g it s de li be rat io n s , t h e jury twi ce as ke d to rev ie w th e m os t rel ev an t

s e g m en ts of th e da sh cam vi de o be fo re ret ur ni ng a gu il ty ve rd ic t. The vi de o

co nf irmed th at Thi be au x ig no red th e Offi cers ’ co m m an ds by pu tt in g hi s ha nd in hi s

po c k e t

, walk in g away fro m th e Offi cers , an d m ak in g a th ro win g m ot io n. The jury

he ard Kaig he n te st ify th at he po si ti on ed hi m se lf fo r a cl eare r vi ew th an th e vi de o an d

sa w Thi be au x th ro w a bl ack ob ject in th e di rect io n where th e gu n was fou nd

. The y
he ard Hy lt on te st if

y h e watc he d Mu rray’ s ha nd s. Part ic ul arl y in li gh t of Geral di ne

Sco tt ’s po si ti ve id en ti fic at io n, th is was su ffi ci en t ev id en ce fro m whi ch a reas on ab le
jury co ul d fin d be y on d a reas on ab le do ub t t ha t Th ib eau x h ad be en in po ss es si on of

th e gu n fo un d in th e sn ow. The jury reject ed Thi be au x’s pl au si bl e arg um en t th at th e

ev id en ce po in te d m or e st ro ng ly to Mu rray be in g th e on e who di sc ard ed th e ha nd gu n.

-5

-“ W he re a reas on ab le -m in de d jur y c o u l d ha ve fo un d ev id en ce su ffi ci en t to co nv ic t,

we wi ll no t di st ur b th e ve rd ic t jus t be cau se a di ffer en t jury m ig ht ha ve reac he d a
di ffer en t co nc lu si on .” Uni te d St at es v. Pet ers , 46 2 F.3 d 95 3, 95 8- 59 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 );

se e Uni te d St at es v. W al ke r, 39 3 F.3 d 84 2, 84 7 (8 th Ci r.), cert

. de ni ed

, 54 6 U.S. 95 3
(2 00 5) ; Un it ed Sta te s v . And ers on , 78 F.3d 42 0, 4 22 (8t h C ir. 1 99 6)

.

II . The Ev id enti ar y I ss ue

Afte r Offi cer Cl ark te st ifi ed to th e Mar ch 20 13 in ci de nt in vo lv in g Je rm ai ne

Mu rray, de fen se co un se l ad vi se d th e co ur t th at Mu rray was al so in vo lv ed in a
sh oo to ut in Ju ne 20 13 du rin g whi ch a wit ne ss ob se rv ed hi m ha n d P CP an d a .40

cal ib er Tau ru s ha nd gu n to a wom an id en ti fie d as Ash le y Ro bi ns on be fo re th e po li ce

arri ve d. Co un se l arg ue d th at Cl ark ’s te st im o n y t h a t th e car st op pe d in Mar ch was

reg is te red to Ro bi ns on m ad e th e se co nd ev en t in Ju ne rel ev an t to Thi be au x’s de fen se

. The co ur t as ke d, “ W ha t do y ou su gg es t we do ? ” Co un se l res po nd ed

, “ I wou ld si m pl y
of fer” th e ATF ag en t’s in ve st ig at iv e rep or t of th e Ju ne in ci de nt

. The go ve rn m en t ha d

no t ob jecte d to ev id en ce of the Mar ch in ci de nt in vo lv in g Mu rray, PCP, an d a Bers a

ha nd gu n b ecau se of i ts pro xi m it y to th e Feb ru ary 20 13 in ci de nt at is su e in th e tr ia l.

Bu t th e go ve rn m en t ob

jecte d to ev id en ce rel at in g to th e Ju ne in ci de nt

, ci ti ng Ru le 40 3

of th e Fed eral Ru le s of Evi de nc e an d arg ui ng th at th i s w a s a co ll at eral is su e th at

wou ld le ad to co nf

us io n of th e is su es an d an un du e was te of ti m e. The di st ric t co ur t

ag reed an d d en ie d d efen se co un se l’s re qu es t.

On ap pe al

, Thi be au x arg ue s th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s di sc ret io n by no t

al lo win g hi m to pr es en t ev id en ce reg ard in g th e se co nd in ci de nt be cau se it te nd ed to

ne ga te th e de fen da nt ’s gu il t. See Uni te d St at es v. McGi lb erry, 62 0 F.3 d 88 0, 88 6 (8 th

C i r

. 20 10 ) (s ta nd ard of rev ie w). Evi de nc e of ot he r cri m es co m m it te d by a n o t h e r

pe rs on to sh ow th at pe rs on co m m it te d th e cri m e at is su e is ad m is si bl e, pr ov id ed th e
ci rcu m st an ces of th e ot he r cri m e are su ffi c i e nt ly si m il ar to m ak e it rel ev an t. See

-6

-U ni te d St at es v. Seal s, 41 9 F.3 d 60 0, 60 7 (7 th Ci r. 20 05 ), an d 61 1- 13 (Po sn er, J

. ,

co nc ur rin g)

, cert

. de ni ed

, 54 6 U.S. 10 47

. Howev er, su ch ev id en ce “ m ay be ex cl ud ed

whe re it do es no t su ffi ci en tl y co nn ect th e ot he r pe rs on to th e cri m e, as , fo r ex am pl e,
whe re th e ev id en ce is sp ecu la ti ve or rem ot e, or do es no t te nd to pr ov e or di sp ro ve a

m at eri al fact in i s su e.” Hol m es v. So ut h Caro li na , 54 7 U.S. 31 9, 32 7 (2 00 6)
(q uo ta ti on om it te d)

.

Here, th e Ju ne 20 13 in ci de nt was m on th s rem ov ed in ti m e an d in vo lv ed

di ffer en t ci rcu m st an ces an d a d i ffer en t m od el ha nd gu n. Thi be au x’s req ue st was

un ti m el y , an d no pe rs on pr es en t at tri al ha d fir st -h an d kn owl ed ge of th e Ju ne cri m e.

Tha t in ci de nt was li ke ly to be co m pl ex , res ul ti ng in a m in i-t ria l reg ard in g a co ll at eral

m at te r. Mo reo ve r, ev id en ce th at Mu rray h ad PCP an d a h an dg un in Ju ne wou ld be

cu m ul at iv e to Offi cer Cl ark ’s te st im on y reg ard in g th e Mar ch in ci de nt

, so de nyin g

Thi be au x’s be l a t e d r e q u es t in no way pr ev en te d hi m fro m pr ov in g hi s de fen se

. In

th es e ci rcu m st an ces , th ere was no ab us e of th e di st ric t co ur t’s Ru le 40 3 di sc ret io n.

See Uni te d St at es v. Bat tl e, 77 4 F.3 d 50 4, 51 2- 14 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ), cert

. de ni ed

, 20 15

W L 12 89 84 2 (2 01 5)

. 2

II I. Sen tenc in g I ss ues

Thi be au x’s Pres en te nc e In ve st ig at io n Rep o r t r e co m m en de d a ba se of

fen se
le ve l of 24 bec au se he ha d com m it te d two pr io r of fen se s th at were ei th er a cri m e of

vi ol en ce or a co nt ro ll ed su bs ta nc e of fen se

. See USSG § 2K2 .1(a )(2 ). The PSR al so

reco m m en de d an en ha nc em en t un de r § 4B 1.4 (b )(3 ) be cau se Thi be au x was an Arm ed

Care er Cri m in al

, res ul ti ng in a to ta l o f f e n s e l e v e l of 33 an d an ad vi so ry gu id el in es

Thi be au x al so arg ue s th e co ur t ab us ed it di sc ret io n by no t co nt in ui ng th e tri al 2

whi le he fo un d wit ne ss es an d of fic ers in vo lv ed in th e Ju ne ev en t. As no co nt in ua nc e

was ex pl ic it ly requ es te d, t hi s i ss ue was n ot pre se rv ed

.

-7

-ran ge of 23 5 to 29 3 m on th s in pr is on

. Thi be au x ob jecte d to th e en ha nc em en t an d to

th e ba se of

fen se le ve l de te rm in at io n un de r § 2K2 .1(a )(2 ), a r g u i n g th at hi s ba se

of fen se lev el sh ou ld be 20 un de r § 2 K2.1 (a)( 4)

.

At se nt en ci ng , th e di st ric t co ur t fo un d th at th e Arm ed Care er Cri m in al Act do es

no t a p p l y. B u t it ov erru le d Thi be au x’s ob jecti on to ba se of

fen se le ve l 24 un de r §2 K2.1 (a)( 2)

, fin di ng th at hi s pr ev io us fel on -in -p os se ss io n co nv ic ti on was a cri m e

of vi ol en ce be cau se th e fir earm po ss es se d w a s a s a w ed -o ff sh ot gu n. The co ur t

se nt en ced Thi be au x to 12 0 m on th s, th e st at ut or y m ax im um fo r hi s of

fen se , ex pr es sl y

st at in g, “ ev en if I wou ld ha ve

. . . f ou nd h i m a t

. . . c at eg or y 20 m y se nt en ce wou ld

st il l b e th e sa m e in th is cas e u nd er t he [18 U.S.C. §] 35 53 (a) a na lysis .”

A. The Cla im of Pro cedu ra l Err or

. On ap pe al

, th e pa rti es ag ree th e di st ric t

co ur t co m m it te d pr oc ed ur al erro r whe n it de te rm in ed th at Thi be au x’s pr io r fel on -in

po ss es si on of

fen se was a cri m e of vi ol en ce un de r § 2K2 .1(a )(2 ). W e acce pt th e

go ve rn m en t’s co nc es si on wit ho ut co ns id eri ng th at is su e. W it ho ut th is en ha nc em en t,

th e ba se of

fen se le ve l was 20

, no t 24

, res ul ti ng in an ad vi so ry gu id el in es ran ge of 70

to 87 m on th s. The go ve rn m en t co nt en ds th e se nt en ce sh ou ld no ne th el es s be affi rm ed

be cau se th e p ro ced ur al erro r was ha rm le ss . W e ag ree.

“ In co rrec t ap pl ic at io n of th e Gui de li ne s is ha rm le ss e r r o r whe re th e di st ric t

co ur t sp eci fie s th e res ol ut io n of a pa rti cu la r is su e di d no t affe ct th e ul ti m at e
de te rm in at io n of a se nt en ce.” Uni te d St at es v. St raw, 61 6 F.3 d 73 7, 74 2 ( 8 t h Ci r.

2 0 1 0 )

. The § 35 53 (a) fact or s th e di st ric t co ur t em ph as iz ed were Thi be au x ’s

su bs ta nt ia l cri m in al hi st or y ov er an ex te ns iv e pe rio d of ti m e, an d th e fact th at in

se rv in g ev ery pr ev io us fel on y co nv ic ti on hi s pr ob at io n, pa ro le

, or su pe rv is ed rel eas e

ha d be en r ev ok ed

, sh owi ng a la ck of res pe ct fo r th e la w an d th e ne ed fo r a lo ng er

se nt en ce to de te r fu rth er cri m in al act iv it y

. The co ur t “ cl earl y id en ti fie d th e co nt es te d

cri m e-o f-v io le nc e is su e

. . . an d ad eq ua te ly ex pl ai ne d i t s ov eral l se nt en ce ap pl y in g

-8

-18 U.S.C. § 35 53 (a).” Uni te d St at es v. Sayles, 67 4 F.3 d 10 69

, 10 72 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ).

The refo re, t he pro ced ur al erro r was ha rm le ss

.

B. Subs ta nti ve Rea so na bl enes s. Thi be au x arg ue s th e 12 0- m on th se nt en ce

is su bs ta nt iv el y un reas on ab le be cau se th e di st ric t co ur t di d no t gi ve su ffi ci en t weig ht

to th e fact th at hi s la st fel on y co nv ic ti on oc cu rred in 20 04 an d t h a t he ha d be en

em pl oyed si nc e 20 09

. W e rev ie w su bs ta nt iv e reas on ab le ne ss fo r ab us e of di sc ret io n.
The di st ric t co ur t ha s w i d e l a ti tu de to weig h th e § 35 53 (a) fact or s an d as si gn so m e

fact or s gr eat er weig ht th an ot he rs

. Uni te d St at es v. Ro be rts

, 74 7 F.3 d 99 0, 99 2 (8 th

Ci r. 20 14 ). Here, th e di st ric t co ur t di d no t ab us e it s wid e se nt en ci ng di sc ret io n in
pl aci ng pa rti cu la r em

ph as is on Thi be au x’s ex te ns iv e cri m in al hi st or y an d

de m on st rat ed lac k o f res pe ct for th e la w.

The jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t i s af fir m ed

.

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