# 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 7- 36 42

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ 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.

Ri ch ard Mat hi s

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 So ut he rn Dis tri ct of I owa - Dav en po rt

__ __ __ __ __ __
Su bm it te d: Sep te m

be r 28 , 20 18 Fi le d: Decem

be r 27 , 20 18

__ __ __ __ __ __
Befo re SM ITH, Chi ef J ud ge , MELLOY and STRAS, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __
SMI TH, Chi ef J ud ge

.

Ri ch ard Mat hi s ch al le ng es th e 80 -m on th sen te nc e he rece iv ed aft er pl ead in g
gu il ty to be in g a fel on in p o s s es si on of a fir earm , in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. §§ 92 2( g) (1 ), 92 4( a)(2 )
, a n d 92 4( e). He sp eci fic al ly ch al le ng es th e di st ric t co ur t’s 1

The Hon or ab le Jo hn A. Ja rv ey , Ch ie f Ju dg e, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Co ur t fo r 1 th e So ut he rn Dis tri ct of I owa

.fin di ng th at he us ed a fir earm to faci li ta te th e c rime o f ha rb or in g a ru na way . B as ed

on th is fin di ng , th e di st ric t co ur t im po se d a fo ur -le ve l se n te nc in g en ha nc em en t
pu rs ua nt to U.S.S.G. § 2K2 .1(b )(6 )(B)

. The co ur t al so va rie d up ward

. On a p p e al
, Mat hi s arg ue s th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed i t s d is cret io n in im po si ng th e fo ur -le ve l

se nt en ci ng en ha nc em en t. He cl ai m s th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in fin di ng b y a
pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce th at he h a d ha rb or ed a ru na way an d ha d us ed or
po ss es se d a f

i r e a r m t o faci li ta te th at cri m e. Mat hi s al so arg ue s th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s d is cret io n i n v arying up ward

.

I. Bac kg ro un d
Mat hi s pi c k e d u p a 15 -y ear- ol d bo y , K.G., fro m sc ho ol an d dr ov e hi m to Mat hi s’s ho us e in Atal li sa , Io wa. Mat hi s ha d m et K.G. on a web si te cal le d

“ Mee tm e.co m ,” an d Mat hi s ha d in vi te d K.G. to co m e st ay wit h hi m

. An in ve st ig at io n of Mat hi s’s on li ne act iv it y rev eal ed freq ue nt , se xu al ly ex pl ic it co m m un ic at io n wit h

y ou ng m al es in whi ch Mat hi s pr om is ed to pr ov id e th em wit h a p l a c e t o l iv e, a car,

an d a job if t he y

m ov ed

.

On Feb ru ary 15
, 20 13
, K.G.’ s m ot he r rep or te d hi m m is si ng

. In ve st ig at or s
tra ck ed K.G. to Mat h i s ’s h o me by “ pi ng in g” hi s cel l ph on e, an d on Feb ru ary 25
, po li ce qu es ti on ed Mat hi s’s ro om m at e , W an da Got t, ou ts id e th ei r res id en ce. Got t cl ai m ed no m in or s were in si de th e ho us e. In fact
, K.G. ha d be en in si de th e ho us e wit h
Mat hi s du rin g th e qu es ti on in g. Got t la te r ad m it te d kn owi ng th at K.G. was in si de an d
th at he was a run away.

Abo ut two week s aft er th e po li ce vi si t to hi s ho m e, Mat hi s to ok K.G. to K.G.’ s
gr an dm ot he r’s ho us e in Ced ar Ra pi ds , Iowa . Once ho m e, K.G. cl ai m ed Mat hi s ha d

m ol es te d hi m an d th reat en ed hi m wit h a gu n. Sp eci fic al ly, K.G. cl ai m ed Mat hi s ha d

po in te d a gu n at hi m ; he la te r ret r a c t e d th at st at em en t bu t co ns is te nt ly m ai nt ai ne d

-2

-th ere ha d be en gu ns in si de th e ho us e, in cl ud in g a rif le ne ar th e fro nt en tra nc e. K.G. 2
al so d e s c r ib ed ot he r th reat en in g be ha vi or s by Mat hi s an d Got t to in ve st ig at or s. He cl ai m ed Got t m ad e la rg e do gs li e in fro nt of hi s be dr oo m do or to pr ev en t hi m fro m le av in g t he ho us e. Got t adm it te d t ha t s he di d s o. K.G. als o c la im ed Mat hi s b rag ge d ab ou t b eat in g p eo pl e u p i n p ris on

.

K.G. fu rth er to ld in ve st ig at or s th at Got t di sc ov ered he w a s a c tu al ly on ly 15

y ears ol d an d th at Mat hi s al so fo un d ou t he was un de rag e fro m Got t, who ha d vi ewed
hi m on a m is si ng pe rs on s web si te

. K.G. cl ai m ed Mat hi s m ad e hi m ta ke th e ba tt ery ou t of hi s ce ll ph on e whe n h e le arn ed hi s ac tu al ag e. K.G. als o d es cri be d a n in ci de nt in whi ch Mat hi s to ld hi m to du ck do wn as th ey dr ov e acro ss th e Ill in oi s s t at e li ne to vi si t a fri en d. Acco rd in g to K.G., Ma t hi s fear ed he wou ld ge t in tro ub le fo r ta ki ng K.G. ou t o f st at e.

On Mar ch 8, of

fic ers ob ta in ed a warra nt to se arch Mat hi s’s ho us e. The se arch

un co ve red a rif

le ne ar th e fro nt en tra nc e, jus t as K.G. ha d de sc rib ed

. Mat hi s ad m it te d
K.G. sta y ed at h is ho us e, bu t h e cl ai m ed he be li ev ed K.G. w as 19

.

The St at e of Io wa ch arg ed Mat hi s wit h ha rb or in g a ru na way an d be in g a fel on in po ss es si on of a fir earm

. Tho se ch arg es were la te r di sm is s e d

. The fed eral

go ve rn m en t ch arg ed Mat hi s wit h 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 ), 92 4( a)(2 ), an d 92 4( e). In Ja nu ary 20 14
, Mat hi s pl ead ed

gu il ty to th e po ss es si on ch arg e an d was se nt en ced to 18 0 m on th s’ im pr is on m en t. W e affi rm ed th e se nt en ce. Uni te d S ta te s v. Ma th is , 78 6 F .3d 10 68 (8t h C ir. 2 01 5)

.

The Su pr em e Co ur t rev ers ed th is co ur t’s jud gm en t, Mat hi s v. Uni te d St at es , 13 6 S. Ct

. 22 43 (2 01 6)
, an d we rem an de d th e cas e to th e di st ric t co ur t fo r

K.G. was ch arg ed wit h m ak in g a fal se rep or t to la w en fo rcem en t be cau se of 2 th es e in co ns is te nc ie s.

-3

-res en te nc in g. Uni te d St at es v. Mat hi s , 83 2 F.3 d 87 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 16 ). The pr es en te nc e

in ve st ig at io n rep or t (PSR ) pr ep ared fo r Mat hi s’s 20 17 res en te nc in g in di cat ed a ba se of fen se le ve l of 20
, w i th a fo ur -le ve l en ha nc em en t pu rs ua nt to U.S.S.G. § 2K2 .1(b )(6 )(B) fo r us in g or po ss es si ng a fir earm in co nn ect io n wit h an ot he r fel on y of fen se , i.e. , in co nn ect io n wit h ha rb or in g a ru na way

. Acco un ti ng fo r acce pt an ce-o fres po ns ib il it y

red uc ti on s, t he PSR t hu s calc ul at ed a to ta l offe ns e le ve l o f 21 . Bas ed

on a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y o f I V a n d a n of fen se le ve l of 21
, th e PSR

reco m m en de d a n i m

pr is on m en t ra ng e o f 57 –7 1 m on th s.

At res en te nc in g, th e di st ric t co ur t f o u n d b y a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce th at Mat hi s ha d co m

m it te d th e cri m e of ha rb or in g a ru na way a n d ha d us ed or
po ss es se d a fir earm to faci li ta te th at cri m e. The di st ric t co ur t th us ad op te d th e PSR’s

reco mm en de d fo ur -le ve l en ha nc em en t. The co ur t al so va rie d up ward fro m th e Gui de li ne s ra ng e, im

po si ng a se nt en ce o f 80 m on th s.

II. Dis cu ss io n On ap pe al , M at hi s arg ue s th e di st ric t co ur t a b u s e d it s di sc ret io n in im po si ng th e fo ur -le ve l s en te nc in g e nh an cem en t. He cl ai m s th e di st ric t cou rt erred in fin di ng by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce th at he ha d bo th ha rb or ed a ru na way an d ha d us ed

or po ss es se d a fir earm to faci li ta te th at cri m e. Mat hi s al so arg ue s th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s d is cret io n i n v arying up ward

.

A. Se nt en ci ng

Enh an cemen t The Gui de li ne s cal l fo r a fo ur -l ev el se nte ncin g en ha nc em en t “ [i]f th e de fen da nt

. . . us ed or po ss es se d any fir earm or am m un it io n in co nn ect io n with an ot he r fel on y of fen se ; or po ss es se d or tra ns ferr ed an y fir ear m or am m un it io n wit h kn owl ed ge , in te nt , or reas o n to be li ev e th at it wou ld be us ed or po ss es se d in co nn ect io n wit h

an ot he r fel on y of

fen se .” U.S.S.G. § 2K2 .1(b )(6 )(B)

. Thi s en ha nc em en t ap pl ie s “ if th e fir earm or am m

un it io n faci li ta te d, or ha d th e po te nt ia l of faci li ta ti ng , an ot he r fel on y of fen se .” Id

. § 2K2 .1 cm t. n.1 4( A). “ ‘A no th er fel on y of fen se ’

. . . m ean s an y fed eral
,

-4

-st at e, or lo cal of fen se

. . . pu ni sh ab le by im pr is on m en t fo r a te rm ex ceed in g on e y ear,

re ga rd le ss of wh et he r a cr imi na l ch ar ge wa s br ou gh t, or a co nv ic ti on ob ta in ed

. ” Id

. § 2K2 .1 cm t. n.1 4( C) (em ph as is ad de d )

. M at hi s ag rees th at ha rb or in g a ru na way
qu al ifi es as a fel on y of

fen se fo r § 2K2 .1 ( b ) ( 6 ) (B) pu rp os es , bu t he de ni es ha vi ng

co m m it te d th e of

fen se or ha vi ng us ed hi s fir earm “ in co nn ect io n wit h” th at of fen se

.

1. Har bo ri ng

a Ru na wa

y

“ In ap pl y in g § 2K2 .1(b ) ( 6 ) w h en th e de fen da nt ha s no t be en co nv ic te d of

an ot he r st at e or fed eral fel on y of fen se , th e di st ric t co ur t m

us t fin d by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce th at an ot he r fel on y of fen se was co m

m it te d, an d th at us e or po ss es si on of th e fir earm ‘facil it at ed ’ th at ot he r fel on y .” Uni te d St at es v. Li tt re ll
, 55 7 F.3 d 61 6,
61 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) (q uo ti ng U.S.S

. G

. § 2K2 .1 cm t. n.1 4( A)). Mat hi s was ne ve r

co nv ic te d of ha rb or in g a ru na way un de r Io wa la w be cau se th e ch arg e was di sm is se d. The di st ric t co ur t was req ui red
, th eref or e, to fin d th at Mat hi s had in fact ha rb or ed a

ru na way by a prep on de ran ce o f th e ev id en ce.

Io wa la w pr oh ib it s “ ha rb or [in g] a ru na way ch il d wit h th e in te nt of co m m it ti ng

a cri m in al act in vo lv in g th e ch il d or wit h th e in te nt of en ti ci ng or fo rci ng th e ru na way ch il d to co m

m it a cri m in al act ,” or “ ha rb or [in g] a ru na way ch il d wit h th e in te nt of al lo win g th e ru na way ch il d to rem ai n away fro m ho m e ag ai ns t th e wis he s of th e ch il d’s pa ren t, gu ard ia n, or cu st od ia n.” Io wa Co de § 71 0.8 (2 ), (3 ). Io wa la w de fin es

a “ [r]un away ch il d” as “ a pe rs on un de r ei gh te en y ears of ag e who is vo lu nt ari ly ab se nt fro m th e pe rs on ’s ho m e wit ho ut th e co ns en t of th e pe rs on ’s pa ren t, gu ard ia n

or cu st od ia n.” Id

. § 71 0.8 (1 )(c)

. To be gu i l t y of ha rb or in g a ru na way ch il d, th e de fen da nt m

us t ei th er pr ov id e “ ai d, su pp or t, or sh el te r ” t o t he ru na way

. Se e id

. § 7 10 .8(1 )(b ).

Th e d i s t r i ct co ur t’s fin di ng th at Mat hi s kn owi ng ly h arb or ed a ru na way ch il d is a qu es ti on of fact
, whi ch we rev ie w fo r cl ear erro r. Se e Uni te d St at es v. W oo ds
, 59 6
F.3 d 44 5, 44 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ). A di st ric t co ur t m ay co nd uc t it s own fact -fi nd in g an d

-5

-ev id en ce-g at he rin g to de te rm in e if an enh an cem en t app li es

. Uni te d St at es v. Bat tl e ,

77 4 F.3 d 50 4, 51 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ). M o r e o ve r, a di st ric t co ur t is en ti tl ed to “ sp eci al de fere nc e” in it s cred ib il it y de te rm in at io ns

. Id

. at 51 7; se e al so W oo ds , 59 6 F .3d at 44 8 (d efer rin g to di st ric t co ur t’s cre d ib il it y de te rm in at io n whe re th e di st ric t co ur t ba se d a se nt en ci ng en ha nc em en t on st at em en ts m ad e by de fen da nt ’s gi rlf rie nd to an of fic er wh o t es ti fie d a t t ria l).

Here, th e di st ric t co ur t ba se d it s fin di ng t h at Mat hi s ha d ha rb or ed a ru na way ch il d on in fo rm at io n co nt ai ne d in th e PSR th at was la te r co rro bo rat ed at se nt en ci ng by th e in ve st ig at in g of

fic ers

. Acco rd in g to th e of fic ers , Got t to ld th em K.G. was at Mat hi s’s ho us e whe n po li ce firs t cam e to lo ok fo r hi m

. Sh e rep res en te d th at sh e di d

no t kn ow K.G.’ s act ua l ag e un ti l sh e di sc ov ered it on a m is si ng pe rs on s web si te

. Got t

a d m it te d th at sh e pl aced do gs in fro nt of K.G.’ s ro om to pr ev en t hi m fro m le av in g. Offi cer s a ls o te st ifi ed th at K.G. to ld th em Mat hi s le arn ed fro m Got t th at K.G. was be in g so ug ht as a m is si ng pe rs on

. K.G. al so to ld of fic ers th at on ce Mat hi s le arn ed hi s
act ua l ag e, he m ad e hi m rem ov e th e ba tt ery fro m hi s cel l ph on e. K.G. al so rel at ed th at Mat hi s ha d ex pr es se d co nc ern ab ou t dr iv in g K.G. acro ss st at e li ne s be cau se of hi s
ag e. Last ly, Mat hi s hi m se lf ad m it te d th at K.G. st ay ed at hi s ho us e. Bas ed on th e

co rro bo rat ed al le ga ti on s in th e PSR, th e d i s tri ct co ur t ha d su ffi ci en t ev id en ce to

co nc lu de th at Mat hi s kn ew K.G. was bo th a m in or an d a ru na way an d ha rb or ed hi m in vi ol at io n o f Io wa la w.

2. Usi ng or Pos se ss in g a Fir ea rm i n C on ne ct io n w it h An ot he r Fel on y Befo re ap pl y in g an § 2K2 .1(b )(6 ) en ha nc em en t, th e di st ric t co ur t m us t fin d by

a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce th at th e de fen da nt us ed or po ss es se d a fir earm to faci li ta te th e co m

m is si on of fel on y

. Se e Li tt re ll
, 55 7 F.3d at 61 7. W e ha ve he ld th at

“ th e en ha nc em en t is in ap pl ic a b l e i f a fir earm was pr es en t at th e cri m e sc en e du e to ‘m ere a c c i d e n t or co in ci de nc e.’” Uni te d St at es v. Man gu m , 6 25 F.3 d 46 6, 46 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) (q uo ti ng Uni t e d S t a t e s v. Gui he en , 59 4 F.3 d 58 9, 59 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 )).
Howev er, “ whe re a de fen da nt ke ep s a fir earm ‘at an eas il y acce ss ib le lo cat io n’ whi le

-6

-co m

m it ti ng a fel on y of

fen se , a se nt en ci ng co ur t m ay i n f e r th at th e fir earm ‘em bo ld en ed th e de fen da nt to en ga ge in th e i l l e g a l act .’ ” Id

. at 46 7– 68 (q uo ti ng Gui he en , 59 4 F .3d at 5 91 ).

A de fen da nt ne ed no t ha ve in it ia ll y in te nd ed to us e th e fir earm to fa ci li ta te

an ot he r fel on y

. “ [W] he re a de fen da nt ke ep s a fir earm ‘at an eas il y acce ss ib le loc at io n’ whi le co m

m it ti ng a fel on y of

fen se ,” id

. a t 46 7 (q uo ti ng Gui he en , 5 94 F.3 d at 59 1)
,

“ wit h kn owl ed ge

. . . or reas on to be li ev e th at ” su ch fir earm was faci li ta ti ng th e

co m m is si on of th at fel on y , U.S.S.G. § 2 K2.1 (b )(6 )(B)
, th en th at de fen da nt can no t

es cap e th e en ha nc em en t m erel y by cl ai m in g he di d no t su bjec ti ve ly in te nd to us e or
po ss es s t he weap on to faci li ta te an ot he r fel on y

.

W he th er Mat hi s us e d or po ss es se d hi s fir earm to faci li ta te ha rb or in g K.G. is

a qu es ti on of fact su bjec t to rev ie w fo r cl ear erro r. Se e Li tt re ll
, 55 7 F.3 d at 61 7. The di st ric t co ur t in th is cas e he ard te st im on y fro m of fic ers th at Mat hi s ke pt a gu n in op en si gh t, an d th at K.G. was in ti m id at ed by th e gu n, as well as by Mat hi s’s cri m in al pa st

. Upo n sea rch in g Mat hi s’s ho m e, in ve st ig at or s fou nd a gu n m at ch in g th e de sc rip ti on th at K.G. sup pl ie d.

In li gh t of th is ev id en ce, we can no t sa y th e di st ric t co ur t cl earl y erre d in fin di ng th at “ th e pr es en ce of th e fir earm , t he pr es en ce o f th e d og s, [Ma th is ’s] pa st cri m in al
hi st or y al l m ad e kn own to [K.G.] or wa s i nt im id at in g t o t he vi ct im , and th eref or e it bo th faci l i t a t ed an d ob vi ou sl y ha d th e po te nt ia l to faci li ta te th e of fen se .” Tr. of
Res en te nc in g Hrg

. at 51 –5 2, Uni te d St at es v. Mat hi s , No. 3: 13 -cr- 00 03 3- JAJ -HCA-1 (S.D. Io wa Nov . 21 , 20 17 ), ECF No. 1 15

.

K.G.’ s t es ti m on y

ab ou t M at hi s’s u se of t he gu n was n ot un eq ui vo cal , bu t t he of fic ers ’ te st im on y at tri al pr ov id ed th e ne ed ed ev id en ti ary pr ep on de ran ce to su pp or t

a fin di ng th at th e en ha n c e m en t ap pl ie s. In ap pl y in g th e en ha nc em en t, th e di st ric t

co ur t ne ces sa ril y de em ed th e of fic ers ’ te st im on y

—an d by ex te ns io n , K.G.’ s

-7

-te st im ony

—c re dib le

. “ A dis tr ic t cour t’s as se ss m en t of a wit ne ss ’s cred ib il it y is al m os t

ne ve r cl ear erro r gi ve n th at co ur t’s co m pa rat iv e ad va nt ag e at ev al ua ti ng cred ib il it y .”
W oo ds
, 59 6 F.3 d a t 4 4 8 (ci ta ti on om m it ed ). W e th us fin d th e di st ric t co ur t ha d

su ffi ci en t ev id en ce to co nc lu de th at Mat hi s us ed a fir earm t o f a c il it at e ha rb or in g a

ru na way

.

W e ho ld th e di st ric t co u r t d i d n ot err in ap pl y in g th e § 2K2 .1(b )(6 )

en ha nc em en t.

B. Upw ar d Va ri an ce Mat hi s cl ai m s th e co ur t ab us ed it s di sc ret io n in va ry in g up ward

. W e di sa gr ee. The PSR es ta bl is he d a se nt en ci ng ran ge of 57 –7 1 m on th s. At res en te nc in g, th e
go ve rn m en t req ue st ed a se nt en ce of 84 m on th s, bu t th e di st ric t co ur t im po se d an 80

-

m on th sen te nc e.

W e m ay no t pr es um e a se nt en ce ou ts id e th e Gui de li ne s to be u n r eas on ab le

. Gal l v. Uni te d St at es , 55 2 U

. S. 38
, 51 (2 00 7)

. An ap pe ll at e co ur t m ay co ns id er th e

ex te nt of th e de vi at io n fro m th e Gu i d e l i n e s , bu t it m ay no t req ui re “ ex tra or di na ry ci rcu m st an ces to jus ti fy a se nt en ce ou ts id e th e Gui de li ne s.” Uni te d St at es v. Th or ne , 89 6 F.3 d 86 1, 86 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 18 ) (cl ean ed up ). W hi le a di st ric t co ur t m us t ex pl ai n it s ba si s fo r va ry in g fr om th e Gui de li ne s, i t m ay

co ns id er fa ct or s al read y ta ke n in to

acco un t by th e Gui de li ne s in ex pl ai ni ng it s vari an ce. Id

. at 86 5. Spec ifi cal ly, it m ay

co ns id er f

a ct or s un de r 18 U.S.C. § 35 53 (a), su ch as an of fen de r’s cri m in al hi st or y , hi s li ke li ho od of reci d iv is m , an d hi s th reat to th e pu bl ic

. Id

. “ If th e co ur t ‘pro pe rly

tre at [s ] th e Gui de li ne s ran ge as ad vi so ry , [it is ] free to co ns id er an y se nt en ci ng fact s

su pp or te d in th e reco rd b y a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce in se tt in g [a] se nt en ce,

su bjec t on ly to th e st at ut or y m ax im um an d th e gu id in g fact or s in § 35 53 (a).’” Bat tl e , 77 4 F.3 d at 51 6 (al te ra t i o n s i n o r ig in al ) (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. W ad e , 43 5 F.3 d
82 9, 8 31 –3 2 (8 th Cir . 20 16 ) (p er cu ria m )).

-8

-The di st ric t co ur t c o n s i d ered Mat hi s’s ex te ns iv e cri m in al hi st or y an d ci te d 3

pr ot ect in g th e pu bl ic as jus ti fic at io n fo r an up ward va ria nc e. Mat hi s d i sp ut es th is

rat io na le
, arg ui ng th at th e va ria nc e “ co ul d on ly be ba se d on

. . . un pr ov en al le ga ti on s” be cau se th e Gui de li ne s ra ng e al read y acco un te d fo r hi s re co rd . App el la nt Br. at 23

. Thi s arg um en t m is un de rs ta nd s ou r la w. Not on ly m ay a di st ric t co ur t co ns id er fact or s al read y acco un te d fo r by th e Gui d e l i n es in im po si ng a se nt en ce, bu t it m ay al so

co ns id er facts su pp or te d by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce— whe th er or no t th os e fact s were pr ov en i n t h e fo rm of a co nv ic ti on

. Se e Th or ne , 8 96 F.3 d at 86 5; Bat tl e , 77 4 F .3d at 5 16

.

I n li gh t of th e ev id en ti ary reco rd an d ou r de fere nt ia l ab us e-o f-d is cr e t i o n

s t a n da rd in rev ie win g se nt en ces , we ho ld th e di st ric t co ur t di d no t err in v a r yi n g
up ward

.

III. Co nc lu si on
Hav in g co ns id ered al l of th e arg um en ts on ap pe al
, we fin d no ba si s fo r

rev ers al . Acco rd in gl y , we affi rm th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Mat hi s’s PSR de ta il ed a de cad es -lo ng hi st or y of cri m in al it y , be gi nn in g wit h 3

a bu r g l a r y co nv ic ti on in 19 80

. In to ta l, th e PSR in di cat ed 18 se pa rat e cri m in al

co nv ic ti on s, an d 9 arre st s no t re su lt in g i n c on vi ct io n. No ta bl y , Mat hi s was arre st ed fo r “ la sc iv io us act s wit h a ch il d” in 19 86

. Mat hi s’s pr io r co nv ic ti on s in cl ud ed

as sa ul ts , bu rg la rie s, th eft s, m ul ti pl e in st an ces of di st ur bi ng th e pe ace an d cri m in al

m is ch ie f, tre sp as s, fal se us e of a fin an ci al in st ru m en t, es cap e, an d reck le ss d riv in g.

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