FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC UIT JUNE 30, 2008 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 07- 14869 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D. C . Do c k e tNo . 0 6 - 0 0 0 8 2 - C R - F T M- 2 9 - DN F U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A , P la in tif f - A p p e lle e , v ersu s A L E X I S M E N D E Z , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe M i ddl e D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( Ju n e 30, 2008) B efo re B IR C H , B L A C K an d P R Y O R , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: A l e xi s M e nde z appe a l s hi s 180- m onth s e nt e nc e of i m pr i s onm e ntf

or2

pos s e s s i on w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e 500 gr a m s orm or e of c oc a i ne , i n vi ol a t i on of 21 U . S . C . § 841( a ) ( 1) a nd ( b) ( 1) ( B ) ( i i ) . O n appe a l , M e nde z a r gue s f i r s ttha tthe s e n te n c e v io la te d th e E ig h th A m e n d m e n t b e c au s e it w a s g r o s s lyd is p r o p o rtio n a te t o the cr i m i nal offe nse, i n l i gh tof hi s m ent al heal th p robl em s. S ec on d, he ar gu es tha tthe s e nt e nc e w a s pr oc e dur a l l ya nd s ubs t ant i ve l yunr e a s onabl e be c aus e the d is tr ic t c o u rt f

a ile d to c o n s id e rh is a r g u m e n ts r e g a r d in g m e n ta l illn e s s , a rtic u la te h o w it c o n s id e r e d h is m e n ta l illn e s s , o rr e d u c e th e s e n te n c e to a c c o u n t f o rh is m ent al i l l ness . W e c on cl ud e thatthe se nt ence di d n otconst i tut e c ruel and u nu sual p u n is h m e n t in v io la tio n o f th e E ig h th A m e n d m e n t b e c au s e it w a s n o t g r o s s ly d isp ro p o rtio n ate to th e o ff en se o f c o n v icti o n . E v en as su m in g th at M en d ez ’s m en t al h eal th p ro b l em s m ay b e co n si d ered i n th e n arro w p ro p o rt i o n al i ty an al ysi s, th e s en ten ce d idn o t v io late th e E ig h th A m en d m en t, es p ec iall y in li g h t o f M en d ez ’s c r im in a l h is to ry . S e c o n d , th e s e n te n c e w a s p r o c e d u r a llya n ds u b s ta n tiv e ly r e a s o n ab le b e c au s e th e d is tr ic t c o u rt c o n s id e r e dM e n d e z ’s a r g u m e n t r e g a r d in g h is m en t al h eal th p ro b l em s, co n si d ered th e o th er rel ev an t1 8 U . S . C . § 3 5 5 3 (a) factors, i nc l udi ng hi s c r i m i na l hi s t ory , a de qua t e l ye xpl a i ne d i t s r e a s ons f ori m pos i ng the s e n t e n c e , a n d d i d n o tab u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n w e i g h i n g h i s me n t a l h e a l th p r o b l e ms a n d th e o th e rf

a c t o r s . A c c o r d i n g l y , w e A F F I R M.3 I . B AC KG RO UN D In Jul y 200 6, a f

eder al grand j ury r eturned an i nd i ctm entagai nstM endez, c ha r gi ng hi m w i th pos s e s s i on w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e 500 gr a m s orm or e of c o c a in e , in v io la tio n o f

2 1 U .S .C . § 8 4 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) a n d( b ) ( 1 ) ( B ) ( ii) . M e n d e z in itia lly p le d n o t g u iltyto th e c h a r g e a n d m o v e df o rac o m p e te n c yh e a r in g . A m a g is tr a te ju d g e g r a n te d th e m o tio n f o rac o m p e te n c yh e a r in g a n do r d e r e dM e n d e z to unde r go ac om pe t e nc ye va l ua t i on. F ol l ow i ng the c om pe t e nc ye va l ua t i on, the m a gi s tr a t e j udge he l d ac om pe t e nc yhe a r i ng on 19 M a r c h 2007. A f t e rhe a r i ng t e s t i m onyf

r om D r . J or ge L ui s a nd D r . B a rba r aP a l om i no de V e l a s c o, both of w ho m eval uat ed M endez’ s c om pet ency , the m agi stra t e j ud ge foun d thatM endez w as com pet entt o p roce ed. T he di stri ctj ud ge adop t ed the m agi stra t e’ s c om pet ency r e c o m m e n d a tio n o v e rM e n d e z ’s o b je c tio n s . M e n d e z s u b s e q u e n tlyc h a n g e dh is p le ato g u ilty . A t th e c h a n g e - o f - p le ah e ar in g , M e n d e z a s k e dth e c o u rt if it c o u ld gi ve hi m an i nj ec t i on “ [s ] o you can k i l l m e, because I w antt o d i e a l re ady. ” R 3 at 2 7 . A cc ordi ng t o the P re se nt ence Invest i gat i on R eport(“ P S I” ), M endez w as s pe e di ng on aF l or i dahi ghw a yon 6 J ul y2006, w hi c h l e d aF l or i daH i ghw a yP a tr ol O f f i c e rt o c onduc tatr a f

f i c s t op. D ur i ng the s t op, M e nde z c ons e nt e d t o as e a r c h of the ve hi c l e he w a s dr i vi ng, a nd the of f i c e rf ound aba g c ont a i ni ng 18 ba ggi e s of4

coca i ne po w der, w hi ch w ei gh ed 50 3. 4 g ram s. W hen M endez l earned thathe w as un der arr es t , he fl ed on foot , do ve i nt o a canal , and sw am ac ross , bu tw as e v e n tu a llyap p r e h e n d e d . M e n d e z w a s o n b o n da t th e tim e f o rad ru g c h a r g e in T a m p a . F o llo w in g th e a rr e s t, h e a d m itte dth a t tw o m e n h ir e dh im to d r iv e to M i a m i t o pi c k up the c oc a i ne a nd de l i ve ri tt o T a m pa . H e f urthe ra dm i tt e d tha the h a d c o n d u c te d th e s a m e d e liv e ryab o u t 5 0 tim e s , e a c h tim e tr a n s p o rtin g ab o u t a ha l f - ki l ogr a m of

c oc a i ne . A uthor i t i e s s e i z e d tw o r e c e i pt s f r om M e nde z i ndi c a t i ng th a t h e m a d e tw o w ir e tr a n s f e r s o f m o n e y , in th e a m o u n ts o f $ 1 ,7 0 0 a n d$ 1 ,0 0 0 , to am a n i n M i a m i , w hi c h M e nde z i ndi c a t e d he ha d done a tthe be he s tof one of the m e n w h o h ir e d h im to tr a n s p o rt th e c o c a in e . T he P S I r ef

l ec t ed thatM endez had an ext ensi ve cr i m i nal hi st ory dat i ng back t o 1 98 1. T hi s i ncl ud ed conv i ct i on s i n the 19 80 s f or: (1) c arry i ng a c on ce al ed f i r e a rm ; ( 2) pe t i tthe f

t ; ( 3) bur gl a ryof

as truc tur e ; ( 4) gr a nd the f t ; ( 5) bur gl a ry ; ( 6) m a ns l aught e r ; ( 7) pos s e s s i on of c oc a i ne ; ( 8) di s or de r l yc onduc t ; ( 9) tr e s pa s s on prop erty; and (10 ) tw o separ at e c on vi ct i on s f or bo th carry i ng a c on ce al ed fi re arm and p osse ss i on of a f

i re arm by a f

el on . In the 19 90 s, M endez w as conv i ct ed for: ( 1) obt a i ni ng pr ope rtyf oraw orthl e s s c he c k; ( 2) bur gl a ryof as truc tur e , gr a nd the f t , a nd obs truc t i on w i th vi ol e nc e ; ( 3) ba tt e ry ; ( 4) no ve hi c l e r e gi s tr a t i on; ( 5) f l e e i ng a nd e l udi ng apol i c e of f i c e r , no va l i d dr i ve r ’ s l i c e ns e , a nd obs truc t i on5

w i thoutvi ol e nc e ; ( 6) r e s i s t i ng a n of f i c e rw i thoutvi ol e nc e ; a nd ( 7) pos s e s s i on of c oc a i ne a nd e s c ape f

r om pol i c e c us t ody . A 2005 c ha r ge f orc oc a i ne tr a f

f i c ki ng a ls o w a s p e n d in g a g a in s t M e n d e z . T he P S I f

urther i nd i ca t ed thatM endez w as bo rn i n C ub a i n 1 95 8, and h e w as i n a nd outof

m e nt a l he a l th f

a c i l i t i e s i n C ubaunt i l 1980, w he n the gove rnm e nt re l ea se d h i m and h e c am e t o the U ni t ed S t at es . D r. P al om i no de V el as co c onduc t e d am e nt a l he a l th e va l ua t i on of M e nde z on 18 O c t obe r2006, f ol l ow i ng hi s a rr e s ton the i ns t a ntc ha r ge , a nd s he f ound tha the w a s i nc om pe t e ntf ortr i a l a nd w oul d be ne f

i tf r om l ong- t e rm tr e a tm e nti n as e c ur e e nvi r onm e nt . P ur s ua ntt o the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s c om pe t e nc y - e va l ua t i on or de r , D r . L ui s c onduc t e d ae va l ua t i on of M endez fr om 28 N ov em ber t o 2 7 D ec em ber 200 6. L ui s’ s c om pet encyre po rtw as i nc l ude d w i th the P S I , a nd i tde t a i l e d M e nde z ’ s ps y c hi a tr i c hi s t ory . R e c or ds i ndi c a t e d tha tM e nde z unde rw e ntm e nt a l he a l th e va l ua t i ons w he n s e rvi ng s e nt e nc e s w i thi n the F l or i daD e pa rtm e ntof C orr e c t i ons ( “ D O C ” ) . A l though M e nde z ha d de ni e d ha vi ng am e nt a l he a l th hi s t orydur i ng a1998 e va l ua t i on, du ri ng hi s D O C i ncar ce ra t i on s, the l as tof w hi ch ended i n F ebruary20 02 , he w as di agno se d w i th d epre ss i ve di sorder , psyc ho t i c di sorder , adj ustm entdi sorder , ant i soci al pers on al i ty di sorder , and sever al subst ance abuse di sorder s. H e r ec ei ved a n t i d e p r e s s a n ta n d a n t i p s y c h o t i c m e d i c a t i o n s d u r i n g h i s F l o r i d aDO C6

i nc a r c e r a t i ons , buttha ttr e a tm e ntw a s di s c ont i nue d aboutay e a rpr i ort o hi s 2002 r e l e a s e . I n 1999, M e nde z e nga ge d i n s e l f - i nj ur i ous a c t s s uc h a s i nf l i c t i ng on hi m s e l f s upe r f i c i a l l a c e r a t i ons a nd s w a l l ow i ng am e t a l ba dge c l i p. T he P S I f

urther i nd i ca t ed thatM endez w as i ncar ce ra t ed i n the fe dera l B ur e au of

P r i s ons f

r om 1991 t o 1994 a nd 2003 t o 2004, a nd dur i ng thos e pe r i ods h e d e n ie d h a v in g an ym e n ta l h e a lth p r o b le m s a n dd idn o t r e c e iv e a n yp s y c h ia tr ic di a gnos e s orps y c hotr opi c m e di c a t i ons . W hi l e a tthe M i a m i F e de r a l D e t e nt i on C e n te r , o n 2 2 D e c e m b e r2 0 0 6 , ap s y c h ia tr is t d ia g n o s e dM e n d e z w ith s c h iz o a f f e c tiv e d is o r d e ra n d p r e s c r ib e dh im a n tid e p r e s s a n t a n da n tip s y c h o tic m edi ca t i on s. D r. L ui s f ou nd i n h i s r eportthatthere w as no evi dence thatM endez w as experi enci ng an ac t i ve ph as e of any se ri ou s m ent al i l l ness , and h e w as com pet entt o con t i nu e w i th the cr i m i nal proceedi ng s. L at er , on 14 M ar ch 20 07 , at a F l ori da coun ty j ai l , M endez w as pu ton sui ci de w at ch because he had sui ci dal tho ug ht s. M endez al so i nd i ca t ed thathe suff er ed fr om audi o and vi sual h a llu c in a tio n s , a n d h is f a m ilyh a d ah is to ryo f

m e n ta l illn e s s . T h e P S I i n i t i a l l ya s s i g n e d Me n d e z ab a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l o f

3 4 u n d e rU. S . S . G. § 2 D 1. 1, because he w as ac coun t abl e f or atl ea st25 ki l og ram s of c ocai ne. H e w as ent i t l ed t o a 3-po i ntre du ct i on base d o n h i s a cc ept ance of re spon si bi l i ty und er U .S .S .G . § 3 E 1 .1 ( a ) a n d ( b ) , w h ic h r e s u lte din a n a d ju s te do f f e n s e le v e l o f

3 1 .7

M e n d e z , h o w e v e r , q u a lif ie df o rth e c a r e e r - o f

f e n d e re n h a n c e m e n t u n d e rU .S .S .G . § 4B 1. 1 be c aus e of

hi s pr i orc onvi c t i ons f

orobs truc t i on w i th vi ol e nc e a nd e s c ape f r om pol i c e c us t ody . T he P S I appl i e d a n e nha nc e d ba s e of f e ns e l e ve l of

34 b e c au s e th e ap p lic ab le s ta tu to rym a x im u m s e n te n c e w a s 4 0 y e a r s o f im p r is o n m e n t. A ft erthe 3-l evel re du ct i on for a cc ept ance of re spon si bi l i ty, hi s t ot al offe nse l evel r e m a in e d a t 3 1 . H is c r im in a l h is to ryc a te g o ryw a s V I , w h ic h c o m b in e dw ith h is o f f e n s e le v e l o f

3 1 to y ie ldaG u id e lin e s im p r is o n m e n t r a n g e o f 1 8 8 to 2 3 5 m o n th s . T h e s tatu to ry m in im u m an d m ax im u m ra n g e o f im p riso n m en t fo r M en d ez ’s offe nse w as 5 t o 4 0 years . T he P S I not ed thata di m i ni shed-c apac i ty departure u n d e rU .S .S .G . § 5 K 2 .1 3 m ig h t ap p ly . M e nde z obj e c t e d t o the P S I a nd a r gue d tha the s houl d qua l i f yf orthe di m i ni shed-c apac i ty r educt i on un der § 5K 2. 13 , and h e s ho ul d rec ei ve a dow nw ar d va r i a nc e a c c or di ng t o the 18 U . S . C . § 3553( a ) f a c t or s be c aus e of

hi s hi s t oryof m e nt a l i l l ne s s , a m ong othe rm i t i ga t i ng f a c t or s . H e a l s o obj e c t e d tha the s houl d not be he l d r e s pons i bl e f

or25 ki l ogr a m s of

c oc a i ne be c aus e hi s s t a t e m e nt s aboutpr i or c o c a in e d e liv e r ie s w e r e n o t r e liab le . A t sen ten cin g , th e d istrict co u rt in it iall y c o n sid er ed an do v erru led M en d ez ’s obj ec t i on thathe shou l d n otbe hel d res po nsi bl e f or 25 ki l og ram s of c ocai ne. R 4 at 5 - 9 . T h e c o u rt th e n a d o p te d th e b a s ic P S I G u id e lin e s c a lc u la tio n s , f in d in g th a t h is8

a dj us t e d of

f e ns e l e ve l of

31 a nd c r i m i na l hi s t oryc a t e goryof V I r e s ul t e d i n a G ui del i nes i m pri sonm entrang e of 188 t o 2 35 m on ths. Id. at9. N ext , the court addres se d M endez’ s argum entthathe w as ent i t l ed t o a departure f or di m i ni shed cap ac ity u n d er§ 5 K 2 .1 3 . C o u n se l fo r M en d ez ar g u ed th at, b as ed o n M en d ez ’s l on g h i st ory of var i ou s m ent al prob l em s he s ho ul d q ual i fyfor the do w nw ar d d ep ar tu re . In su p p o rt o f th is ar g u m en t, co u n se l called atten ti o n to M en d ez ’s m e n ta l h e a lth d ia g n o s e s , p r e s c r ib e dm e d ic a tio n s , a c t o f f le e in g th e p o lic e p r io rto hi s arr es ti n thi s c as e, and h i s r equestfor l ethal i nj ec t i on atthe change-of-pl ea hear i ng . T he go vernm entre spon ded thatM endez di d n otqu al i fyfor the departure be c aus e he di d notha ve as i gni f i c a nt l yr e duc e d m e nt a l c apa c i tyw he n he c om m i tt e d the of

f e ns e , a nd the r e w a s no e vi de nc e tha ta nys uc h m e nt a l c ondi t i on contri bu t ed t o the com m i ss i on of the offe nse. T he courtfoun d thati t“ ce rt ai nl y has th e au th o r ityto d e p a rt d o w n w a r d f o rd im in is h e dc ap a c ityu n d e rS e c tio n 5 K 2 .1 3 ,” an d M en d ez “ cl earl y h as a h i st o ry o f m en t al p ro b l em s. ” Id . at2 0 -2 1 . N o n eth el ess, th e c o u rt f

o u n d th a t h e d idn o t q u a lif yf o rth e d o w n w a r dd e p a rtu r e b e c au s e h e d id n o t h a v e as ig n if

ic a n tlyr e d u c e d m e n ta l c ap a c ityw ith in th e m e a n in g o f § 5 K 2 .1 3 . I d. a t21. N ex t , th e co u rtn o t ed th atM en d ez’ s “ m en t al co n d i t i o n an dm en t al h i st o ry” w e r e f a c t or s tha ti t“ c a n, a nd s houl d, a nd w i l l c ons i de r ” i n l i ghtof U ni t e d S t a t e s v.9

B oo ker, 54 3 U . S . 22 0, 12 5 S . C t . 73 8 (20 05 ). Id. at21 . C ou nsel for M endez then r e ite r a te d h is a r g u m e n ts r e g a r d in g M e n d e z ’s h is to ryo f m e n ta l h e a lth p r o b le m s in a r gui ng tha tM e nde z s houl d r e c e i ve as e nt e nc e “ s i gni f i c a nt l ybe l ow the gui de l i ne r a n g e ” b a s e d o n th e § 3 5 5 3 f a c to r s . I d . a t 9 . M e n d e z m a d e ab r ie f s ta te m e n t o n h is o w n b e h a lf

. T h e g o v e rn m e n t r e s p o n d e dth a t h e s h o u ldr e c e iv e as e n te n c e w ith in th e g u id e lin e s r a n g e b e c au s e , a lth o u g h h e m ig h t h a v e s o m e m e n ta l h e a lth pr obl e m s , hi s m e nt a l c apa c i tyw a s noti n que s t i on, a nd he ha d as i gni f i c a nt c r im in a l h is to ry . T h e d is tr ic t c o u rt s ta te d th a t it c o n s id e r e dth a t M e n d e z “h a s am e n ta l h e a lth i ss ue, and h as had a m ent al heal th i ss ue for aw hi l e, ” w hi ch w arrant ed an ad j u stm en tt o h i s sen t en ce, al th o u g h n o t“ as b i g an ad j u stm en tas, [d efen se coun se l ] , . . . m aythi nk approp ri at e. ” I d. at25 -26. T he courtfoun d thatM endez

“ d em o n strat ed a cap aci ty t o u n d erst an dan dk n o w w h ath e w as d o i n g ” i n th i s case and h e had engaged in the sam e off ense ac t i on s bef

ore. Id. at26 . A no ther

“ s i gni f i c a ntf a c t or ” t o the c ourtw a s M e nde z ’ s c r i m i na l hi s t ory , w hi c h i nc l ude d a

“ f a i r l yw i de va r i e tyof

c onvi c t i ons ” da t i ng ba c k t o 1981, “ [ i ] nc l udi ng c r i m e s of vi ol ence . ” I d. T he courtfurther f ou nd thatM endez w ou l d “ re ce i ve bett erm ent al tr e a tm e n t in c u s to d yth a n h e h a s o n th e o u ts id e .” I d . a t 2 7 . T h e c o u rt n o te dth a t it had con si dere d al l of the st atut ory f ac t ors, even i f i thad n otspec i fi ca l l y di sc usse d10

them , and i tse nt ence d M endez t o 1 80 m on ths’ i m pri sonm entand a supervi se d r e l e a s e t e rm of

f i ve y e a r s . I d. a t25, 27. F ol l ow i ng the c ourt ' s i m pos i t i on of the s e nt e nc e , c ouns e l f

orM e nde z obj e c t e d t o the s e nt e nc e on r e a s onabl e ne s s a nd E i gh th A m endm entgrou nd s, w i tho utfurther e xp l anat i on , and the courtov errul ed th o se o b j ect i o n s. Id . at3 1 -3 2 . T h e d i stri ctco u rten t ered j u d g m en tag ai n st M e n d e z , im p o s in g th e 1 8 0 - m o n th s e n te n c e . M e n d e z tim e lyap p e a le d . I I . DI S CUS S I ON O n ap p e a l, M e n d e z a r g u e s th a t th e 1 8 0 - m o n th s e n te n c e v io la te dth e E ig h th A m e ndm e nt ’ s c rue l a nd unus ua l puni s hm e ntpr ohi bi t i on be c aus e he s uf f e r e d f r om s e ve r e m e nt a l i l l ne s s . H e c ont e nds tha tthe s e nt e nc e i s “ di s pr oport i ona t e a nd e x c e s s iv e ” in lig h t o f

h is m e n ta l illn e s s , ju s t a s e x e c u tio n o f am e n ta llyill de f e nda ntvi ol a t e s the E i ghth A m e ndm e nta c c or di ng t o A tki ns v. V i r gi ni a , 536 U .S . 3 0 4 , 1 2 2 S . C t. 2 2 4 2 ( 2 0 0 2 ) . H e a r g u e s th a t h e is a n dh a s b e e n s e v e r e ly m e n ta llyill, a s e v id e n c e d b yh is d ia g n o s is o f s c h iz o a f f e c tiv e d is o r d e r , a n dh is s e n te n c e s h o u ldb e r e d u c e d a c c o r d in g lyd u e to h is r e d u c e dc u lp ab ility . H e p o s its tha te vol vi ng s t a nda r ds i ndi c a t e tha ta180- m onth s e nt e nc e i s e xc e s s i ve f orthe i nst antoffe nse bas ed on hi s s t atus as a m ent al l y i l l no n-vi ol entoffe nd er . M endez a s s e rt s tha tdi ve r s i on a nd tr e a tm e nta r e m or e appr opr i a t e tha n at e rm of in c a r c e r a tio n . M e n d e z c ite s s e v e r a l a c a d e m ic a rtic le s a n dth e M e n ta llyI ll11

O f f e nde rT r e a tm e nta nd C r i m e R e duc t i on A c tof 2004, P ub. L . N o. 108- 414, 118 S t a t . 2327 ( 2004) , w hi c h c a l l e d f orf e de r a l gr a nt s t o s upporta l t e rna t i ve s e nt e nc i ng op t i on s f or m ent al l y i l l offe nd er s, i n sup po rtof hi s argum ent s. M endez a c know l e dge s tha t , a l though as e nt e nc e w i thi n the pr e s c r i be d s t a tut oryr a nge g e n e r a llyd o e s n o t v io la te th e E ig h th A m e n d m e n t, e v o lv in g s ta n d a r d s s h o w th a t a 18 0-m on th sent ence for am ent al l y i l l defe nd anti s gross l y di spropo rt i on at e f or a no n-vi ol entoffe nse.

“ W e r evi ew const i tut i on al chal l enges t o a se nt ence de no vo . ” U ni t ed S t at es v . C h au , 4 2 6 F .3 d 1 3 1 8 , 1 3 2 1 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) ( p e rc u r iam ) . T h e E ig h th A m en d m en t ’ s p ro h i b i t i o n o f cru el an du n u su al p u n i sh m en t , i n n o n -cap i t al cases, e nc om pa s s e s onl yana rr ow pr oport i ona l i typr i nc i pl e . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. R a a d, 406 F .3 d 1 3 2 2 , 1 3 2 3 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) ( p e rc u r ia m ) . W h e n w e a d d r e s s a n E ig h th A m e n d m e n t c h a lle n g e to as e n te n c e , w e f ir s t m u s t m a k e ath r e s h o ldd e te rm in a tio n th a t th e s e n te n c e im p o s e dis g r o s s lyd is p r o p o rtio n a te to th e o f f e n s e c o m m itte da n d , if

it is g r o s s ly di spropo rt i on at e, the courtm ustthen con si der the se nt ence s i m po se d on others conv i ct ed i n the sam e j uri sdi ct i on and the se nt ence s im p o s e d f

o rc o m m is s io n o f

th e s a m e c r im e in o th e rju r is d ic tio n s . U n ite d S ta te s v . R e y n o ld s , 2 1 5 F .3 d1 2 1 0 , 1 2 1 4 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 0 ) ( p e rc u r ia m ) . S u ccessfu l p ro p o rt i o n al i ty ch al l en g es are rare b ecau se w e g i v e C o n g ress s u b s ta n tia l d e f

e r e n c e to d e te rm in e th e typ e s a n dlim its o f c r im in a l p u n is h m e n t.12

R a a d , 4 0 6 F .3 d a t 1 3 2 3 . A c c o r d in g ly , “as e n te n c e w ith in th e s ta tu to rylim its ge ne r a l l ydoe s notvi ol a t e the E i ghth A m e ndm e nt . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. J ohns on, 451 F . 3d 12 39 , 12 43 (11th C i r. 20 06 ) ( per c uri am ). In E w i ng v. C al i forni a, 53 8 U . S . 11 , 12 3 S . C t . 11 79 (200 3), the C ou rt a ddr e s s e d a n E i ghth A m e ndm e ntc ha l l e nge t o a25- y e a r s - t o- l i f e s e nt e nc e f

orgr a nd the f tunde rC a l i f

orni a ’ s thr e e - s tr i ke s l a w . T he pl ur a l i tyopi ni on not e d tha tthe pr oport i ona l i tyr e vi e w of the s e nt e nc e m us tt a ke i nt o a c c ountthe de f e nda nt ’ s “ l ong hi s t oryof

f e l onyr e c i di vi s m , ” i n de f e r e nc e t o the pol i c yj udgm e nt s of the l e gi s l a tur e . I d. a t29, 123 S . C t . a t1189- 90. B e c aus e E w i ng’ s s e nt e nc e r e f l e c t e d a rat i o n al l eg i sl at i v e j u d g m en tt o i m p o se l o n g p ri so n sen t en ces o n fel o n y o ffen d ers, i tdi d n otvi ol at e the E i gh th A m endm ent . Id. at30 -31, 12 3 S . C t . at11 90 . Just i ce s S ca l i a and T ho m as ea ch fi l ed a s epar at e opi ni on concurri ng w i th the j ud gm entthat E w in g ’s s e n te n c e s h o u ldb e a f f irm e da n do p in in g th a t th e “p r o p o rtio n a lityte s t” w as “ i n cap ab l e o f j u d i ci al ap p l i cat i o n . ” Id . at3 2 , 1 2 3 S . C t . at1 1 9 1 (T h o m as, J. c onc urr i ng) ( a gr e e i ng w i th pa rtof J us t i c e S c a l i a ’ s c onc urr e nc e ) . I n l i ghtof the d i fferen to p i n i o n s atp l ay i n E w i n g , th e E i g h th A m en d m en t , atb est , “ co n t ai n s a narr ow prop ort i on al i ty pri nci pl e thatappl i es t o n on capi t al se nt ence s” and t akes i nt o acc ou ntthe offender’ s r ec i di vi sm . Id. at20 , 12 3 S . C t . at11 85 (i nt ernal quot a t i ons om i tt e d) ; R a a d, 406 F . 3d a t1323. A c c or di ngl y , a f t e ri nt e rpr e t i ng the13

E w i ng deci si on , w e have s t at ed that“ i ti s w el l -s ett l ed l aw thata l on ger s ent ence m ay b e i m p o sed o n a reci d i v i st , b ased o n h i s cri m i n al h i st o ry, ev en i f th e o ffen se of c onvi c t i on i s r e l a t i ve l ym i nori n na tur e . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. L y ons , 403 F . 3d 1248, 1257 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( r e j e c t i ng a n E i ghth A m e ndm e ntc ha l l e nge t o a 23 5-m on th car ee r- offe nd erse nt ence ). T he S upr e m e C ourthe l d i n A tki ns tha tthe E i ghth A m e ndm e ntba rr e d the e xe c ut i on of

m e nt a l l yr e t a r de d c r i m i na l s be c aus e s uc h puni s hm e ntw a s e xc e s s i ve i n l i ghtof

s oc i e ty ’ s “ e vol vi ng s t a nda r ds of de c e nc y . ” A tki ns , 536 U . S . a t321, 122 S . C t. a t 2 2 5 2 . T h e C o u rt n o te d , h o w e v e r , th a t th e d e f ic ie n c ie s o f

th e m e n ta lly r e t a r de d “ do notw a rr a nta n e xe m pt i on f r om c r i m i na l s a nc t i ons , butthe ydo d im in is h th e irp e r s o n a l c u lp ab ility .” I d . a t 3 1 8 , 1 2 2 S . C t. a t 2 2 5 0 - 5 1 . A ls o , in R op erv. S i m m on s, 54 3 U . S . 55 1, 57 8, 12 5 S . C t . 11 83 , 12 00 (200 5), the C ou rt he l d tha t , i n l i ghtof

the e vol vi ng s t a nda r ds of de c e nc y , the E i ghth A m e ndm e nt b a rr e d th e e x e c u tio n o f

a n o f f e n d e rw h o w a s u n d e r1 8 w h e n h e c o m m itte dh is c r i m e s . H ow e ve r , the C ourtha s “ i m pos e d pr ot e c t i ons tha tthe C ons t i tut i on n o w h e r e e ls e p r o v id e s ” in r e v ie w in g E ig h th A m e n d m e n t p r o p o rtio n a lity c ha l l e nge s t o c api t a l s e nt e nc e s be c aus e “ de a th i s di f f e r e nt . ” H a rm e l i n v. M i c hi ga n, 50 1 U . S . 95 7, 99 4, 11 1 S . C t . 26 80 , 27 01 (199 1). M e nde z f

a i l s t o s a t i s f

ythe thr e s hol d E i ghth A m e ndm e ntr e qui r e m e ntby14

s h o w in g th a t h is 1 8 0 - m o n th s e n te n c e w a s g r o s s lyd is p r o p o rtio n a te to h is conv i ct i on for posse ss i on w i th i nt entt o d i stri bu t e 500 gram s of m ore of c ocai ne, e s p e c ia llyin lig h t o f

h is le n g th yc r im in a l h is to ry . N o tab ly , h e h a s n o t p o in te dto a nyc a s e t o s upporthi s c l a i m tha thi s m e nt a l i l l ne s s i s a n appr opr i a t e c ons i de r a t i on in th e th r e s h o ldd e te rm in a tio n r e g a r d in g th e n a rr o w p r o p o rtio n a lityp r in c ip le appl i cabl e i n n on -c api t al ca se s. E ven ass um i ng , ar gu endo , thatM endez’ s hi st ory o f m e n ta l illn e s s is p r o p e rto c o n s id e r , h is s e n te n c e w a s n o t g r o s s ly d is p r o p o rtio n a te . F i rs t , the di stri ctcourtprop er l y t oo k n ot e of M endez’ s l engthy cr i m i nal h i st o ry d at i n g b ackm o re th an 2 5 years, w h i ch i n cl u d ed fi rearm co n v i ct i o n s, b u r g la ry , m a n s lau g h te r , a rm e d tr e s p a s s , f le e in g a n de lu d in g , a n dd ru g p o s s e s s io n . R 4 at26 . A l so, M endez’ s 180 -m on th sent ence w as w el l bel ow the 40 -y ear s t a tut orym a xi m um . A s the di s tr i c tc ourta c know l e dge d, M e nde z ha d ahi s t oryof m ent al i l l ness , i ncl ud i ng di agno se s of depre ss i ve di sorder , psyc ho t i c di sorder , ad j u stm en td i so rd er, an t i so ci al p erso n al i ty d i so rd er, an dsev eral su b st an ce ab u se di sorder s. R 4 at25 . D es pi t e these m ent al prob l em s, M endez w as deem ed c om pe t e ntt o s t a nd tr i a l , a nd the r e w a s no e vi de nc e of f e r e d t o s ugge s ttha the la c k e d th e m e n ta l c ap a c ityto u n d e r s ta n da n dap p r e c ia te th e c r im in a lityo f h is offe nse c on du ct . In l i gh tof M endez’ s c ri m i nal hi st ory and the 40 -y ear s t atut ory15

m a x im u m s e n te n c e , th e 1 8 0 - m o n th s e n te n c e w a s n o t g r o s s lyd is p r o p o rtio n a te to th e seri o u sn ess o f th i s d ru g o ffen se, ev en co n si d eri n g h i s m en t al h eal th p ro b l em s. A l tho ug h M endez re l i es on A tki ns and R op ert o sup po rthi s c l ai m , tho se ca se s are di s t i ngui s habl e be c aus e the yi nvol ve d de a th s e nt e nc e s , w hi c h w a rr a nt e d a hei gh t ened E i gh th A m endm entanal ys i s than thatused i n n on -c api t al ca se s. S ee H ar m elin , 5 0 1 U .S . at 9 9 4 , 1 1 1 S . C t. at 2 7 0 1 . T h er ef o re , w e r ejec t M en d ez ’s E i gh th A m endm entchal l enge t o h i s s ent ence . M e nde z a l s o a r gue s tha thi s 180- m onth s e nt e nc e i s both pr oc e dur a l l ya nd s u b s ta n tiv e lyu n r e a s o n ab le u n d e rB o o k e rb e c au s e th e d is tr ic t c o u rt f a ile dto a d e q u a te lyc o n s id e rth e e v id e n c e r e g a r d in g h is m e n ta l h e a lth o ra rtic u la te w h yit di d notgi ve hi s a r gum e nt s m or e c ons i de r a t i on. H e a s s e rt s tha taw i thi n- r a nge G u i d el i n es sen t en ce i s n o tp resu m p t i v el y reaso n ab l e, an dth atd i stri ctco u rt s m u st c ons i de rthe e nt i r e r a nge of r e l e va ntf

a c t or s i n i m pos i ng as e nt e nc e . H e c ont e nds tha t , i f the c ourta de qua t e l yha d c ons i de r e d hi s m e nt a l he a l th pr obl e m s a nd the othe rr e l e va ntf

a c t or s , s uc h a s the non- vi ol e ntna tur e of the c r i m e a nd unl i ke l i hood of det erre nce, i tw ou l d h ave c on cl ud ed that18 0 m on ths of i m pri sonm entw as e x tr e m e , e v e n th o u g h it f e ll b e lo w th e G u id e lin e s r a n g e . W e m ay rev i ew a sen t en ce fo r p ro ced u ral o r su b st an t i v e reaso n ab l en ess. G al l v. U ni t ed S t at es , 55 2 U . S . ___, ___, 12 8 S . C t . 58 6, 59 7 (20 07 ). In16

c ons i de r i ng the r e a s onabl e ne s s of as e nt e nc e , w e e m pl oya n abus e - of - di s c r e t i on s t a nda r d “ [ r ] e ga r dl e s s of w he the rthe s e nt e nc e i m pos e d i s i ns i de orout s i de the G u id e lin e s r a n g e .” I d . T h is ab u s e - o f - d is c r e tio n s ta n d a r dap p lie s to b o th pr oc e dur a l a nd s ubs t a nt i ve r e a s onabl e ne s s . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. E l l i s or , N o. 05- 14459, sl i p o p. at35 n. 25 (11th C i r. A pr. 7, 20 08 ). T he party c hal l engi ng the se nt ence c a rr i e s the bur de n of

e s t abl i s hi ng unr e a s onabl e ne s s . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. T a l l e y , 431 F .3 d 7 8 4 , 7 8 8 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) . P r oc e dur a l e rr or s m a yi nc l ude the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s f a i l ur e t o c a l c ul a t e ( or i m prop erca l cul at i on of) the gu i del i nes r ange, tre atm entof the G ui del i nes a s m a n d a to ry , f

a ilu r e to c o n s id e rth e f

a c to r s in 1 8 U .S .C . § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) , o rits f a ilu r e to a d e q u a te lye x p la in th e c h o s e n s e n te n c e . G a ll, 5 5 2 U .S . a t _

_ , 1 2 8 S .C t. a t 5 9 7 . T h e d istrict co u rt sh o u ldco n sid erth e § 3 5 5 3 (a ) f ac to rs , as w ell as th e d ef en d an t’ s a r gum e nt s , a ts e nt e nc i ng. S e e T a l l e y , 431 F . 3d a t786. T he f a c t or s out l i ne d i n § 35 53 (a ) i ncl ud e: (1) the nature and ci rc um st ance s of the offens e and the hi st ory a nd c ha r a c t e r i s t i c s of

the de f e nda nt ; ( 2) the ne e d t o r e f l e c tthe s e r i ous ne s s of

the of f e ns e , t o a f

f or d a de qua t e de t e rr e nc e , t o pr om ot e r e s pe c tf orthe l a w , t o pr ovi de j us tpuni s hm e ntf

orthe of f e ns e , t o pr ot e c tthe publ i c , a nd t o pr ovi de the de f e nda nt w i th ne e de d e duc a t i ona l orvoc a t i ona l tr a i ni ng orm e di c a l c a r e ; ( 3) the ki nds of s e nt e nc e s a va i l abl e ; ( 4) the S e nt e nc i ng G ui de l i ne s ’ r a nge ; ( 5) pe rt i ne ntS e nt e nc i ng17

C om m i s s i on pol i c ys t a t e m e nt s ; ( 6) the ne e d t o a voi d unw a rr a nt e d s e nt e nc i ng d is p a r itie s ; a n d ( 7 ) th e n e e d to p r o v id e r e s titu tio n to v ic tim s . S e e 1 8 U .S .C . § 35 53 (a )( 1)-( 7). A l though the di s tr i c tc ourtm us tgi ve al e ga l l ys uf f i c i e nts t a t e m e ntof r e a s ons , i tne e d notdi s c us s on the r e c or d e a c h § 3553( a ) f a c t ori n a nnounc i ng the s e n te n c e . T a lle y , 4 3 1 F .3 d a t 7 8 6 . L ik e w is e , ad is tr ic t c o u rt is n o t r e q u ir e dto

“ e xpl i c i t l ya rt i c ul a t e tha ti tha d c ons i de r e d the § 3553( a ) f a c t or s . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. D o rma n , 4 8 8 F. 3 d 9 3 6 , 9 4 4 ( 1 1 th Ci r . 2 0 0 7 ) . I n Ri t av . U n i t e dSt a t e s , 5 5 1 U . S.

__ , __ , 1 2 7 S . C t. 2 4 5 6 , 2 4 6 8 ( 2 0 0 7 ) , th e C o u rt a g r e e dth a t ale n g th yd is c u s s io n is n o t r e q u ir e d in th e typ ic a l c a s e , a s lo n g a s th e s e n te n c in g ju d g e “s e t[ s ] f o rth e n o u g h to s a tis f

yth e ap p e lla te c o u rt th a t h e h a s c o n s id e r e dth e p a rtie s ’ a r g u m e n ts a n d h a s ar e a s o n e d b a s is f o re x e r c is in g h is o w n le g a l d e c is io n m a k in g au th o r ity .” R egar di ng subst ant i ve re as on abl enes s, “ w e m ayfi nd thata di stri ctcourthas abused i t s c on si derabl e di sc re t i on i f i thas w ei gh ed the fa ct ors i n a m anner that de m ons tr abl yy i e l ds a n unr e a s onabl e s e nt e nc e . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. P ugh, 515 F . 3d 1179, 1191 ( 11th C i r . 2008) . I n othe rw or ds , i f the di s tr i c tc ourtm a de ac l e a re rr or i n j udgm e nti n w e i ghi ng the f a c t or s , w e w i l l r e m a nd f orr e s e nt e nc i ng. I d. T h e d is tr ic t c o u rt s h o u ldc o n s id e rth e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c to r s in lig h t o f

th e f a c ts p r e s e n te d . G a ll, 5 5 2 U .S . a t _

_ , 1 2 8 S . C t. a t 5 9 6 - 9 7 . “I f [ th e d is tr ic t c o u rt]18

de c i de s tha ta n out s i de - G ui de l i ne s s e nt e nc e i s w a rr a nt e d, [ i t ] m us tc ons i de rthe e x te n t o f th e d e v ia tio n a n d e n s u r e th a t th e ju s tif ic a tio n is s u f

f ic ie n tlyc o m p e llin g to supp ortthe degree of the vari ance . ” I d. at__ , 12 8 S . C t . at59 7. If the di stri ct co u rti m p o ses a sen t en ce o u t si d e th e G u i d el i n es ran g e, th en w e m ay n o tap p l y a pr e s um pt i on of

unr e a s onabl e ne s s , a nd “ m a yc ons i de rthe e xt e ntof the de vi a t i on, bu tm ustgi ve du e def

er ence t o the di stri ctcourt ’ s dec i si on thatthe § 3 55 3(a) f a c t or s , on aw hol e , j us t i f ythe e xt e ntof

the va r i a nc e . ” I d. W e s houl d r e vi e w the ext entof the devi at i on , or vari ance , fr om the G ui del i nes r ange as partof i t s r evi ew of the t ot a l i tyof

the c i r c um s t a nc e s . I d. M e n d e z ’s 1 8 0 - m o n th s e n te n c e is n e ith e rp r o c e d u r a llyn o rs u b s ta n tiv e ly un re as on abl e. F i rs t , the di stri ctcourti m po se d a procedural l y r ea sonabl e s ent ence o n M e n d e z b e c au s e it c o n s id e r e d h is a r g u m e n ts a n dth e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c to r s , a n dit a de qua t e l ye xpl a i ne d the s e nt e nc e . S e e G a l l , 552 U . S . a t__, 128 S . C t . a t597; R i t a , 551 U . S . a t__, 127 S . C t . a t2468. N ot abl y , M e nde z doe s notc ha l l e nge on appeal the di stri ctcourt ’ s gui del i nes c al cul at i on s, i ncl ud i ng the deni al of a do w nw ar d d eparture und er§ 5 K 2. 13 . T he re cord show s thatthe di stri ctcourt h e a r d M e n d e z ’s a r g u m e n ts , w h ic h c e n te r e do n h is m e n ta l- h e a lth p r o b le m s , a n d it e x p r e s s l ys t a t e d th a ti tc o n s i d e r e d h i s me n t a l h e a l th i n a rr i v i n g a tth e s e n t e n c e . R4 a t 2 5 . H o w e v e r , th e c o u rt a ls o n o te dth a t, d e s p ite M e n d e z ’s m e n ta l h e a lth19

pr obl e m s , M e nde z unde r s t ood w ha the w a s doi ng w he n he c om m i tt e d the i ns t a nt drug offe nse, he had d on e i tbefore, and h e had an ext ensi ve cr i m i nal hi st ory. Id. at 2 6 . T h e c o u rt a ls o f

o u n d th a t M e n d e z w o u ldr e c e iv e b e tte rtr e a tm e n t w h ile i ncar ce ra t ed than h e w ou l d rec ei ve on the ou t si de. Id. at27 . T hu s, the re cord dem on stra t es thatM endez’ s s ent ence i s proce du ra l l y r ea sonabl e. S ec on d, M endez’ s s ent ence i s s ub st ant i vel y r ea sonabl e bec ause the di stri ct c ourtdi d notabus e i t s di s c r e t i on i n w e i ghi ng the r e l e va ntf a c t or s . N ot abl y , the 180- m onth s e nt e nc e i nvol ve d a n 8- m onth dow nw a r d va r i a nc e f r om the l ow e nd of th e G u id e lin e s r a n g e . I n lig h t o f th e d o w n w a r dv a r ia n c e , th e s e n te n c e is subst ant i vel y r ea sonabl e bec ause the re cord do es no tshow thatthe di stri ctcourt m a de ac l e a re rr ori n j udgm e nti n gi vi ng onl yam ode s ts e nt e nc e r e duc t i on f or M en d ez’ s m en t al p ro b l em s. S ee P u g h , 5 1 5 F . 3 dat1 1 9 1 . T h e d i stri ctco u rtal so p ro p erl y fo u n d th ato th er factors w ei g h ed su b st an t i al l y ag ai n stM en d ez, su ch as h i s l e ngthyc r i m i na l hi s t ory , w hi c h i nc l ude d vi ol e ntc r i m e s ; the l a r ge a m ountof coca i ne i nv ol ved i n the i nst antoffe nse; and h i s m ent al abi l i ty t o u nd er st and w hat he w as do i ng w hen com m i tt i ng the i nst antoffe nse. R 4 at26 . B ec ause the di stri ct co u rtd i d n o tab u se i t s d i scret i o n i n th e m an n er i n w h i ch i tw ei g h ed th ese factors, M endez’ s 180 -m on th sent ence w as re as on abl e.20 I I I . CONCL US I ON W e r e j e c tM e nde z ’ s E i ghth A m e ndm e ntc ha l l e nge t o hi s s e nt e nc e a nd f i nd th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u rt d idn o t ab u s e its d is c r e tio n b yth e m a n n e rin w h ic h it c ons i de r e d the f

a c t or s pr of

f e r e d byM e nde z . A c c or di ngl y , the j udgm e nta nd se nt ence of the di stri ctcourtar e A FFI R M ED .