NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

_____________ No. 15

- 1417

_____________ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

v. DESHAWN KING, a/k/a Wop, a /k/a Mike DeShawn King,

Appellant

____________ __ On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (D.C. No. 5

- 13

- cr - 00 417

- 001) District Judge: Honorable James Knoll Gardner

______________ Submitted Under Third Circuit L

. A

. R

. 34.1(a)

March 18 , 2016

____________ __ Before: CHAGARES, RESTREPO, and VAN ANTWERPEN, * Circuit Judges

. (Filed: September 28, 2016 )

______________ OPINION * *

______________

* The Honorable Franklin Van Antwerpen participated in the decision in this case, but died b efore the opinion was filed. This opinion is filed by a quorum of the court. See 28 U.S.C. § 46; Third Circuit I.O.P. 12.1(b).

* * This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and, pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7, does not constitute binding precedent.2

RESTREPO , Circuit Judge

. De Sh awn King (“Appellant” or “King”) entered an open guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit sex traff icking by force, fraud or coercion, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 1594, and four related substantive counts, under 18 U.S.C. § 1591, each involving different victims. Ultimately, King was sentenced to 293 months in prison, a $1 , 000 fine, and 15 years of supe rvised release, which included several special
conditions. King now appeals, raising two separate issues, neither of which was preserved. First, King argues t hat the District Court erred by failing to properly advise him under the recusal statute, 28 U.S .C. § 455(a) & (e), before accepting his waiver of the District Court’s involvement in a potentially disqualifying event. Second, King argues that the District Court erred by imposing two special conditions of supervised release regarding minors that are n ot reasonably related to Mr. King’s history and are more restrictive than necessary. For the reasons that follow, we will vacate the portion of the judgment that imposes the special conditions of supervised release restricting King’s
interaction with mino rs and remand the case to the District Court to either : (1) provide an explanation and justification for those special conditions and re impose them, or (2) enter an amended judgment omitting th ose special conditions of supervised release. We will
affirm t he judgment of the District Court in all other respects.
I By his own admission, King’s crimes were “abhorrent.” Appellant’s Br. 3. King
and his co

- defendant , Daniel Blount, “were involved in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, which also involved a pros titution business in and around Allentown, Pennsylvania.”3

Appellant’s Br. 4. King and Blount “convinced heroin addicts who purchased drugs from them to work for them in exchange for heroin, money, and housing.” Appellant’s B r. 4. King and Blount “colle cted the money earned by the women,” and “manipulated the women’s access to heroin.” Appellant’s Br. 4. To force their continued participation in
this repugnant enterprise, King and Blount would threaten and assault the four women
under their control. S imply put, King and Blount were violent and abusive pimps and drug dealers. King and Blount were indicted on September 5, 2013. Count One charged King and Blount with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion , under
18 U.S.C. § 1594(c); Counts Two and Three charged King and Blount with sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion , under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a); and Counts Four and Five charged King and Blount with attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion , under 18 U.S.C. § § 1591 and 1594(a). App. 26

- 37. King entered an open guilty plea on January 10, 2014. In doing so, King understood that these crimes carried a mandatory
minimum term of 15 years in prison, and that the maximum term was life in prison.
The Honorable James Knoll Gardner conducted King’s sentencing hearing over the course of two days, January 15, 2015, and February 6, 2015. Approximately halfway through the first day of the sentencing hearing, Judge Gardner summoned counsel for King and the Government to sidebar. At sidebar , Judge Gardner informed counsel that approximately a year earlier he had attended the last five minutes of an Inn of Court meeting, during which a panel of members gave a presentation based on the facts of King’s case. Judge Gardn er explained that he had arrived late to the meeting, was4

distracted by other events w hile he was there , and did not pay attention to the presentation. 1 After hearing this , the Government lodged no objection and King’s attorney requested two minutes to sp eak with his client. Thereafter, King spoke privately with his attorney for approximately one minute. King’s attorney then returned to sidebar and informed Judge Gardner that King “has no problem whatsoever with Your Honor continuing with this hearing.” App. 182. The sidebar then concluded an d Judge Gardner
conducted an on

- the

- record colloquy w ith King regarding this Inn of Court meeting. During that colloquy King acknowledged that he: (1) had time to speak with his attorney about Judge Gardner’s atten dance at this meeting; (2) had time to ask his attorney any questions he had and that his attorney answered those quest ions to his satisfaction; (3) understood his attorney’s answers to those questions; (4 ) had enough time to speak wit h his attorney about this issue ; and (5) had no problem with Judge Gardner’s continued involvement in his sentencing. App. 182

- 84. Both attorneys declined the District Court’s invitation to add anything to the colloquy, and neither objected

. After hearing from
witnesses and counsel for the parties, the District Court adjourned the sentencing proceedings before imposing a sentence. The second portion of King’s sentencing hearing took place on February 6, 2015.
In the three

- week interval between the first and second days of his sentencing hearing, King did not move for the recusal of Judge Gardner or otherwise object to Judge

1 Judge Gardner explained that h e was so distracted that he did no t even realize the presentation was based on the facts of King’s case

– he only discovered this fact the day after the presentation when one of his law clerks who attended the Inn of Court meeting explained the connection.5

Gardner’s continued involvement in the sentencing. In addition, King did no t object to Judge Gardner’s involvement on February 6, 2015, either befor e or after King’s sentence was imposed. Ultimately, the District Court ordered that King be imprisoned for a term of 293 months on each of Counts One through Five, all running concurrently. King’s sentence also included a $1,000 fine, and 15 years of sup ervised release. King’s supervised release carried numerous special conditions. Among other things, those conditions required King to: (1) “report to the United States Probation Office any regular contact with children of either sex under the age of 18;” and (2) “not obtain employment or perform volunteer work which includes regular contact with children under the age of 18.” App. 217. This timely appeal followed.
II The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have jurisdic tion
under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. On appeal, King raises two issues: (1) whether the District Court sufficiently advised King of his rights under the recusal statute, 28 U.S.C. § 455( a ) & (e), before accepting King’s waiver of the District Court’s involvement i n a potentially disqualifying event ; and (2) whether the District Court erred in imposing two conditions of supervised release that restricted King’s interactions with minors. 2 We address each
issue in turn.

2 Neither of King’ s claims were preserved, so our review is for plain error. United States v. Dahl , --- F.3d

---- , 2016 WL 439 45 38, at *2 (3d Cir. Aug. 18, 2016). Plain error requires a finding of “(1) an error; (2) that is plain; (3) that affects substantial rights; and (4) which seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Tai , 750 F.3d 309, 313

- 14 (3d Cir. 2014) (citation omitted).6 A The federal recusal statute, 28 U.S.C. § 455 , provides , in relevant part, that: (a) Any justice , judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned

.

. . . . (e)

. . . Where the ground for d isqualification arises only under subsection (a), waiver may be accepted pr ovided it is preceded by a full disclosure on the record of the basis for disqualification. “The test for recusal under § 455(a) is whether a reasonable person, with
know ledge of all the facts, would conclude that the judge ’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” In re Kennsington Int’l Ltd. , 368 F.3d 289, 301 (3d Cir. 2004). Under subsection (a), questions of impartiality must be viewed on “an objective basis, s o that what matters is not the reality of bias or prejudice but its appearance.” Liteky v. United
States , 510 U.S. 540, 548 (1994). King argues that “[t]he district court correctly identified that the discussion about Mr. King’s case at the Inn of Court meeting he and his law clerks attended created a reasonable basis to question to court’s impartiality.” Appellant’s Br. 11. We disagree

. Judge Gardner’s limited attendance at the Inn of Court meeting was far too brief
and his involvement was far too tan gential to create a situation in which Judge Gardner’s “impartiality might reasonably be questioned. ” 28 U.S.C. § 455(a) . Accordingly, while it was prudent judicial practice for Judge Gardner to advise all counsel and King of this7

situation prior to impo sing a sentence , 3 the alleged “ground for disqualification” here did
not necessitate a waiver from King under 28 U.S.C. § 455(e). 4
Our precedential opinion in United States v. Ciavarella , 716 F.3d 705 (3d Cir. 2013), informs our resolution of this issue

. 5 In Ciavarella , the defendant/appellant affirmatively sought the recu sal of the district court judge because, among other things, the judge received nearly 200 letters from the public regarding the case and responded to
seven of those letters. Id. at 7 21. Despite the fact that some of those seven responses expressed the judge’s personal opinions about the defendant and the case before him, we found that section 455(a) did not require recusal. Id . at 723. By contrast , Judge
Gardner ’s extra

-

judicial i n

volvement with King’s case was much less significant

– he attended the last five minutes of a presentation that was based on King’s case. In addition, t he record reflects that Judge Gardner wasn’t paying attention during his brief
attendance

– he only lea rned about the presentation topic on the following day, after his

3 We disagree with King’s argument that the District Court, in raising this issue, “implicitly acknowledged” that the Inn of Court meeting triggered 28 U.S.C. § 455(a). Appellant’s Br. 11. Indeed, the record reflects that it is Judge Gardner’s practice “whenever [he] ha [ s ] any connection with a case, no matter how slight , to advise counsel of that on the record.” App. 179

- 80 (emphasis added).

4 We note that : (1) Judge Gardner informed all counsel of the circumstances at sidebar; (2) King briefly and privately spoke with h is counsel about the circumstances ; and (3) Judge Gardner conducted and on

- the

- record colloquy with King about the circumstances, after which King agreed to have Judge Gardner continue with the sentencing hearing

.

5 In considering this appeal we are mind ful of the crucial role that section 455 plays in our system of justic e, as it “addresses not only fairness to the litigants but also the public’s confidence in the judiciary.” In re Sch

. Asbestos Litig

. , 977 F.2d 764, 776 (3d Cir. 1992). Nevertheless, w e are confident that nei ther purpose is offended by our decision today . T he circumstances presented by this appeal are insufficient to negatively implicate either judicial fairness to King or the public ’s confidence in the judiciary.8

law clerk informed him. Furthermore , unlike the judge in Ciavarella , at no time did Judge Gardner express his personal opinions about King or King’s case. I t is clear that Judge Gardner’s interaction was more fl eeting and less consequential than the interaction of the judge in Ciavarella , whose recusal we held was not required under section 455(a). In sum, Judge Gardner’s impartiality could not reasonably be questioned under
these circum stances , and thus did not require recusal under section 455(a) or a waiver under section 455(e).
B King argues that it was plain error for the District Court to impose two special conditions of supervised release that impaired King’s interactions with min ors. The Government agrees

. As do we. “Though district courts have broad discretion in fashioning special conditions of supervised release, this discretion is not unfettered.” United States v. Heckman , 592 F.3d 400, 405 (3d Cir. 2010). A district cour t may impose conditions of supervised release if they are required by statute, or if they are “reasonably related” to the nature and circumstances of the offense, the history and characteristics of the defendant, the achievement of adequate deterrence, the protection of the public, and the defendant’s
rehabilitative needs. See 18 U.S.C. § 3583(d)(1); United States v. Pruden , 398 F.3d 241, 248 (3d Cir. 2005). The conditions must involve no “greater deprivation of liberty than is reasonably necessary” to pr omote these enumerated purposes. 18 U.S.C. § 3583(d)(2);
see Pruden , 398 F.3d at 248. A “reasonably related” condition must relate in a “tangible9

way” to “the crim e or something in the defendant’s history.” Pruden , 398 F.3d at 249;
Heckman , 592 F.3d at 405.

“ [ A ] condition with no basis in the record, or with only the most tenuous basis, will inevitably violate § 3583(d)(2)’s command that such conditions ‘involve[] no greater deprivation of liberty tha n is reasonably necessary.’” Pruden , 398 F.3d at 24 9. Accordingly, a district court must provide an on - the

- record explanation and justification for the sentence it imposes, including special conditions of supervised release. See
United States v. Miller , 594 F.3d 172, 184 (3d Cir. 2010) (“We have consiste ntly required that district courts explain and justify conditions of supervised release.”); see also United
States v. Tomko , 562 F.3d 558, 567 (3d Cir. 2009 ) (en banc) (noting that “District courts must provide their explanations and justifications while g oing through three steps a t sentencing,” because those explanations and justifications are necessary to facilitate meaningful appellate review)

. The Government concedes that “the conditions that restricted King’s interaction with minors are not reasonably related to the nature and circumstances of King’s offense.” Appellee’s Br. 27. In addition, the record is devoid of any explanation or justification for the imposition of the special conditions related to minors. We agree with the parties that these co nditions must be vacated. King asks us to remand this case for resentencin g
. He argues that a full resentencing “avoids any speculation over the reason for the district court’s error. ” Appellant’s Reply Br. 6. On the other hand, the Government believes that the appropriate remedy is to “remand the case for the limited purpose of vacating the special10

conditions relating to minors, and direct the district court to enter an amended judgment reflecting this change while leaving all other aspects of the judg ment intact.” Appellee’s
Br. 28. Here , we do not believe that a full resentencing is necessary . Accordingly, we
will vaca te the portion of the judgment that imposes the special conditions of supervised release relating to minors and remand the case to t he District Court to either : (1) provide an explanation and justification for those special conditions and re impose them, 6 or (2) enter an amended judgment omitting th ose special conditions of supervised release.
III For the foregoing reasons, we will vac ate the portion of the judgment that imposes the special conditions of supervised release relating to minors and remand the case to the
District Court to either: (1) provide an explanation and justification for those special
conditions and re impose them, o r (2) enter an amended judgment omitting th ose special conditions of supervised release. We will affirm the judgment of the District Court in all other respects.

6 If the District Co urt elects to reimpose these two special conditions of supervised release on remand, “the Court must provide a sufficiently detailed explanation of its reasoning to permit meaningful appellate review.” Miller , 594 F.3d at 188.