# U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t o f A pp e a l s

For the Eig hth Circu it

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

No . 2 1 -3 8 16

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Un i t ed St at es o f Am eri ca

l ll l l l l l l l l l l l ll l l l l l Pl a i n t i

f f - Ap pel l ee

v

.

Eri c Dean g el o Gri g g s, al s o k n own as E.

l ll l l l l l l l l l l l ll l l l l l Def

en da n t - Ap pel l an t

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ap p eal fro m

Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct Co u rt
fo r t h e No rt h ern Di st ri ct o f Io wa - Eas t ern

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Su bm i t t ed : Sep tem

ber 2 1, 2 0 22

Fi l ed : No v em

b er 2 1 , 2 02 2

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Befo re GRUENDER, M ELLOY, an d ERICKSON, Ci rcu i t J u d g es

.

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

M ELLOY, Ci rcu i t J u d g e.

A ju ry fo u n d Eri c Gri gg s g u i l t y o f s ev eral dru g o ffen s es i n cl u d i n g d is tri b u t i o n

o f a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce res u l t i n g i n d eat h. Th e d i s tri ct co u rt 1 ap p l i ed an

1 Th e Ho n o rab l e C.J

. W i l l i am s , Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct J ud g e fo r t h e No rt h ern Di s t ri ct o f Io wa.en h an cem en t fo r o bs t ru ct io n o f j u s t i ce an d s en ten ced Gri g g s wi t h i n t h e Gu i d el i n e

ran g e.

Gri g g s ap p eal s t h e den i al s o f a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s , m ot i o n fo r a d i rect ed

v erd i ct , an d m o ti o n fo r a n ew t ri al

. Gri g g s al s o ap p eal s h is s en t en ce. W e affi rm

.

I. Back gro u n d

On Au gu s t 3 1

, 2 0 1 8, Ab i g ai l W il d er m ad e fo u r p h o ne cal l s t o h er b o y fri en d,

J effrey Sch m i t t

. Sch m i t t was i n a co u n t y jai l

, s o al l o f t h e p h on e cal l s were reco rd ed

. W i ld er t ol d Sch m i t t s h e was d ri v i n g t o m eet a s u p p li er an d b u y h ero i n

. L at er, W i l d er

t o l d Sch m i t t s he h ad g i v en h er s u p p l i er a ri d e an d s t ay ed i n t h e car wh i le he s o l d t o

an o th er i n d i v i d u al . Th at n i g h t W i ld er d ied fro m a h ero i n o v erd o se.

W h en p o l i ce fo u n d W i l d er t h e n e x t m o rn i n g , h er cel l p h o n e was nex t t o h er

b o d y

. T h e i n v es t i g at o rs o b t ai n ed a s earch w arran t fo r W i l der’ s p h o n e an d s p o k e to

Sch m i tt i n t h e co un t y jai l

. Sch m i t t p ro vi d e d i n v e s t i g at o rs wi t h t h e co d e to u n l o ck

W i ld er’ s p h o n e an d t o l d i nv es t i g at o r s t h a t W i l d er co m m u n i cat ed wi t h her s u p p l i er

v i a tex t m es sag e o r Faceb o o k m es s en ger. Sch m i t t di d n o t k n o w t h e nam e o f t h e

s u p p li er W i l d er h ad m et t h e d ay b e f o r e

. Ho wev er, Sch m i tt t o l d i n v es t i g at o rs t h e

s u p p li er was a “ s k i n n y bl ack m al e” th at w as l i k el y t h e l as t pers o n W i ld er s p o k e t o o n

Faceb o ok m es s en g er.

In v es t i g at ors fo u n d co m

m u n i cat i o n s fro m Au g u s t 3 1

, 2 0 1 8

, b et ween W i l d er

an d a Faceb o o k acco u n t as s o ci at ed wi t h “ Eri c Gri g gs .” In v es ti g at o rs reco g ni zed t h e

n am e fro m p rev io u s cas e s

. I n v es t i g at o rs d et erm i n ed t h e co m m un i cat i o n s b et ween

Gri g g s an d W il d er co i nci d ed wi t h t h e co n v ers at i o n s W i l d er h ad wi t h Sch m i t t

.

On Sep t em

b e r 1

, 2 0 1 8

, i n v es t i gat o rs p o s i n g as W i ld er b eg an u s i n g W i l d er’ s

p h o n e t o m es s ag e Gri g gs i n a n effo rt t o rep l icat e t h e s al e fro m t h e prev i o u s n i g h t

.

-2

-Gri g g s res p o n d ed an d ag reed t o a t i m e an d l o cat i o n t o m eet an d s el l hero i n

. W h en

G r i g g s m es s ag ed to i n d icat e h e h ad arri v ed at t h e ag reed -u p o n lo cat i o n , an

i n v es t i g at o r i den t i fi ed an d ap p ro ach ed Gri g g s’ s car. In v es t i g at ors d et ai n ed b o t h t h e

d ri v er an d p as s en ger, Gri g g s

. Gri g g s was M iran d i zed an d s earch ed

. Th e d ri v er g av e

p erm i s s i o n t o s earch th e car, an d i n v es t ig at ors fo u nd h ero i n

. In v es t i g at o rs s ei zed

Gri g g s ’ s p h o ne an d ap pl i ed fo r a warran t

. In t h e affi d av i t

, t h e o ffi cers s t at ed Sch m i t t

h ad t o ld t h em

W i l d er’ s d eal er was n am ed Eri c Gri g g s. Th e warran t was g ran t ed

.

Gri g g s fi l ed m o ti o n s t o s u p p res s t wo cat eg o ri es o f ev i d en ce: (1 ) ev i d en ce o f

the c onve r sa tion b e tween h i m sel f an d i n v es t i g at o rs u s i n g W i l d er’ s p h o n e aft er W ilde r

h ad d ied

, arg u i n g t h e o ffi cers h ad v i o l at ed t h e W i ret ap Act ; an d (2 ) s t a t e m en t s h e

m ad e t o t h e p o l i ce an d ev i d en ce co l l ect ed fro m h i s p h o ne aft er bei n g ap preh en d ed

. Gri g g s as s ert ed a sei zu re o ccu rred wh en o ffi cers ap p r o a c h ed h i s p ark ed car in

v i o l at i o n o f t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t

. Gri g g s al s o arg u ed t h e warran t affi dav i t fal s el y

s t at ed Sch m i t t h ad i d en t i fi ed W i l d er’ s deal er b y n am e a s E ri c Gri g g s

. Th e d i s t ri ct

co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n s.

At t ri al

, th e g o v ern m en t p res en t ed ev i d en ce fro m m u l ti p l e s o u rces i n cl u d i n g:

W i ld er an d Gri g gs ’ s p h o n es , Gri g g s’ s M i r a n d i zed s t at em en ts

, a pri o r co cai n e

co n vi ct i o n , Sch m i t t an d W i l d er’ s co n v ers at i o n s , an d wi t n es s t es t im o n y ab o ut

W i ld er’ s d ru g u s e. On e o f t h e g ov ern m en t ’ s wi t n es s es w as Pres to n M cCu l l y , a fri en d

o f W i l d er. M cCu ll y tes ti fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t t ak e d ru g s wi t h o r s el l dru g s t o W i l d er.

On cro s s ex am i n at i o n h o wev er, Gri g g s p res en t ed t ex t m es s ag es s h owi n g W i l d er h ad

i n q u i red ab o u t b u y in g d ru g s fro m McCu l l y o n Au g u st 1 3

, 2 0 1 8

. Aft er p res en t at i o n

o f t he s t at e’ s cas e, Gri g g s m o ved fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

. Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt d en i ed t h e

m o ti o n

. Gri g g s d i d n o t p res en t a d efen s e. In h i s cl o s in g arg u m en t

, Gri g g s arg u ed

t h at M cCu l l y co u l d hav e s u pp l i ed t h e hero i n t hat k i l led W i ld er. Th e ju ry fo u n d

Gri g g s g ui l t y o f on e co u n t o f d i s t ri b u t i o n o f a co n t ro ll ed s u b s t an ce res u lt i ng i n d eat h

an d t wo co u n t s of u s e o f a c om m u n i cat i o n faci li t y t o co m

m i t a fel o n y d ru g cri m e.

-3

-Th e ju ry fo u nd Gri g g s n o t g u i l t y o f o n e co u n t o f p o s ses s i o n wi t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e

a co n tro l l ed s u b s t an ce an d ai d i n g an d ab et ti n g t h e s am e.

G r i g g s m o v ed fo r a n ew t ri al al l eg i n g : (1 ) th e wei g ht o f t h e ev i d en ce w a s

co n trary t o t h e gu il t y v erd i ct s, (2 ) th e g o v ern m en t u sed p erju red t es t i m o n y , an d (3 )

v ari o u s ot h er erro rs b y t h e co u rt v i o l at ed h i s co n st it u t i o n al ri g h t s

. Th e di s t ri ct co u rt

d en ied t he m o t i o n

. Th e d i s tri ct co u rt ap p l ied a t wo -l ev el i ncreas e fo r o b st ru ct i o n o f
ju s t ice an d s en t en ced Gri g g s to 4 8 0 m o n t h s i n p ri s o n , a w i t hi n G u i d el i n es sen t en ce.

II. Di s cu s s i o n

A. Su p p res s i on

Gri g g s ap peal s th e d en i al o f h i s m ot i o n t o su p p res s

. W e rev i ew t h e d en i al d e

n o v o an d u n derl y i n g fact u al d et erm i n at i o n s fo r cl ear erro r. Un i ted St at es v

. M i l l i n er,

7 6 5 F.3 d 8 3 6, 8 3 9 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 14 ).

Gri g g s cl ai m s t h e g ov ern m en t ’ s u s e of W i l d er’ s p h o ne t o co n t act Gri g g s an d

s et u p a h ero i n s al e was a v i o l at i o n o f t h e Wi r e t a p Act an d th erefo re s h o u l d b e

s u p p r e ss ed

. Th e W i ret ap Act m ak es i t u n lawfu l fo r an i n d iv i d u al to

, am o n g o t h e r

t h i n g s , “ i nt ercep t [] an y wi re, o ral

, o r el ect ro n i c c o m m u n i cat i o n [.] ” 1 8

U.S.C.§ 2 5 1 1 (1 )(a). In t ercep t i s d efi n ed as “ au ral or o th er acq u i s i t i o n o f th e co n t en t s

o f an y wi re, el ect ro ni c, o r o ral co m m u n icat io n t h ro u g h t h e u s e of an y el ect ro n i c,

m ech an i cal

, o r o t h er d ev ice.” 1 8 U .S.C. § 2 5 1 0 ( 4 )

. T he W i ret ap Act h as s ev eral

ex cl u s i o n s i n cl u d i n g : “ It s h al l n o t b e u n l awfu l u n der th i s ch ap t er fo r a p ers o n act i n g

u n d er co l o r o f l aw t o i n t ercep t a wi re, o ral

, o r el ect ro n i c co m m u n icat i o n, wh ere s u ch

p ers o n i s a p art y to t h e co m m un i cat i o n o r o n e of t h e p art i es t o t h e co m m u ni cat i o n h as

g i v en p ri o r co n s en t t o s u ch in t ercep t io n .” 1 8 U.S.C. 2 5 1 1 (2 )(c). Becau se t h e o ffi cer

u s i n g W il d er’ s p h o n e wa s a g o v ern m en t ag en t p art i ci p at in g in o ffi ci al act s fo r an

i n v es t i g at o ry

p u rp o s e, t he o ffi cer was act i n g u nd er co l o r o f l aw. See Un i t ed St at es

-4

-v

. Ri ch

, 5 1 8 F.2 d 98 0

, 9 85 (8 t h C i r

. 1 9 7 5 ). Th e o ffi cer was al s o a p art y t o t h e

co n vers at i on

. See S. Rep

. No

. 9 0

– 1 0 9 7

, at 93

– 9 4 (1 96 8 ) (p art y i s “ t h e p ers o n act u al l y

p art i ci p at i n g i n th e co m

m u n i cat i o n ”); In re Go o g l e In c. Co o k i e Pl acem en t Co n s u m er

Pri v

. Li t i g ., 8 0 6 F.3 d 1 2 5

, 1 4 3 (3 d Ci r. 2 01 5 ) (“ In t h e co n t ex t o f t h e s t at u te, a p art y

t o t h e co nv ers at io n i s o n e w h o t ak es p art i n t h e co n v ers at i o n .”(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed )).

Gi v en t h at t h e o ffi cer was a p art y t o t h e co n v ers at i o n an d was op erat i n g u n d er co l o r

o f l aw t he co n v ers at i o n was n ot “ i n t ercep t ed .” “ Th e W i ret ap Act i s a wi ret ap p i n g

s t at u te, an d ju s t b ecau s e a s cen ari o s o u n d s i n frau d o r d ecei t d o es n o t m ean i t s o u nd s

i n wi ret ap p i ng

. ” In re Go o g l e 8 0 6 F.3 d at 1 4 4

.

Nex t

, as s u m i n g t h e ap p ro ach t o t h e v eh i cl e was a s ei zu re, o ffi cers h ad p ro b ab l e

cau s e t o ap p ro ach t h e car. Ev id en ce s u p p o rt i ng pro b ab le cau s e i ncl u d ed a d es cri p t i o n

o f Gri g g s fro m W i l d er’ s b o y fri en d

, t h e ph o to at t ach e d to t h e Faceb o o k acco u nt

Gri g g s u s ed t o m es s ag e W i l d er, i n v es t i gat o rs ’ p ers o n a l ex p eri en ces wi t h Gri g g s in

t h e pas t

, an d t h e ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce o f wh en t h e car p u ll ed i n t o t h e p ark i n g l o t

.

F ina lly

, the i nc o r

r e c t sta tem en t i n t h e warran t affi d av i t

— t h at Sch m i t t id en t if

ie d

Gri g g s by n am e— d o es n o t req u i re s u p p res s i o n of ev id en ce co ll ect ed fro m t h e p h o ne.

Ev en i f “ t h e affi an t [] ‘ k no wi n g l y an d i n t en t i on al l y ’ m ad e fal s e s tat em en t s o r m ad e

t h em i n ‘ reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r t h e t ru th ,’ ” s u pp res s i o n is n o t req u i red w h en p ro b ab l e

cau s e s t i l l ex i s t s wi th o u t t h e fal s e s tat em en t

. Un i t ed St at es v

. Dai g le, 9 4 7 F.3 d 1 0 7 6,

1 0 8 3 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 20 ) (al t erat io n i n o ri g i n al ). Th ere was s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce i n t h e

affi d av i t t o o bt ai n a warran t wi t h o u t Sch m i t t i d en t i fy i n g Gri g g s b y n am e.

B. Tri al Erro rs

W e rev i ew den i al o f a m o t i o n fo r a n e w t r i al fo r ab u s e o f d i scret i o n

. Un i t ed

St a t e s v

. M al l o y , 6 14 F.3 d 8 5 2

, 86 2 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 0 ). G ri g gs al l eg es s ev eral t ri al

er r o rs i n cl u d i n g u s e o f p erju red t es t i m o n y , m i s l ead in g an d i n co m p l et e ju ry

-5

-i n s t ru ct i o n s , an d in cl u s i o n o f i n ad m i s si b l e ev id en ce. In ad di t i o n , Gri g g s as s ert s t h e

v erd i ct was ag ai n s t t h e wei g h t o f t h e ev id en ce.

M cCu l l y fal s el y tes t ifi ed t h at h is rel at i on s h i p w i th W i l d er d id n o t i n v o l v e

d ru g s. Gri g g s arg u es t h e p ro s ecu t i o n’ s u s e of t hi s t es t i m o n y req u i res a n ew t ri al

. As

d i s cu s s ed ab o v e, t h e ev i den ce o f M cCu l l y ’ s li e cam e o u t o n cro s s ex am in at i o n

. If t h e

co u rt fi n d s t h e g ov ern m en t k n o wi n g l y , rec kle ssly

, o r n eg l i g en t l y u s ed fal s e t es t i m o ny

an d th ere i s a “ reas o n ab l e l i k el i h o o d th at t h e fal s e t es ti m o n y co u ld h av e affect ed t h e ju d g m en t o f t h e ju ry ” t h en a n ew t ri al s h o u l d b e g ran t ed

. U n i t ed St at es v

. Ti ern ey , 9 4 7 F.2 d 8 5 4 , 8 6 1 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 1 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ). Ev en as s u m i n g t h e t es t i m o ny

was u s ed k n o wi ng l y , reck l es s l y , o r n eg li g en t l y , n o reas on ab l e l i k el i h o o d ex i s t s t h at

t h e ju ry ’ s ju d g m en t was affect ed

. M cCu l ly ’ s l i es were ex po s ed o n cro s s ex am i n at i o n

al l o wi n g t h e ju ry t o p ro p erl y wei g h h i s cred i b i l i t y

. Becau s e Gri g g s d es cri b ed

M cCu l ly as a p o s s i bl e al t ern at iv e s o u rce o f t h e d ru g s d u ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en t s , h e

p l aced t h e i s s u e o f M cCu ll y ’ s cred i b i l i t y s q u arel y i n t h e h an d s o f t h e ju ry

.

Nex t

, w e rev iew t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n s fo r an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n.

See Un i t ed St at es v

. Ko ech

, 9 9 2 F.3 d 6 8 6

, 69 1 (8 th Ci r. 2 0 2 1 )

. “ [A] d eq u at e ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n s m

u st

, ‘ t ak en as a wh o l e ad eq uat el y ad v i s e t h e j u ry o f t h e e s s e n t i al

el em en t s o f t h e o ffen s e s c h a r g e d an d t he b u rd en o f p ro o f req u i red o f t h e

g o v ern m en t .’ ” Un i t ed St at es v . Perey ra-Gab i n o , 5 6 3 F.3 d 3 2 2 , 3 2 8 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 9 )
(ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). A s lo ng as t h e i n s t ru ct i o n s accu rat el y s t at e t he l aw, th e co u rt i s n ot

req u i red t o u s e s p eci fi c l an g u ag e s u g g es t ed b y d efen s e co u n s el

. U ni t ed St at es v

. Iro n Ey es , 3 6 7 F.3 d 7 81

, 7 8 5 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 4 ).

Gri g g s arg u es t he ju ry in s t ru ct io n s fo r C o u n t 1

, d is t ri b u t i o n o f a co n t ro l l ed

s u b s t an ce res u l t i n g i n deat h

, i n accu rat el y s t at ed t h e l aw reg ard i n g d i s t ri b u t i o n

res u l ti n g i n d eat h

. Th e Su p rem e Co u rt h as s ai d d i st ri bu t i o n of a co n tro l led su b s t an ce

res u l ti n g i n d eat h h as t w o e l em en t s: 1 ) k n o wi n gl y o r i n ten t io n al l y d i st ri b u t i n g a

s u b s t an ce, an d 2 ) d eat h cau s ed b y t h e u s e of t hat s u b s tan ce. Bu rrag e v

. Un i t ed St at es ,

-6

-5 7 1 U.S. 2 0 4

, 2 1 0 (2 0 1 4 ). In t hi s cas e, ju ry i n st ru ct io n n u m b er f o u rt een l i s t ed t wo

el em en t s fo r di st ri b u t io n of h ero i n : 1 ) i nt en t i o n al l y t ran sferri n g h ero in

, an d 2 )

k n o wl ed g e t h at th e s u b s t an ce t ran s ferred was h ero i n

. J u ry i n s t ru ct i o n n u m b er fi ft een

i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ro rs t h at if t h ey fo u n d d efen d an t g u il t y o f d i s t ri b u t in g h ero i n t h ey

were t o d et erm i ne i f t h e s am e h ero i n was t h e b u t fo r cau s e o f W i l d er’ s d eat h . Bo th

i n s t ru ct i o n s s p eci fi ed t h at t h e g ov ern m en t m u s t p ro v e t h e el em en t s b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d o u b t . Th es e i n s t ru ct i o ns were accu rat e u n d er Bu rrag e.

Gri g g s al s o arg ues th at t h e s t at em en t s b et ween W i l der an d Sch m i t t were

i n ad m is s i b le h e a r s a y. Sp eci fi cal l y G ri g g s o bject s t o o n e s t at em en t W i l d er m ad e to

Sch m i tt

— “ W e were w ai ti n g an d t h en h e h ad t o s el l to s om eo n e el s e. I h ad t o s t ay in

t h e car. An d t h en I h ad t o d ri v e h i m b ack t o t h e Eas t Si d e.” G ri g g s arg u es t h e

s t at em en t was n o t s u f

f i ci en t ly co n t em

p o ran eo u s t o q u al i fy as a p res en t s en s e

i m p res s i o n

. Fed

. R. Ev i d

. 80 3(1 ). W e n eed n o t ad d res s G ri g g s ’ s arg u m en t b ecau s e

ev en i f t h e s tat em en t was im p ro p erl y ad m it t ed

, an y t h e erro r was h arm l es s

. Th e t wo

as s e r t i o n s i n t h e o b

j ect ed -t o po rt io n o f t h e co n v ers at io n s —t hat W i l d er g av e h er

d eal er a ri d e an d th e t i m in g o f wh en s h e arri v ed ho m e— were co rro b orat ed b y o t h er

p art s o f th e co n v ers at i on b et ween Sch m it t an d W i ld er t o wh i ch Gri g g s d i d n o t o b ject

. Si n ce t he ad m i s s i o n o f t h e ev i d en ce d i d n o t i n f l u e n ce t h e v erd i ct t h e erro r was

h arm l es s . Un i t ed St at es v . Bu rch , 8 0 9 F.3 d 1 04 1 , 1 0 4 5 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 6 ).

Th e rem ai n i n g erro rs Gri g g s as s ert s d o n o t n eces s i t at e a new t ri al

. Th e d i s t ri ct

co u rt di d n ot ab u s e i t s di scret i o n i n d en y i n g a n ew t ri al or refu s in g to g ran t a d i rect ed

v erd i ct b as ed o n s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce. Th e ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n s as a wh ol e ad v i s ed

t h e j u ry o f t h e el em en ts o f t he o ffen s es a n d t h e bu rd en o f p ro o f req u i red

. Th e

ev i d en ce o f a fo rm er co n v i ct io n w as p r o p e r l y al l o wed u n d er Fed eral Ru l es o f

Ev i d en ce 4 0 4(b ), wi t h a l i m i t i n g i n s t ru ct i o n

.

-7

-C. Sen t en ce

Fi n al l y , Gri g g s ap p eal s h i s s en t en ce. W e rev i ew fact u al fi n d i n g s u n d erl y i n g

an o b s t ru ct i o n -o f-ju s t i ce en h an cem en t fo r cl ear erro r. U n i t ed St at es v

. Es p arza, 2 9 1

F.3 d 10 5 2

, 1 0 5 4 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 2 ). W hi l e Gri g g s was i n jai l he w ro t e a l et t er t o a

g o v ern m en t wi t n es s

. In t h e l et t er Gri g g s t o l d t he g o v ern m en t ’ s wi t n es s t h at i f h e was

co o perat i n g h e was a “ b--- h ” an d “ i f y ou o n m y p ap erwo rk y o u can ’ t g o b ack to

W at erl o o an d t h ey f--k y o u u p wh en y o u g et t o t h e Fed jo i n t.” Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt d id

n o t err b y fi n d i ng t h i s let t er d em o n s t rat ed at t em p t ed o bs t ru ct i o n of ju s t i ce o r by

i m p o s i n g a t wo -l ev el en h an cem en t u n d er U.S.S.G. § 3 C1 .1

.

Las t ly

, Gri g g s arg u es h e s h o u l d h av e recei ved a d own ward v ari an ce d u e t o h i s

ab u si v e ch i l d h o od

. W e rev i ew th e s u b s t an t i v e reas o n ab l en es s o f a s en t en ce fo r ab u s e

o f d i s c r et i o n

. Un i ted St at es v

. St

. Cl ai re, 8 3 1 F.3 d 1 0 3 9

, 1 0 4 3 (8 t h Ci r. 2 01 6 ) (“ A

s en t en ce w i t h i n th e Gu i del i n es ran ge i s acco rd ed a p res um p t i on o f s u b s t an t i v e

reas on ab l en es s on ap p eal .”(ci t at i o n o m it t ed )). Th e di s t r i c t c o u rt rev i ewed al l t h e

ev i d en ce t h at Gri gg s p res en t s t o t h i s co u rt an d d i d n o t err i n wei g h i n g t he ev i d en ce

d i fferen tl y

t h an Gri g gs wo u l d h av e p referred

.

III. Co n cl u s i o n

Acco rd i ng l y , we affi rm

t h e ju dg m en t o f t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt

.

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