Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Shawn ROGERS, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-02-17
Citations: 166 F. App'x 891
Docket Number: No. 05-1861
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Shawn ROGERS, Appellant.
Judges: Before WOLLMAN, FAGG, and ARNOLD, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 166
Pages: 891–892

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Shawn ROGERS, Appellant.
No. 05-1861.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Submitted: Feb. 13, 2006.
Decided: Feb. 17, 2006.
Joe W. Stecher, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Omaha, NE, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Glenn Alan Shapiro, Gallup & Schaefer, Omaha, NE, for Defendant-Appellant.
Shawn Rogers, Leavenworth, KS, pro se.
Before WOLLMAN, FAGG, and ARNOLD, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
[UNPUBLISHED]
PER CURIAM.
Shawn Rogers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five hundred grams or more of methamphetamine. At his post-Booker sentencing, Rogers moved for a downward departure under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3 arguing his criminal history was overstated. The district court denied the motion and sentenced Rogers at the low end of the guidelines range to 151 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On appeal, Rogers contends the district court should have granted his motion for a downward departure under § 4A1.3.
Section 4A1.3(b)(l) provides a downward departure may be warranted if rehable information shows a defendant's criminal history category substantially overrepresents the seriousness of the defendant's criminal history or the likelihood that the defendant will commit other crimes. Rogers contends his criminal history category of IV substantially overrepresents the seriousness of his criminal history, which includes a conviction for possession of marijuana, a conviction for issuing a bad check, and two convictions for nonpayment of child support.
At sentencing, the district court recognized Rogers had filed a motion for a downward departure based on the over-representation of his criminal history. Rogers declined to present evidence regarding his motion and relied on his argument that the repeated nonsupport convictions caused his criminal history to be overrepresented. After hearing argument, the district court stated that although there are more serious offenses than nonpayment of child support, Rogers's level of nonsupport indicated a disregard for court orders and the justice system. The court also observed that Rogers's criminal history pattern indicated a need for rehabilitation to affect a change of lifestyle. The district court clearly recognized its authority to depart and simply chose not to do so. Under the circumstances, the district court's refusal to depart is not reviewable. United States v. Morell, 429 F.3d 1161, 1164 (8th Cir.2005).
We thus affirm the district court.
The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska.