Opinion ID: 533773
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The District Court's Statement of Reasons for Sentence

Text: 8 Williams argues that the district court's acquiescence in the government's recommended sentence, and its failure to explain the basis for the sentence imposed violated 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c), which requires the court, at the time of sentencing, to state in open court the reasons for its imposition of the particular sentence.... We find that the district judge adequately explained the reasons for the sentence. 9 On appeal, the record on review includes the portions of the record the parties designate as pertinent, the presentence report, and information submitted during the sentencing proceeding. 18 U.S.C. § 3742(d). An examination of this record reveals that the district court found, and the parties do not dispute, that the proper base offense level for this conviction is 12. The two-point downward adjustment, also not in dispute, credits appellant's acceptance of responsibility for his offense. The two-point upward adjustment, which appellant does dispute, reflects the district court's consideration of appellant's role in the offense, as a manager of a crack house. 10 Although the court did not explicitly state that the two-level increase was for appellant's role in the offense pursuant to Guidelines § 3B1.1(c), the record clearly shows that the district court assessed the two points pursuant to that provision. Additionally, the record demonstrates that the district court selected the particular 10 month sentence, the lowest available under offense level 12, because of appellant's cooperation with the police. Such an explanation [282 U.S.App.D.C. 54] of the selection of a point within a particular range was not even required since the applicable Guidelines range did not exceed 24 months. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(1). See also United States v. Ehret, 885 F.2d 441 (8th Cir.1989); United States v. Duque, 883 F.2d 43, 44-45 (6th Cir.1989). Accordingly, we conclude that the district court adequately stated its reasons for the sentence imposed. 11 In reviewing a sentence, the court of appeals must determine whether the sentence was imposed in violation of law or as a result of an incorrect application of the sentencing guidelines. 18 U.S.C. § 3742(e). To facilitate review of a sentence imposed under the Guidelines, the sentencing judge must address the defendant's arguments in a manner that is understandable when the sentencing hearing is viewed in the context of the record, including the presentence report. See United States v. Lopez-Escobar, 884 F.2d 170, 173 (5th Cir.1989). In particular, to aid this court in determining the propriety of a sentence, the district court should refer by section to the Guidelines upon which it relies, or expressly state that it is imposing a sentence in accordance with the Guidelines sections identified in the presentence report. We find in this case, however, that reading the record as a whole, the district judge did make his reasons for imposing the sentence clear. 12