Opinion ID: 3061872
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Unreasonable Substantive Sentence

Text: Sixth, Evans argues that the life sentence imposed by the court was unreasonable because it was longer than necessary to achieve any of the stated 15 aims of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). He asserts that he is confined to a wheelchair and is the caretaker for two minor children following the murder of their mother. He argues that the district court failed to set out its reasoning for sentencing him to life imprisonment or what consideration the judge gave the § 3553(a) factors. We review the “substantive reasonableness of the sentence by applying a deferential abuse of discretion standard of review.” Chavez, 584 F.3d at 1365 (citation omitted). Where the district court imposes a within-guidelines sentence, it need only “set forth enough to satisfy the appellate court that [its] has considered the parties’ arguments and has a reasoned basis for exercising [its] own legal decisionmaking authority.” Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 356, 127 S. Ct. 2456, 2468 (2007). The challenger “bears the burden of establishing that the sentence is unreasonable in the light of both [the] record and the factors in section 3553(a).” United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam). “The review for substantive unreasonableness involves examining the totality of the circumstances, including an inquiry into whether the statutory factors in § 3553(a) support the sentence in question.” United States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319, 1324 (11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam) (citation omitted), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 2848 (2009).5 5 The § 3553(a) factors a court must consider in determining a sentence include: (1) “the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant;” (2) 16 The guideline range for an offense level of 37 and a criminal history category of VI is 360 months to life imprisonment. U.S.S.G. Ch. 5, Pt. A (table). Conspiracy to commit an offense carries the same penalty as prescribed for the substantive offense. 21 U.S.C. § 846. The statutory maximum sentence for a person previously convicted of a felony drug offense who possesses between 500 grams and less than 5 kilograms of cocaine is life imprisonment. Id. § 841(b)(1)(B)(ii). At sentencing the district judge listened to Evans and his attorney and recognized the mitigating factors, including Evans’s poor health. The judge stated that he imposed a life sentence “[t]o provide just punishment for the defendant . . . and to provide adequate deterrence.” The judge went on to note Evans’s characteristics and history, specifically the fact that Evans has been involved in drugs from an early age and that nothing ever made him quit his illegal activity. We find that Evans’s sentence was supported by the § 3553(a) factors; therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion by sentencing Evans to life imprisonment. the need for the sentence (A) “to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense,” (B) “to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct,” (C) “to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant,” and (D) “to provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training or medical care;” (3) “the kinds of sentences available;” (4) the Sentencing Guidelines range; (5) pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Commission; (6) “the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities;” (7) and the need to provide restitution to victims. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1)–(7). 17