Opinion ID: 3063274
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Reasonableness of Term of Supervised Release

Text: We review a final sentence imposed by a district court for reasonableness. 4 United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 264, 125 S. Ct. 738, 767 (2005). The substantive reasonableness of a sentence is reviewed under an abuse-of-discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51, 128 S. Ct. 586, 597 (2007). Reasonableness review is “deferential,” and the burden is on the defendant to show that the sentence was unreasonable in light of the record and the § 3553(a) factors. United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam). There is a range of reasonable sentences from which the district court may choose. Id. We will remand for resentencing only if we are “left with the definite and firm conviction that the district court committed a clear error of judgment in weighing the § 3553(a) factors by arriving at a sentence that lies outside the range of reasonable sentences dictated by the facts of the case.” United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1191 (11th Cir. 2008) (quotation and citation omitted). While a sentence within the Guideline range is not per se reasonable, we ordinarily expect such a sentence to be reasonable. Talley, 431 F.3d at 788. We can also consider the relationship between the sentence imposed and the statutory maximum in determining whether a sentence is reasonable. See United States v. Winingear, 422 F.3d 1241, 1246 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam) (noting that the defendant’s withinrange sentence was one-tenth of the statutory maximum). Pursuant to § 3553(a), the sentencing court shall impose a sentence 5 sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to (1) reflect the seriousness of the offense, (2) promote respect for the law, (3) provide just punishment for the offense, (4) deter criminal conduct, (5) protect the public from future crimes of the defendant, and (6) provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training or medical care. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2). Votta concedes that the court considered the § 3553(a) factors, but he argues that the ten-year term of supervised release is unreasonable. He contends that the court itself acknowledged that he was not before the court on his previous domestic abuse case, that he had properly registered in three states, that he had come to Florida to reunite with his children, that he had failed to register for a relatively brief time, and that his failure was not intentional. However, Votta fails to consider that the district court sentenced him to only 6 months’ imprisonment, well below the Guidelines range of 15 to 21 months. In determining the period of supervised release, the court considered the seriousness of failing to register and the legitimate need to protect society through registration. It noted that it had an obligation to impose a sentence that would deter Votta and others from failing to register in the future. It also stated that the supervised release term was imposed to help Votta and would be removed after a significant period of time if he complied with his obligations. Finally, the ten-year term of supervised release is well below 6 the statutory maximum term of life. Votta has failed to show that his within-range sentence of ten years’ supervised release, to follow a period of six months’ imprisonment, was outside the range of reasonable sentences under the facts of this case. Accordingly, we affirm both Votta’s conviction and sentence. AFFIRMED. 7