Opinion ID: 709813
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prison time versus community based sentence

Text: 12 Defendant also contends that the district court failed to recognize its discretion under the Guidelines to order a community based sentence in light of the Defendant's previously clean record and strong community and family ties. He notes that the same district court judge had been reversed by the Sixth Circuit for considering a defendant's white collar status in making a downward departure, and he argues that the judge therefore mistakenly thought it beyond his discretion to take such a factor into account when deciding between an order of prison time or home confinement. 13 The district court, however, relied on the presentence report which states unequivocally that a portion of the sentence could be served in community confinement or home detention. See J.A. at 34a. In addition, although the district court judge did refer to the case in which he was reversed by the Court of Appeals, there is no indication that he mistakenly thought the rule in a departure case constrained him in his determination of whether the defendant should serve prison time or not. The district court, therefore, appears to have been aware of the extent of its discretion and to have exercised that discretion accordingly.