Opinion ID: 3061638
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Reading the PSI

Text: Hicklin contends the district court committed procedural error by failing to verify that Hicklin read the PSI. Because Hicklin did not raise this issue in the district court, we review it for plain error. United States v. Ternus, 598 F.3d 1251, 1254 (11th Cir. 2010). To establish plain error, Hicklin must show “there was an (1) error, (2) that is plain and (3) that affects substantial rights. If all three conditions are met, we may then exercise discretion to notice a forfeited error, but only if (4) the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Bacon, 598 F.3d 772, 777 (11th Cir. 2010) (quotation marks, brackets, and ellipsis omitted). 3 The § 3553(a) factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; (3) the need for deterrence; (4) the need to protect the public; (5) the need to provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training or medical care; (6) the kinds of sentences available; (7) the Sentencing Guidelines range; (8) pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Commission; (9) the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities; and (10) the need to provide restitution to victims. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). 10 Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(i)(1)(A) states that, at sentencing, the district court “must verify that the defendant and the defendant’s attorney have read and discussed the presentence report and any addendum to the report.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(i)(1)(A). The sentencing transcript reveals that the district court did not ask Hicklin or his counsel whether they read and discussed the PSI. Assuming this was plain error,4 Hicklin has not shown that it affected his substantial rights. To show an error affected his substantial rights, Hicklin must demonstrate that but for the error, there was a reasonable probability of a different result at sentencing. United States v. Underwood, 446 F.3d 1340, 1343-44 (11th Cir. 2006). Hicklin has not done so here. Hicklin’s counsel raised several objections to the PSI’s advisory guidelines calculations, all of which the district court expressly addressed at sentencing. In fact, the district court sustained one objection to the PSI’s calculations – the objection to the two-level increase based on possession of false driver’s licenses – which was raised by the government at 4 This Court, in applying an earlier version of Rule 32, found nothing in the rule that required the district court to pose specific questions, such as whether the defendant and counsel had read the PSI. United States v. Aleman, 832 F.2d 142, 144 n.6 (11th Cir. 1987). Aleman cited with approval two opinions from other circuits concluding that a district court need not “personally address the defendant to determine whether he has read the PSI and discussed it with counsel.” Id. at 144 (citing United States v. Mays, 798 F.2d 78, 80 (3d Cir. 1986); United States v. Sambino, 799 F.2d 16, 17 (2d Cir. 1985)). In Aleman, however, the district court did expressly ask the parties whether there were “any problems with the presentence report.” Id. The district court did nothing similar here. 11 the suggestion of Hicklin’s counsel. Hicklin has not shown any additional meritorious objections his counsel should have made but did not make. Moreover, the district court addressed Hicklin personally after pronouncing sentence to give Hicklin an opportunity to ask questions or object, and Hicklin said he had no questions or objections. Hicklin articulates, and we have found, no specific prejudice or impairment of his substantial rights that resulted from the district court’s failure to ask if Hicklin and his counsel read and discussed the PSI. Alternatively, we decline to notice any forfeited error as the error did not, in any event, seriously affect the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of Hicklin’s sentencing proceeding.