Opinion ID: 2976739
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: McGee’s Sentence is Reasonable

Text: This court reviews sentencing determinations for reasonableness. Rita v. United States, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 2459 (2007); United States v. Webb, 403 F.3d 373, 383 (6th Cir. 2005). While no longer bound by the Sentencing Guidelines, the sentencing court must still consider the Sentencing Guideline ranges along with the statutory concerns expressed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 245 (2005). These statutory factors “will guide appellate courts . . . in determining whether a sentence is unreasonable.” Id. at 260; United States v. Richardson, 437 F.3d 550, 553 (6th Cir. 2006). Upon review, this court may find a sentence “unreasonable when the district judge fails to ‘consider’ the applicable Guidelines range or neglects to ‘consider’ the other factors listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), and instead simply selects what the judge deems an appropriate sentence without such required consideration.” United States v. Webb, 403 F.3d 373, 383 (6th Cir. 2005). Although a sentence that falls within the Guidelines range receives a “rebuttable presumption of reasonableness,” the sentencing court must nonetheless “articulate its reasoning sufficiently to No. 06-2158 United States v. McGee Page 7 permit reasonable appellate review, specifying its reasons for selecting the specific sentence within that range.” Richardson, 437 F.3d at 554 (internal quotation omitted). The sentencing court need not explicitly recite or discuss each factor, but the court must take seriously its obligation to communicate clearly its rationale for imposing the sentence so that both the defendant and the appellate court can understand the basis for the particular sentence. See United States v. Williams, 436 F.3d 706 (6th Cir. 2006). As part of this obligation, where a defendant “raises a particular argument in seeking a lower sentence, the record must reflect both that the district judge considered the defendant’s argument and that the judge explained the basis for rejecting it.” Richardson, 437 F.3d at 554. The factors that the sentencing court must consider under § 3553(a) include, in part, (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense, to deter criminal conduct, to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant, and to provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training; and (3) the kinds of sentences available. Reviewing McGee’s sentence for reasonableness, we find that the sentencing court adequately considered and applied both the Guidelines and the § 3553(a) factors in sentencing him to a term of 108 months, which represents the middle of the Guidelines range. The sentencing transcript shows that the § 3553(a) factors were properly considered and articulated in a manner that allowed for meaningful appellate review and understanding by McGee. The sentencing court considered McGee’s history and characteristics, including his employment and encounters with the juvenile and adult criminal systems. Similarly, the court noted the seriousness of the offense and the harm crack cocaine inflicts on familial relationships and the community at large. The court also noted that the sentence imposed would provide McGee with the time and opportunity to receive the emotional and vocational treatment needed to help him be a contributing member of the community. Finally, the court addressed the need to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment and adequate protection for the public against future drug related criminal conduct. Further, while considering the above 3553(a) factors, the sentencing court addressed McGee’s argument for a lower sentence and explained why the court rejected those arguments. Accordingly, we find McGee’s sentence reasonable.