Opinion ID: 151630
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Imprisonment Sentence

Text: Tome also argues his 24-month imprisonment sentence is unreasonable. We review the reasonableness of a sentence for abuse of discretion using a two-step process. United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1190 (11th Cir.2008). We look first at whether the district court committed any significant procedural error and then at whether the sentence is substantively reasonable under the totality of the circumstances. Id. The party challenging the sentence bears the burden to show it is unreasonable in light of the record and the § 3553(a) factors. United States v. Thomas, 446 F.3d 1348, 1351 (11th Cir.2006). If, after correctly calculating the guidelines range, a district court decides that a sentence outside that range is appropriate, it must `consider the extent of the deviation and ensure that the justification is sufficiently compelling to support the degree of the variance.' United States v. Williams, 526 F.3d 1312, 1322 (11th Cir.2008) (quoting Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 50, 128 S.Ct. 586, 597, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007)). Likewise, although [s]entences outside the guidelines are not presumed to be unreasonable, ... we may take the extent of any variance into our calculus. United States v. Shaw, 560 F.3d 1230, 1237 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S.Ct. 2847, 174 L.Ed.2d 566 (2009). However, we must give due deference to the district court's decision that the § 3553(a) factors, on a whole, justify the extent of the variance. Gall, 552 U.S. at 51, 128 S.Ct. at 597. Here, Tome has not met his burden to show his 24-month sentence was procedurally or substantively unreasonable. Procedurally, Tome does not dispute the district court's calculation of his advisory guidelines range of 4 to 10 months. The record belies Tome's claims that the court failed to provide an adequate explanation of its decision to impose an upward variance. To the contrary, the district court explained that it was imposing an upward variance based on Tome's admission to 13 violations of his supervised release and that the sentence would provide time for Tome to complete a 12- to 18-month sex offender treatment program while incarcerated. Nor has Tome shown that his 24-month sentence is substantively unreasonable. Tome's supervised release violations involve conduct related to his underlying conviction for possession of child pornography; he has a withheld adjudication on a charge of showing his penis to a minor on several occasions; and he was lacking in motivation, defensive and arrogant during his sex offender treatment sessions, in which his participation was minimal and marginal. And the sentence affords Tome time to participate in a 12- to 18-month sex offender treatment program. Based on these facts, the district court concluded an upward variance was appropriate, reasonable and just. The district court's stated concerns over Tome's rehabilitation and criminal history were sufficiently compelling to support the degree of the variance. See, e.g., Shaw, 560 F.3d at 1240-41 (affirming an 83-month upward variance based in large part on district court's concern over defendant's long criminal history that was undeterred by shorter sentences). Under the totality of the circumstances, we cannot say the district court's decision to impose a 24-month sentence was an abuse of discretion. Tome also argues that the sentence was unreasonable because, in imposing an upward variance, the district court took into account his 1991 withheld adjudication and his admission to sending a sex-offender inmate an obscene letter describing Tome's having sex with at least seven children, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1462(a). As to the 1991 withheld adjudication, the district court was free to consider any information relevant to Tome's background, character, and conduct in imposing an upward variance. 18 U.S.C. § 3661; see also United States v. Faust, 456 F.3d 1342, 1348 (11th Cir.2006) (concluding sentencing court could consider facts underlying acquitted conduct). As to the letter, because Tome unconditionally admitted and pled guilty to sending the letter in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1462(a), he waived all challenges to the factual basis underlying that violation and all other non-jurisdictional challenges to it. See United States v. Betancourth, 554 F.3d 1329, 1332 (11th Cir.2009); United States v. Fairchild, 803 F.2d 1121, 1124 (11th Cir.1986). Thus, Tome has not shown the district court abused its discretion in considering his 1991 withheld adjudication or his sending the letter. [4] AFFIRMED.