Court Opinion

ID: 1046
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-01 00:35:06+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:41:54.160651
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                    No. 09-3245
                                    ___________

United States of America,                *
                                         *
             Appellee,                   *
                                         * Appeal from the United States
      v.                                 * District Court for the
                                         * Eastern District of Arkansas.
Steven L. Hines,                         *
                                         * [UNPUBLISHED]
             Appellant.                  *
                                    ___________

                              Submitted: March 5, 2010
                                 Filed: March 31, 2010
                                  ___________

Before WOLLMAN, COLLOTON, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.
                        ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Steven Hines appeals the 15-month prison sentence the district court1 imposed
after revoking his supervised release. He argues that the court erred in finding he
violated a condition of his supervised release, and in imposing the sentence without
considering a 6-month period of home detention he previously had served.

       We conclude that the district court did not clearly err in determining that Hines
violated the terms of his supervised release, based on the undisputed fact that he was

      1
       The Honorable Susan Webber Wright, United States District Judge for the
Eastern District of Arkansas.
convicted of a felony drug offense in Texas state court; and that the court did not
abuse its discretion in revoking his supervised release. See United States v. Black
Bear, 542 F.3d 249, 252 (8th Cir. 2008) (reviewing for abuse of discretion district
court’s decision to revoke supervised release, and for clear error district court’s
factfinding as to whether or not violation occurred; government must prove by
preponderance of evidence that defendant violated condition of his supervised release;
under clear-error review, this court may reverse only if it has definite and firm
conviction that district court was mistaken); cf. United States v. Feinberg, 631 F.2d
388, 391 (5th Cir. 1980) (per curiam) (rejecting probationer’s argument that guilty
plea was insufficient ground for revocation because it was made pursuant to plea
bargain and probationer maintained his innocence; conviction of another crime--
whether or not defendant contests accuracy of charge--is compelling proof of
probation violation); United States v. Gentile, 610 F.2d 541, 542 (8th Cir. 1979)
(published order holding that criminal conviction provides sufficient grounds for
revocation of probation even though appeal from conviction is still pending).

       As to the sentence, upon careful review, we conclude that the district court
considered the prior period of home detention. Further, we conclude that the sentence,
which is within the advisory Guidelines range, is not unreasonable. See United States
v. Tyson, 413 F.3d 824, 825 (8th Cir. 2005) (per curiam) (revocation sentences are
reviewed for unreasonableness in accordance with United States v. Booker, 543 U.S.
220 (2005)); see also 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e) (factors to be considered before revoking
supervised release and imposing sentence; limit on revocation sentence for Class B
felony); United States v. Perkins, 526 F.3d 1107, 1110 (8th Cir. 2008) (district court
need not make specific findings where record shows court was aware of relevant
factors; revocation sentence within Guidelines range is accorded presumption of
reasonableness).

      Accordingly, we affirm.
                     ______________________________

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