Court Opinion

ID: 24498
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 08:23:19+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:33:24.554731
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                       No. 00-11377
                                     Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                            Plaintiff-Appellee,
                                             versus

BENIGNO DE LA ROSA, JR.,

                                                            Defendant-Appellant.
                 ___________________________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Northern District of Texas
                            USDC No. 6:95-CR-12-3-C
                 ___________________________________________
                                   June 11, 2001

Before POLITZ, JOLLY, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*
       Benigno De La Rosa, Jr., appeals his sentence following the revocation of his

supervised release term. De La Rosa contends that his revocation sentence is

plainly unreasonable because the district court: ignored the statutory mandate to

avoid disparate sentences set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), (a)(4)-(6); did not
sufficiently justify its departure from the Sentencing Guidelines’ policy statements;

       *
        Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
failed to apply the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(D) statutory mandate to provide the
defendant with needed correctional treatment in the most effective manner; and

ignored his acceptance of responsibility. De La Rosa also contends that his

sentence is plainly unreasonable in light of the magnitude of its departure from the
policy statements’ sentencing range.

       The Sentencing Guidelines do not provide guideline ranges for sentences

upon revocation of supervised release; rather, the Guidelines set forth policy

statements, which are advisory only.1 We will uphold a sentence following the
revocation of supervised release “unless it is in violation of law or is plainly
unreasonable.”2
       The record of De La Rosa’s revocation hearing reflects that the district court

adequately considered 18 U.S.C. §§ 3553(a)(1), (a)(2)(D), and (a)(4)-(6).3 Because
a sentence which diverges from advisory policy statements is not a true departure

from a Guidelines sentence, the district court was not required to make the specific
findings normally associated with departures.4 The district court’s departure from
the policy statements’ sentencing range was justified by U.S.S.G. § 7B1.4,

comment. (n.4), which provides that an upward departure may be warranted where,

as here, the defendant’s original sentence was the result of a downward departure

       1
        United States v. Headrick, 963 F.2d 777 (5th Cir. 1992).
       2
        Id. at 779.
       3
        United States v. Teran, 98 F.3d 831(5th Cir. 1996) (holding that implicit consideration of
the § 3553 factors is sufficient).
       4
        United States v. Mathena, 23 F.3d 87 (5th Cir. 1994).

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for substantial assistance. The district court was not required to reward De La Rosa
for his acceptance of responsibility, as the Guidelines’ acceptance of responsibility

provisions apply to sentences for underlying offenses, not to sentences imposed

upon revocation of supervised release.5 Finally, the magnitude of the district court’s
departure from a 5-11 month policy statement sentencing range to the imposed 28-

month sentence was not plainly unreasonable.6

       AFFIRMED.

       5
        U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1.
       6
        Mathena, 23 F.3d at 89 (affirming a departure from a 6-12 month policy statement
sentencing range to a 36-month sentence in light of the defendant’s contemptuous disregard for
the court’s orders).

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