Court Opinion

ID: 9930915
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-07 21:01:08.834771+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:09:21.176126
License: Public Domain

USCA4 Appeal: 23-6880      Doc: 10         Filed: 02/06/2024     Pg: 1 of 2

                                             UNPUBLISHED

                               UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                   FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                               No. 23-6880

        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                             Plaintiff - Appellee,

                      v.

        AMOS JUNIOR SCOTT, a/k/a Crazy,

                             Defendant - Appellant.

        Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, at
        Asheville. Martin K. Reidinger, Chief District Judge. (1:00-cr-00069-MR-5)

        Submitted: January 30, 2024                                       Decided: February 6, 2024

        Before KING, AGEE, and THACKER, Circuit Judges.

        Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

        Amos Junior Scott, Appellant Pro Se.

        Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
USCA4 Appeal: 23-6880         Doc: 10      Filed: 02/06/2024      Pg: 2 of 2

        PER CURIAM:

               Amos Junior Scott appeals the district court’s order denying his second 18 U.S.C.

        § 3582(c)(1)(A) motion for compassionate release. Upon review, we conclude that the

        district court did not abuse its discretion in adjudicating Scott’s motion. See United States

        v. Bethea, 54 F.4th 826, 831, 834 (4th Cir. 2022) (noting standard of review, determinations

        district court must make before granting compassionate release motion, and guideposts for

        determining whether district court has abused its discretion in considering 18 U.S.C.

        § 3553(a) factors).     Specifically, the court accurately recounted Scott’s arguments,

        referenced the rationale set forth in the court’s prior orders related to Scott’s first

        compassionate release motion, and again denied relief in light of the relevant 18 U.S.C.

        § 3553(a) factors. And despite Scott’s claim to the contrary, we discern no error in the

        court relying on United States v. Ferguson, 55 F.4th 262, 271-72 (4th Cir. 2022), to hold

        that Scott could not challenge the validity of his underlying conviction or the initial

        sentence in a compassionate release motion.

               Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s order. United States v. Scott, No. 1:00-

        cr-00069-MR-5 (W.D.N.C. Aug. 18, 2023). We deny Scott’s motion for the appointment

        of counsel. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are

        adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the

        decisional process.

                                                                                      AFFIRMED

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