Court Opinion

ID: 213953
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-04-05 15:19:34+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:28:18.172092
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                              FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                    No. 10-1653
                                    ___________

United States of America,                *
                                         *
      Plaintiff - Appellee,              *
                                         * Appeal from the United States
      v.                                 * District Court for the
                                         * District of Nebraska.
Solomon B. Hawthorne,                    *
                                         * [UNPUBLISHED]
      Defendant - Appellant.             *
                                    ___________

                               Submitted: February 15, 2011
                                  Filed: April 5, 2011
                                   ___________

Before SMITH, GRUENDER, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
                           ___________

PER CURIAM.

      Solomon Ben Hawthorne appeals the district court’s1 denial of a sentencing
continuance and his 168-month prison sentence. He also seeks a remand for
resentencing. Having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm and deny a
remand.

      On August 14, 2009, Hawthorne pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and
aiding and abetting the distribution of, 50 or more grams of cocaine base (“crack”).

      1
       The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, United States District Judge for the District
of Nebraska.
See 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1), 846 (2006); 18 U.S.C. § 2 (2006). At the time, this
carried a mandatory minimum ten-year prison sentence. However, Congress was
considering reforms, which later became law. See Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, Pub.
L. No. 111-220, 124 Stat. 2372 (Aug. 3, 2010) (changing drug quantity that triggers
a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence from 50 grams of crack to 280 grams).
Aware of the pending legislation, Hawthorne requested three continuances of his
sentencing hearing. The district court granted the first two requests but denied the
third. It also denied a downward variance based on the United States Sentencing
Guidelines’ higher penalties for crack compared to powder cocaine. Applying a
two-level weapon enhancement and a two-level downward adjustment for acceptance
of responsibility, the court arrived at a total offense level of 36. With Hawthorne’s
Category I criminal history, the Guidelines range was 188-235 months. The court
varied downward to account for lack of a government motion for an additional
acceptance-of-responsibility point, and sentenced Hawthorne to 168 months’
imprisonment.

       Hawthorne appealed to this court. He also moved for an indicative ruling under
Fed. R. App. P. 12.1. The motion centered on the district judge’s recent change in
applying the crack Guidelines, which would have reduced Hawthorne’s base offense
by two levels. The district court denied an indicative ruling, but stated that the motion
raised a substantial issue, and that if this court remanded the case and said the district
court had jurisdiction, it would apply its new crack sentencing approach. This court
denied Hawthorne’s two remand motions. See Order, No. 10-1653 (8th Cir. Oct. 1,
2010); Order, No. 10-1653 (8th Cir. July 8, 2010).

      Hawthorne now challenges the denial of the third continuance, which he hoped
would lead to a lower sentence. “‘We will reverse a district court’s denial of a
continuance only if the court abused its discretion and the moving party was
prejudiced as a result.’” United States v. Snelson, 555 F.3d 681, 686 (8th Cir. 2009)
(quoting United States v. Chahia, 544 F.3d 890, 896 (8th Cir. 2008)) (emphasis in

                                           -2-
Chahia; footnote omitted). Even had Hawthorne received a continuance until the Fair
Sentencing Act became law, it does not apply retroactively to pending cases. United
States v. Brewer, 624 F.3d 900, 909 n.7 (8th Cir. 2010). Assuming without deciding
that Hawthorne can show prejudice based on the district judge’s change in crack
sentencing, there was no abuse of discretion. “‘Continuances generally are not
favored and should be granted only when the party requesting one has shown a
compelling reason.’” Snelson, 555 F.3d at 686 (quoting United States v. Cotroneo,
89 F.3d 510, 514 (8th Cir. 1996)). The district court gave Hawthorne two
continuances. Even had it granted a third, Hawthorne’s benefit would come from a
sentencing approach that exists as a matter of district court discretion. Hawthorne has
not demonstrated a compelling reason for another continuance.

       Hawthorne also challenges the reasonableness of his sentence, which we review
for abuse of discretion. United States v. Feemster, 572 F.3d 455, 461 (8th Cir. 2009)
(en banc). “We ‘must first ensure that the district court committed no significant
procedural error.’” Id. (quoting Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007)). We
then proceed to substantive reasonableness. Id. “[S]ubstantive appellate review in
sentencing cases is narrow and deferential.” Id. at 464 (quotation marks and citation
omitted). A “sentence below or within the Guidelines range is presumptively
reasonable on appeal.” United States v. Canania, 532 F.3d 764, 773 (8th Cir. 2008)
(citation omitted).

      Our own review of the record reveals no significant procedural error. As to
substance, Hawthorne received a sentence below the Guidelines range. He
nonetheless contends that the district court abused its discretion by not varying further
downward based on the crack-to-powder Guidelines disparity. “While a district court
does not abuse its discretion when it does consider the crack/cocaine disparity in
sentencing, it is not required to do so.” United States v. Lewis, 593 F.3d 765, 773 (8th
Cir. 2010). The court discussed the issue at length on the record and ultimately
decided to adhere to the Guidelines; this was not an abuse of discretion. See id.

                                          -3-
Hawthorne also claims the district court treated the Guidelines as mandatory and its
decision reflects an “absence of careful consideration of § 3553(a) factors.” The
record proves the opposite. The district court discussed its reasoning in detail,
particularly regarding unwarranted disparity. In pronouncing sentence, the court
mentioned § 3553(a) factors and recognized the Guidelines as advisory. Hawthorne’s
sentence is substantively reasonable.

       Hawthorne’s third point asks for a remand to the district court “to protect
against manifest injustice.” It is unclear whether he bases this request on the district
court’s indicative ruling order, or whether he argues that the Fair Sentencing Act is
retroactive. As noted, the Fair Sentencing Act is not retroactive. Brewer, 624 F.3d
at 909 n.7. On the indicative ruling issue, this court has denied a remand twice, and
Hawthorne presents no new reasons for a remand now.

                                   * * * * * * *

       The judgment of the district court is affirmed, and the request for a remand
is denied.
                      ______________________________

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