Court Opinion

ID: 145159
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-29 00:36:59+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:01:05.744454
License: Public Domain

Case: 09-10640     Document: 00511094379          Page: 1    Date Filed: 04/28/2010

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                     FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                     Fifth Circuit

                                                  FILED
                                                                            April 28, 2010
                                     No. 09-10640
                                   Summary Calendar                         Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                 Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                   Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

JACK ARVIL TAYLOR, JR.,

                                                   Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 4:08-CR-186-1

Before JOLLY, BARKSDALE, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Jack Arvil Taylor, Jr., possessed several bombs containing shrapnel-type
materials, including nails and metal balls. He pled guilty to possession of an
unregistered firearm, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d). Taylor challenges his
sentence imposed following his plea, contending the district court erred by
denying an acceptance-of-responsibility reduction under Sentencing Guideline
§ 3E1.1. This denial was based primarily on the inconsistency between Taylor’s
claimed intention to explode the devices like firecrackers and the presentence

        *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR .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.
   Case: 09-10640   Document: 00511094379 Page: 2         Date Filed: 04/28/2010
                                No. 09-10640

investigation report’s (PSR) stating the devices were “intended to hurt, maim,
and kill”. (Because this provided a sufficient basis upon which to deny the
reduction, we do not address whether Taylor’s statements regarding a related
counterfeiting offense also would support such denial.)
      A defendant may receive such an offense-level reduction if he “clearly
demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his offense”. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a).
In other words, the defendant bears the burden of demonstrating the reduction
is warranted. United States v. Flucas, 99 F.3d 177, 180 (5th Cir. 1996) (per
curiam). The district court’s decision not to award a reduction will be affirmed
“unless it is without foundation, a standard of review more deferential than the
clearly erroneous standard”. United States v. Juarez-Duarte, 513 F.3d 204, 211
(5th Cir.) (per curiam) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted), cert.
denied, 128 S. Ct. 2452 (2008).
      Taylor first contends the district court erred by finding he made false
statements about his intended use for the explosive devices. “As a general rule,
information in the [PSR] is presumed reliable and may be adopted by the district
court without further inquiry if the defendant fails to demonstrate by competent
rebuttal evidence that the information is materially untrue, inaccurate or
unreliable.”   United States v. Carbajal, 290 F.3d 277, 287 (5th Cir. 2002)
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Taylor presented no evidence
to rebut the PSR’s finding that these devices were intended “to hurt, maim, and
kill”. Therefore, a foundation existed for the district court’s finding Taylor’s
statement inconsistent and false.
      Taylor also contends any inconsistency is not a basis for denying the
acceptance-of-responsibility reduction because his intended use for the devices
was not relevant to the statute of conviction or the guidelines calculations. An
acceptance-of-responsibility reduction requires, inter alia, “a showing of sincere
contrition on the defendant’s behalf”. United States v. Medina-Anicacio, 325
F.3d 638, 648 (5th Cir. 2003) (quoting United States v. Nguyen, 190 F.3d 656,

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  Case: 09-10640    Document: 00511094379 Page: 3      Date Filed: 04/28/2010
                                No. 09-10640

658 (5th Cir. 1999)). In evaluating a defendant’s sincerity, a sentencing court
“may consider a defendant’s refusal to elaborate on the circumstances
surrounding his offense to the probation officer”. Id. (citing United States v.
Nevarez-Arreola, 885 F.2d 243, 244, 246 (5th Cir. 1989)). There is evidence
Taylor falsely described his intended use of the devices, which was part of the
“circumstances surrounding his offense”.
      In sum, Taylor has not shown the denial of the reduction for acceptance
of responsibility was without foundation. See Juarez-Duarte, 513 F.3d at 211.
      AFFIRMED.

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