Court Opinion

ID: 65933
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 06:04:47+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:43.796074
License: Public Domain

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

                                                 FILED
                                                                            May 13, 2009
                                     No. 08-10800
                                   Summary Calendar                    Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                               Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                                   Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

ORLANDO HOWARD, also known as Gator

                                                   Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 4:06-CR-86-2

Before WIENER, STEWART, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
       Orlando Howard was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base, knowingly and intentionally
distributing 5 grams or more of cocaine base, and distribution of cocaine base.
In a prior appeal, we remanded the case for resentencing. On remand, Howard’s
guidelines sentencing range was recalculated in light of the recent amendments
to the Guidelines pertaining to crack cocaine related offenses. Howard’s new
guidelines range is 135 to 168 months of imprisonment. The district court

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR .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.
                                   No. 08-10800

sentenced Howard to an aggregate of 144 months of imprisonment and four
years of supervised release. Howard now appeals that sentence.
      In reviewing a sentence, we must first determine whether the district
court committed any significant procedural error, such as failing to calculate or
incorrectly calculating the guidelines range, treating the Guidelines as
mandatory, failing to consider the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), basing the
sentence on clearly erroneous facts, or not adequately explaining the sentence,
including deviations. See Gall v. United States, 128 S. Ct. 586, 597-598 (2007).
In this instance, Howard argued at resentencing for a sentence at the low end
of the new guidelines range in light of his postconviction rehabilitative efforts in
prison.   He asserts here that the district court ignored his postconviction
rehabilitative efforts and thus failed to make an individualized assessment of
the facts of his case in selecting a sentence. Although Howard requested that
the district court consider his rehabilitation accomplishments, he did not make
the argument in the district court that he now asserts regarding an
individualized sentencing assessment. Accordingly, we review this argument for
plain error. See United States v. Mondragon-Santiago, ___ F.3d ___, No. 07-
41099, 2009 WL 782894, at *3 (5th Cir. Mar. 26, 2009); United States v. Lopez-
Velasquez, 526 F.3d 804, 806 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 625 (2008).
Under that standard, Howard must show an error that is clear or obvious and
that affects his substantial rights. United States v. Baker, 538 F.3d 324, 332
(5th Cir. 2008), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 962 (2009). If Howard makes such a
showing, we have the discretion to correct the error but only if it seriously affects
the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id.
      Howard has not shown error, plain or otherwise.            The district court
expressly stated that it had considered the § 3553(a) factors in determining the
sentence.   The record demonstrates that the court heard and considered
Howard’s mitigating arguments with regard to his postconviction rehabilitative

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                                 No. 08-10800

efforts. Howard has not shown any significant procedural error by the district
court in determining his sentence.
      We next consider the substantive reasonableness of the sentence under a
deferential abuse-of-discretion standard. Gall, 128 S. Ct. at 597. To the extent
that Howard’s argument can be characterized as challenging the district court’s
application of the § 3553(a) factors to his case, he has not shown error. We
afford Howard’s within-guidelines sentence a presumption of reasonableness.
United States v. Alonzo, 435 F.3d 551, 554 (5th Cir. 2006).            Howard’s
disagreement with the weight given by the district court to his postconviction
rehabilitative efforts is insufficient to overcome that presumption.
      AFFIRMED.

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