Court Opinion

ID: 62444
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 04:44:21+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:38:59.863843
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT                    FILED
                       ________________________         U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                          ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                              June 26, 2008
                             No. 07-15281                  THOMAS K. KAHN
                         Non-Argument Calendar                 CLERK
                       ________________________

                   D. C. Docket No. 07-00017-CR-JOF-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

KENDRICK MARQUIS MINTON,

                                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                       ________________________

                Appeal from the United States District Court
                   for the Northern District of Georgia
                     _________________________

                              (June 26, 2008)

Before TJOFLAT, BLACK and FAY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
      Kendrick Marquis Minton appeals his 204-month sentence for two counts of

armed bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), (d), and § 2, and one

count of possession of a firearm in relation to an armed bank robbery, in violation

of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and § 2. First, Minton argues that he merely “brandished”

the firearm used in the first bank robbery, and, therefore, the district court erred by

applying a six-level increase to his offense level for “otherwise use” of a firearm.

Second, Minton argues that he was entitled to a reduction for acceptance of

responsibility, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a), because, among other things, he

did not receive an enhancement for obstruction of justice. Finally, Minton argues

that his above-Guidelines sentence is substantively unreasonable. For the reasons

set forth more fully below, we affirm.

                                           I.

      Minton pled guilty to: (1) armed bank robbery of approximately $2,326.00

from Wachovia Bank on or about December 20, 2006 (Count I); (2) armed bank

robbery of approximately $37,477.86 from Bank of America on or about

December 29, 2006 (Count III); and (3) using and carrying a firearm in relation to

the Bank of America robbery (Count IV). Lindsey Orr was also charged in the

indictment.

      The presentence investigation report (“PSI”) summarized the testimony of

                                           2
the two Wachovia Bank tellers who testified at Orr’s trial. One of the tellers

testified that Minton walked up to her work station with a gun and demanded “50’s

and 100’s.” Minton told the teller to be calm, do what he said, and he would not

hurt her. When the teller told Minton that she did not have 50’s or 100’s, Minton

“stated, “stop lying bitch and waved the gun in her face.” The teller testified that

she put the money in the bag because “[s]he did not want to ‘get shot’ as he

(Minton) had a gun in her face. She believed that if she did not give him (Minton)

the money he demanded, he would have shot her.” One of the still photos of the

robbery showed Minton at the teller’s station with the gun in his hand, but resting

on the counter.1

       Minton testified at Orr’s trial that he did not author the demand note that was

found in Orr’s apartment. Even after the government presented evidence at Orr’s

trial that the handwriting on the note matched Minton’s, Minton continued to deny

that he wrote the note. The demand note was not used during the bank robberies.

       In the PSI, Minton received a six-level increase for Count I (the Wachovia

Bank conduct), pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(2)(b), because a firearm was

“otherwise used.” The probation officer also applied a two-level increase for

obstruction of justice, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(1). Minton objected to the

       1
          Minton conceded at his sentencing hearing that 18 seconds of the robbery were not depicted
in the still photographs taken from the bank’s surveillance video.

                                                 3
increase for “otherwise use” of a firearm and to the obstruction of justice

enhancement. Minton also asserted that he was entitled to a downward adjustment

for acceptance of responsibility.

       At the sentencing hearing, the government stated that the demand note that

Minton testified about at Orr’s trial was not material to its investigation or to the

outcome of Orr’s trial. However, the district court found that the misrepresentation

was “material” because it affected Orr’s sentencing. Nonetheless, the district court

sustained Minton’s objection concerning the obstruction of justice enhancement

because the government indicated that it did not wish to pursue the enhancement

further. The court overruled Minton’s other objections. Without the obstruction of

justice enhancement, the court calculated a Guidelines range of 87 to 109 months

for Counts I and III. The court sentenced Minton to 120 months’ imprisonment on

Counts I and III, and 84 months’ imprisonment on Count IV,2 to run consecutively

with the sentence imposed for Counts I and III. Minton preserved his objections to

the court’s rulings on the acceptance of responsibility and “otherwise use” issues,

and he also objected to the reasonableness of his sentence.

                                              II.

       “We review de novo the district court’s application and interpretation of the

       2
        The district court was required by statute to impose an 84-month sentence for Count IV.
See 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).

                                              4
sentencing guidelines, and we review factual findings for clear error.” United

States v. Wilks, 464 F.3d 1240, 1242 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 127 S. Ct. 693 (2006)

(internal citations omitted). The district court must correctly interpret and apply

the Guidelines when calculating the appropriate advisory guideline range. United

States v. Crawford, 407 F.3d 1174, 1178-79 (11th Cir. 2005).

      In calculating a defendant’s robbery offense level, six levels are added if a

firearm was “otherwise used,” and five levels are added if a firearm was

brandished or possessed. U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(2)(B), (C). “‘Otherwise used’ with

reference to a dangerous weapon (including a firearm) means that the conduct did

not amount to the discharge of a firearm but was more than brandishing,

displaying, or possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon.” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.1,

comment. (n.1(I)). The Guidelines state that:

      “Brandished” with reference to a dangerous weapon (including a
      firearm) means that all or part of the weapon was displayed, or the
      presence of the weapon was otherwise made known to another person,
      in order to intimidate that person, regardless of whether the weapon
      was directly visible to that person. Accordingly, although the
      dangerous weapon does not have to be directly visible, the weapon
      must be present.

Id., comment. (n.1(C)).

      We have recently noted that “[a]s our case law has made clear, the use of a

firearm to make an explicit or implicit threat against a specific person constitutes

                                           5
‘otherwise use’ of the firearm.” United States v. Douglas, 489 F.3d 1117, 1129

(11th Cir. 2007), cert. denied, (U.S. Apr. 14, 2008) (No. 07-8765) (citations and

quotation marks omitted). In Douglas, we found that the defendant “otherwise

used” a firearm when he showed the gun to the victim and verbally threatened her,

even though the defendant never pointed the gun at the victim and kept the gun “in

as secretive location as he possibly could.” Id. at 1128-29. Thus, we concluded

that the district court properly applied the six-level increase in offense level. Id. at

1129.

        Minton’s argument that he merely “brandished” the firearm is foreclosed by

binding precedent. According to the bank teller’s testimony that is referenced in

the PSI,3 Minton used the firearm to make an implicit threat against a specific

person, and his behavior constitutes “otherwise use” of the firearm, even though he

neither pointed the weapon at the teller nor placed the weapon in close proximity to

her. See Douglas, 489 F.3d at 1129. Thus, that the district court properly applied

the increase in offense level for Minton’s having “otherwise used” a firearm.

                                               III.

        We review the district court’s determination of acceptance of responsibility

        3
          Minton did not object to the PSI’s facts. Therefore, those facts are deemed admitted for
sentencing purposes. See United States v. Shelton, 400 F.3d 1325, 1330 (11th Cir. 2005) (finding
that factual findings set forth in a PSI and not objected to by a defendant are deemed admitted).

                                                6
for clear error. See United States v. Amedeo, 370 F.3d 1305, 1320 (11th Cir.

2004). “A district court’s determination that a defendant is not entitled to

acceptance of responsibility will not be set aside unless the facts in the record

clearly establish that a defendant has accepted personal responsibility.” United

States v. Sawyer, 180 F.3d 1319, 1323 (11th Cir. 1999). “The defendant bears the

burden of clearly demonstrating acceptance of responsibility and must present

more than just a guilty plea.” Id.

      A defendant is entitled to a two-level reduction in his offense level if he

“clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his offense.” U.S.S.G.

§ 3E1.1(a). Even where a defendant pleads guilty, he is not entitled to a reduction

for acceptance of responsibility if he acts in a way inconsistent with acceptance of

responsibility. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, comment. (n.3). For example, a defendant is not

entitled to a reduction when he “falsely denies, or frivolously contests, relevant

conduct that the court determines to be true.” Id., comment. (n.1(a)). “The

sentencing judge is in a unique position to evaluate a defendant’s acceptance of

responsibility. For this reason, the determination of the sentencing judge is entitled

to great deference on review.” Id., comment. (n.5).

      “Conduct resulting in an enhancement under § 3C1.1 (Obstructing or

Impeding the Administration of Justice) ordinarily indicates that the defendant has

                                           7
not accepted responsibility for his criminal conduct. There may, however, be

extraordinary cases in which adjustments under both §§ 3C1.1 and 3E1.1 may

apply.” Id., comment. (n.4). “[P]roviding materially false information to a judge

or magistrate” is an example of the type of conduct to which the obstruction of

justice enhancement applies. U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, comment. (n.4(f)). “‘Material’

evidence, fact, statement, or information . . . means evidence, fact, statement, or

information that, if believed, would tend to influence or affect the issue under

determination.” Id., comment. (n.6).

      Initially, Minton’s argument, that he is entitled to a reduction for acceptance

of responsibility because his misrepresentations at Orr’s trial did not qualify for an

obstruction of justice enhancement, is without merit. Although the commentary to

§ 3E1.1 (acceptance of responsibility) states that “[c]onduct resulting in an

enhancement under § 3C1.1 . . . ordinarily indicates that the defendant has not

accepted responsibility for his criminal conduct,” contrary to Minton’s assertions

otherwise, it does not follow that, if an obstruction of justice enhancement is not

applied, a reduction for acceptance of responsibility must be applied. U.S.S.G.

§ 3E1.1(a), comment. (n.4). Further, although the court stated at the sentencing

hearing that Minton’s representation was “material,” a denial of a reduction for

acceptance of responsibility does not require a finding of materiality. See U.S.S.G.

                                           8
§ 3E1.1(a).

        Minton acted in a way inconsistent with acceptance of responsibility because

he falsely denied relevant conduct that the district court determined to be true. See

U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a), comments. (n.1(a), n.3, n.5). Thus, the district court did not

clearly err by denying him a reduction under § 3E1.1(a). See Amedeo, 370 F.3d at

1320.

                                          IV.

        “‘In reviewing the ultimate sentence imposed by the district court for

reasonableness, we consider the final sentence, in its entirety, in light of the [18

U.S.C.] § 3553(a) factors.’” United States v. Valnor, 451 F.3d 744, 750 (11th Cir.

2006) (citation omitted). The party challenging the reasonableness of a sentence

“bears the burden of establishing that the sentence is unreasonable in the light of

both [the] record and the factors in section 3553(a).” United States v. Talley, 431
F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005).

        The Supreme Court recently clarified the reasonableness standard as a

review for abuse of discretion. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. —, 128 S. Ct. 586,

594, 169 L. Ed. 2d 445 (2007). Appellate courts should “take into account the

totality of circumstances, including the extent of a deviation from the Guidelines

range.” Id., 128 S.Ct. at 597. We will remand for resentencing only if we are “left

                                           9
with the definite and firm conviction that the district court committed a clear error

of judgment in weighing the § 3553(a) factors by arriving at a sentence that lies

outside the range of reasonable sentences dictated by the facts of the case.” United

States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1191 (11th Cir. 2008) (quotation marks omitted).

Specifically, the district court must impose a sentence that is both procedurally and

substantively reasonable. Gall, 128 S. Ct. at 597.

      When reviewing the sentence for procedural reasonableness, we must

      ensure that the district court committed no significant procedural
      error, such as failing to calculate (or improperly calculating) the
      Guidelines range, treating the Guidelines as mandatory, failing to
      consider the § 3553(a) factors, selecting a sentence based on clearly
      erroneous facts, or failing to adequately explain the chosen
      sentence-including an explanation for any deviation from the
      Guidelines range.

Id.

      “In considering the substantive reasonableness of the sentence, we may not

apply a presumption of unreasonableness where a sentence is outside of the

Guidelines range, and we must give due deference to the district court’s decision

that the § 3553(a) factors, on a whole, justify the extent of the variance.” United

States v. Livesay, No. 06-11303, slip op. at 1912 (11th Cir. Apr. 23, 2008)

(citations and quotation marks omitted). However, “Gall makes clear that ‘it also

remains true that the district court’s choice of sentence is not unfettered.’” Id.

                                           10
(citation omitted). “[T]he district court is obliged to consider all of the § 3553(a)

factors, and those factors in turn guide appellate courts, as they have in the past, in

determining whether a sentence is unreasonable.” Id. (citations and punctuation

marks omitted).

      Because we review for substantive unreasonableness under the “totality of

circumstances,” “a district court need not discuss each Section 3553(a) factor,

although where the judge imposes a sentence outside the Guidelines, the judge will

explain why he has done so.” Pugh, 515 F.3d at 1191 n.8 (internal citations and

punctuation marks omitted). “[A] district court’s unjustified reliance on any one

Section 3553(a) factor may be a symptom of an unreasonable sentence.” Id. at

1191. However, such a sentence is not necessarily unreasonable. See Gall, 128
S. Ct. at 602 (holding that a district court did not commit reversible error simply

because it “attached great weight” to one factor). “The weight to be accorded any

given § 3553(a) factor is a matter committed to the sound discretion of the district

court.” United States v. Clay, 483 F.3d 739, 743 (11th Cir. 2007) (quotation

omitted).

      The § 3553(a) factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the

offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need to reflect

the seriousness of the offense, to afford adequate deterrence, to promote respect for

                                           11
the law, to provide just punishment for the offense, to protect the public, and to

provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training or medical

care; (3) the kinds of sentences available; (4) the advisory guidelines range; (5)

pertinent Sentencing Commission policy statements; (6) the need to avoid

unwarranted sentencing disparities; and (7) the need to provide restitution to

victims. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1)-(7).

       The district court adequately explained, based upon the § 3553(a) factors

and the circumstances in this case, why it varied above the Guidelines range. The

record does not support Minton’s contention that the court focused on the single

issue of incapacitating him in order to prevent an early release from prison, and

Minton has not shown that his 120-month sentence, which was well below the

statutory maximum of 25 years’ imprisonment, was unreasonable in light of both

the record and the § 3553(a) factors.4 Accordingly, the court did not commit a

clear error in judgment sentencing Minton.

       In light of the foregoing, Minton’s sentence is

       AFFIRMED.

       4
         The 120 month sentence was supplemented by the mandatory 84 month sentence resulting
in the total sentence of 204 months.

                                             12