Court Opinion

ID: 64618
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 05:18:18+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:40:41.278989
License: Public Domain

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

                                                                   FILED
                                                                 January 12, 2009
                                 No. 08-20055
                               Summary Calendar               Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                      Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                            Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

PAULETTE DAVIS

                                            Defendant-Appellant

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Southern District of Texas
                            USDC No. 4:07-CR-240

Before WIENER, STEWART, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
      Paulette Davis pleaded guilty to making false entries and reports of
moneys or securities in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2073. She was sentenced to two
years of probation. As a special condition of her supervision while on probation,
Davis was ordered to “participate in a mental health program as deemed
necessary and approved by the probation officer.” Davis appeals, arguing that
the district judge unlawfully and unconstitutionally delegated his statutory and
Article III authority to determine sentencing conditions to a non-judicial officer.

      *
      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should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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. 08-20055

      Because Davis did not object at sentencing, this court reviews for plain
error only. To show plain error, Davis must show an error that is clear or
obvious and that affects her substantial rights. United States v. Baker, 538 F.3d
324, 332 (5th Cir. 2008). If she makes such a showing, this court has the
discretion to correct the error but only if it seriously affects the fairness,
integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id.
      Davis cites primarily United States v. Albro, 32 F.3d 173 (5th Cir. 1994),
to support her position that the district judge plainly erred by delegating his
authority to determine special conditions of release to a probation officer. In
that case, Albro was convicted of bank fraud and ordered to pay restitution.
Although the district judge himself determined the amount to be paid, he
delegated the “manner of payment” to a probation officer. We agreed with Albro
that “‘the amounts to be paid and the manner of payment should be recited in
the [sentencing] order, rather than delegating these details to the probation
officer.’” Id. at 174 (citations omitted). We found plain error and reversed.
      In United States v. Warden, this court held that it was not plain error to
allow a probation officer to determine a defendant’s ability to pay for drug
treatment; Albro concerned “restitution payments,” this court wrote, not the
costs of drug treatment. 291 F.3d 363, 365-66 (5th Cir. 2002). In United States
v. Vega, 332 F.3d 849, 852 n.3 (5th Cir. 2003), this court determined that it was
not plain error to allow a probation officer to determine the length of a
defendant’s drug treatment.
      In light of our opinions in Warden and Vega, there could be no plain error
here because our precedents do not plainly require the result Davis urges.
Accordingly, Davis’s sentence is AFFIRMED.

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