Court Opinion

ID: 183064
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-01-20 16:23:05+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:26:02.259462
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                    No. 10-2000
                                    ___________

United States of America,                *
                                         *
             Appellee,                   *
                                         * Appeal from the United States
      vs.                                * District Court for the
                                         * Western District of Missouri.
Eliseo Alvarez, Sr.,                     *
                                         * [UNPUBLISHED]
             Appellant.                  *
                                    ___________

                              Submitted: January 14, 2011
                                 Filed: January 20, 2011
                                  ___________

Before MURPHY, HANSEN, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.
                           ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Eliseo Alvarez, Sr. pled guilty in Missouri state court to felony possession of
marijuana, a violation of the conditions of his term of federal supervised release. The
district court1 revoked his release and ordered him to serve twenty one months'
imprisonment. Alvarez now appeals. We affirm.

      The district court heard argument from Alvarez's counsel concerning his history
and characteristics, including his success at work and in a substance abuse treatment

      1
        The Honorable Greg Kays, United States District Judge for the Western
District of Missouri.
program and the responsibility he had shown as a homeowner, taxpayer, husband, and
father. Counsel also noted the probation officer's surprise that Alvarez had violated
his supervised release. Alvarez requested a sentence of "one day time served," well
below his guideline range of fifteen to twenty one months.

       In explaining its reasons for imposing a twenty one month sentence, the district
court acknowledged that defense counsel had "[made] a lot of good arguments" and
that the presentence report contained "a lot of nice things." Ultimately, however, the
district court "[couldn't] get past [the] ten pounds" of marijuana Alvarez had
possessed. To the district court, Alvarez was "not even in the ballpark" for a below
guideline sentence.

       Alvarez argues for the first time on appeal that the district court failed to
consider the sentencing factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and he was sentenced solely
on the circumstances of his offense. He asks for a remand for resentencing. We
review for plain error, reversing only if we find "(1) error (2) that is plain and (3) that
affects the defendant's substantial rights." United States v. McGlothen, 556 F.3d 698,
702 (8th Cir. 2009).

       We presume that sentencing judges "understand their obligation to consider all
of the § 3553(a) factors." United States v. Gray, 533 F.3d 942, 943 (8th Cir. 2008).
In reviewing the adequacy of a district court's consideration of the § 3553(a) factors,
we take into account whether defense counsel and the presentence report presented
information relevant to those factors as they both did here. See id. at 945. The district
court mentioned several of the § 3553(a) factors, including public safety and
appellant's criminal history. 18 U.S.C. §§ 3553(a)(1), (a)(2)(C). It also mentioned the
applicable guideline range and relevant policy statements. Id. §§ 3553(a)(4)–(5). It
acknowledged defense counsel's "good arguments" about her client's history and
characteristics. Id. § (a)(1).

                                           -2-
       In imposing a sentence within the guideline range, the district court was entitled
to "rest its decision on the Sentencing Commission's reasoning." McGlothen, 556
F.3d at 703. Had the district court chosen to vary from the guidelines, it indicated it
would have varied upward rather than downward. Under these circumstances,
Alvarez cannot show that but for some alleged procedural error, he "would have
probably received a more favorable sentence." United States v. Guarino, 517 F.3d
1067, 1069 (8th Cir. 2008). The district court did not plainly err.

      The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
                     ______________________________

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