Court Opinion

ID: 4193074
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-03 19:01:07.242365+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:29.492211
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                      No. 17-4039

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                    Plaintiff - Appellee,

             v.

TYESHA LASHAY JACKSON,

                    Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, at
Columbia. Terry L. Wooten, Chief District Judge. (3:16-cr-00347-TLW-1)

Submitted: June 30, 2017                                          Decided: August 3, 2017

Before SHEDD, AGEE, and KEENAN, Circuit Judges.

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Kimberly H. Albro, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Columbia, South Carolina, for
Appellant. Beth Drake, Acting United States Attorney, T. DeWayne Pearson, Assistant
United States Attorney, Columbia, South Carolina; Kenneth A. Blanco, Acting Assistant
Attorney General, Trevor N. McFadden, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Thomas E.
Booth, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for
Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:

       Tyesha Lashay Jackson appeals the 42-month sentence imposed following her

guilty plea to aggravated assault, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(6) (2012). On

appeal, Jackson argues that her within-Guidelines sentence is unreasonable. Finding no

error, we affirm.

       We review a sentence for reasonableness, applying “a deferential abuse-of-

discretion standard.” Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 41 (2007). This review entails

consideration of both the procedural and substantive reasonableness of the sentence. Id.

at 51. In determining procedural reasonableness, we consider whether the district court

properly calculated the applicable advisory Guidelines range, considered the 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a) (2012) factors, and sufficiently explained the selected sentence. Id. “[I]f a

party repeats on appeal a claim of procedural sentencing error . . . [that] it has made

before the district court, we review for abuse of discretion.” United States v. Lynn, 592
F.3d 572, 576 (4th Cir. 2010). However, we review unpreserved procedural sentencing

errors for plain error. Id. at 576-77. “To establish plain error, the appealing party must

show that an error (1) was made, (2) is plain (i.e., clear or obvious), and (3) affects

substantial rights.” Id. at 577.

       If we find no significant procedural error, we examine the substantive

reasonableness of the sentence under “the totality of the circumstances.” Gall, 552 U.S.

at 51. “Any sentence that is within or below a properly calculated Guidelines range is

presumptively reasonable.” United States v. Louthian, 756 F.3d 295, 306 (4th Cir. 2014).

To successfully challenge substantive reasonableness, an appellant must rebut this

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“presumption . . . by showing that the sentence is unreasonable when measured against

the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors.” Id.

       First, Jackson argues that the district court procedurally erred by applying a two-

level Sentencing Guidelines enhancement because the offense involved a vulnerable

victim. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 3A1.1(b)(1) (2016). Because Jackson did

not object to this enhancement in the district court, we review this argument for plain

error. Jackson contends that the district court erred by applying the enhancement without

determining that she targeted the victim because of the victim’s vulnerability. As we

explained in United States v. Etoty, 679 F.3d 292 (4th Cir. 2012), following Sentencing

Guidelines Amendment 521, targeting is no longer required to apply the vulnerable

victim enhancement. Id. at 294. Accordingly, we reject this argument.

       Next, Jackson argues that her sentence is procedurally unreasonable because the

district court failed to consider her arguments regarding the § 3553(a) factors. The record

reveals that the district court acknowledged the arguments that Jackson presented in

connection with her variance motion before providing a thorough and individualized

explanation for denying the variance motion and sentencing Jackson to 42 months’

imprisonment. That the district court did not accord the weight to Jackson’s arguments

that she desired does not render the court’s analysis inadequate.

       Finally, Jackson argues that her sentence is substantively unreasonable. Since

Jackson’s sentence falls within the applicable Guidelines range, it is presumed

substantively reasonable. Louthian, 756 F.3d at 306. We conclude that Jackson fails to

rebut this presumption.

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      Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s judgment. We dispense with oral

argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the

materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

                                                                             AFFIRMED

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