Court Opinion

ID: 9367326
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-31 16:02:27.088623+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:59.363863
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                             For the Eighth Circuit
                         ___________________________

                                 No. 22-1898
                         ___________________________

                             United States of America

                                       Plaintiff - Appellee

                                          v.

                             Leauna Monchelle Tobay

                                     Defendant - Appellant
                                   ____________

                      Appeal from United States District Court
                 for the Western District of Missouri - Kansas City
                                  ____________

                          Submitted: November 14, 2022
                             Filed: January 31, 2023
                                  [Unpublished]
                                 ____________

Before BENTON, KELLY, and ERICKSON, Circuit Judges.
                           ____________

PER CURIAM.

      After Leauna Tobay violated a supervised release condition, the district court 1
revoked her supervision and sentenced her to a term of 30 months’ imprisonment
followed by 12 months of supervised release. Tobay appeals raising three issues:

      1
      The Honorable David Gregory Kays, United States District Judge for the
Western District of Missouri.
(1) the special condition of her supervision that prohibits her from driving without
court approval; (2) a claim that the district court increased her sentence to
accommodate treatment in violation of Tapia v. United States, 564 U.S. 319 (2011);
and (3) the substantive reasonableness of her sentence. We affirm.

       In 2019, Tobay was convicted in state court for driving under the influence of
alcohol. In 2020, Tobay was convicted in federal court for importation of
methamphetamine and sentenced to time served followed by three years of
supervised release. While on supervision, Tobay repeatedly violated her supervised
release conditions, primarily by using alcohol and controlled substances. Between
February and March 2021, Tobay tested positive for controlled substances five
times. In July 2021, she used alcohol and controlled substances and admitted to
consuming alcohol before driving a vehicle. The district court ordered that Tobay
participate in a residential reentry center program. Tobay continued to have
difficulties complying with the terms of her supervision, consuming alcohol in
August and September 2021. Following Tobay’s arrest on December 25, 2021, for
driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street while under the influence,
Tobay’s supervising officer sought revocation of her supervised release.

      At the revocation hearing, Tobay did not contest the violation. The district
court properly found that Tobay’s revocation guidelines range was 4 to 10 months.
The government recommended that the court impose an imprisonment term of 30
months followed by 12 months of supervised release. Tobay requested a
12-month-and-1-day straight-time sentence. During argument, defense counsel
noted the probation officer had recommended a sentence of 30 months so Tobay
could participate in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (“RDAP”). Defense
counsel argued it would be inappropriate under Tapia for the court to increase
Tobay’s sentence based on her need for rehabilitation.

       Before imposing sentence, the district court considered the relevant factors
under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), giving great weight to the seriousness of Tobay’s
violation, which could have resulted “in great tragedy.” The court found that
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previous substance abuse treatment resources had been ineffective and stated it was
“going to order the RDAP program.” The court recognized the danger that Tobay’s
conduct presents to the public and the need for deterrence. Based on these
considerations, the court varied above the advisory guidelines range and imposed a
30-month term of imprisonment followed by 12 months of supervised release. Over
Tobay’s objection, the district court prohibited Tobay from driving while on
supervision until further order of the court.

       Tobay first asserts the supervision condition prohibiting her from driving is
more restrictive than reasonably necessary. We review the imposition of a special
supervised release condition for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Crume, 422
F.3d 728, 732 (8th Cir. 2005) (citation omitted). A district court may impose a
special condition of supervised release if three requirements are satisfied: (1) the
condition “must be ‘reasonably related’ to” relevant sentencing factors; (2) the
condition must “involve[] no greater deprivation of liberty than is reasonably
necessary” for relevant sentencing needs; and (3) the condition must comport with
“any pertinent policy statements issued by the sentencing commission.” Id. at
732-33 (citations omitted). “To determine whether a special condition satisfies these
requirements, the court must make an ‘individualized inquiry’ into the facts and
circumstances to avoid categorical sentencing and must make sufficient findings on
the record to be statutorily compliant.” United States v. Fulk, 879 F.3d 859, 862
(8th Cir. 2018) (citation omitted).

       Given the district court’s findings regarding Tobay’s extensive history of
alcohol and substance abuse, her proclivity to drive while intoxicated, and, without
effective substance abuse treatment, the risk Tobay poses to the public, the district
court did not abuse its discretion by restricting Tobay’s driving privilege until further
order of the court. Cf. United States v. Penson, No. 21-13530, 2022 WL 2089973,
at *3 (11th Cir. June 10, 2022) (per curiam) (upholding a driving ban based on the
defendant’s criminal history and alcohol addiction); United States v. Shires, 199 F.
App’x 295, 296 (4th Cir. 2006) (per curiam) (upholding a driving ban based on the
defendant’s history of alcohol and substance abuse); United States v. Kingsley, 241
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F.3d 828, 837-40 (6th Cir. 2001) (upholding a driving ban based on the defendant’s
criminal history involving vehicular offenses and his alcohol and substance abuse).
Tobay was cited for driving with a suspended license and there is a lack of evidence
in the record indicating her license has been reinstated. Nonetheless, she argues an
ignition interlock device is a feasible, less-restrictive alternative but this type of
device would not fulfil the court’s objective as it would not prevent Tobay from
driving under the influence of controlled substances or from driving others’ vehicles.
While Tobay asserts she must drive in order to get to work, care for her family, and
report to her probation officer, she provides no reason she cannot utilize public
transportation or other available means for these purposes. Finally, the condition is
not absolute during her entire period of supervision. The court prohibited Tobay
from driving until further order of the court. We expect the court will not arbitrarily
refuse to consider lifting the driving restriction if Tobay has her driver’s license
reinstated and demonstrates she is no longer a public safety risk. See Fulk, 879 F.3d
at 863 (finding no abuse of discretion in imposing a special travel condition when,
in part, “we expect the district court will not arbitrarily refuse approval of Fulk’s
request to travel outside of the state of Iowa when appropriate safeguards are
available”).

      Tobay next asserts the district court imposed a lengthy sentence to facilitate
treatment or rehabilitation in violation of Tapia. Under Tapia, a district court “may
not ‘impose or lengthen a prison sentence to enable an offender to complete a
treatment program or otherwise to promote rehabilitation.’” United States v.
Blackmon, 662 F.3d 981, 986 (8th Cir. 2011) (quoting Tapia, 564 U.S. at 335).
Nonetheless, a district court may recommend that the Bureau of Prisons provide a
defendant with needed treatment. United States v. Holdsworth, 830 F.3d 779,
784-85 (8th Cir. 2016) (citation omitted).

      Here, the district court committed no Tapia error. The court specifically stated
the bases for its sentence: (1) the seriousness of Tobay’s offense; (2) her history and
characteristics; and (3) the need to deter and protect the public. The court made no
mention of rehabilitation as a reason for the sentence. This is not a case where it can
                                         -4-
be claimed that the court overlooked Tapia since defense counsel specifically cited
Tapia in his plea for leniency to the court. See United States v. Campbell, 976 F.3d
775, 777 (8th Cir. 2020) (per curiam) (“When issues are raised . . . at the sentencing
hearing, a district court is presumed to consider them.” (citation omitted)). The
court’s statement that it was going “to order the RDAP program” was a permissible
judicial recommendation. That the probation officer recommended a 30-month term
of imprisonment so Tobay could participate in the RDAP is of no consequence
where the district court did not rely on the recommendation in imposing the sentence.

       Lastly, we review the substantive reasonableness of revocation sentences
under the deferential abuse of discretion standard. See United States v. Cain, 976
F.3d 778, 779 (8th Cir. 2020) (per curiam). “[I]t will be the unusual case when we
reverse a district court sentence––whether within, above, or below the applicable
Guidelines range––as substantively unreasonable.” United States v. Feemster, 572
F.3d 455, 464 (8th Cir. 2009) (en banc) (citation omitted). The record demonstrates
that the district court considered and weighed the appropriate factors under 18
U.S.C. § 3583(e). While Tobay argues she received a proportionally-significant
upward variance and notes more serious offenders have received lesser sentences,
district courts are afforded broad sentencing discretion. See United States v.
Anderson, 618 F.3d 873, 883 (8th Cir. 2010) (“The district court may give some
factors less weight than a defendant prefers or more to other factors [without]
justify[ing] reversal.” (citation omitted)); see also United States v. Clark, 998 F.3d
363, 369 (8th Cir. 2021) (rejecting a “percentage-based argument” because
“deviations from the Guidelines range will always appear more extreme—in
percentage terms—when the range itself is low” (citation omitted)). The district
court provided a reasoned basis for imposing an above-guidelines revocation
sentence. The sentence is not substantively unreasonable.

      For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the district court.
                      ______________________________

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