Court Opinion

ID: 3063535
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-14 21:15:13.144592+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:49:37.169005
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[DO NOT PUBLISH]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
                             No. 08-15632                   APRIL 16, 2009
                         Non-Argument Calendar            THOMAS K. KAHN
                                                               CLERK
                       ________________________

                  D. C. Docket No. 95-00009-CR-BAE-4

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

EUGENE GARNER,
a.k.a. Gene,

                                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                       ________________________

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

                              (April 16, 2009)

Before BLACK, CARNES and WILSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
      Eugene Garner appeals his concurrent 16-month sentences imposed upon

revocation of his supervised release, 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3). In 1995, Garner was

convicted on two counts of distribution of cocaine and sentenced to concurrent

108-month sentences, to be followed by 5 years’ supervised release. He was

released from custody in 2002. In 2003, the district court revoked Garner’s

supervised release due to new state charges and sentenced him to consecutive 18-

month sentences, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release. Garner was

released from custody on November 29, 2005. In July 2008, the instant

proceedings commenced when the probation officer petitioned the court to issue a

warrant and revoke Garner’s term of supervised release, based on six violations

stemming from his arrest on state charges of possessing less than one ounce of

marijuana. Garner stipulated to the violations alleged in the petition. The district

court calculated the guidelines range at 5 to 11 months’ imprisonment. However,

based on Garner’s criminal record and the fact that this was the second time Garner

violated a term of supervised release, the court sentenced Garner to 16 months’

imprisonment.

      On appeal, Garner argues he accepted responsibility for the conduct outlined

in the petition for revocation, he has not tested positive for any controlled

substances since being placed on supervised release in 2005, he has obtained

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steady employment since his release from prison, and he has fully cooperated with

the probation office, aside from the recent state charge and the offenses that led to

his 2003 revocation of supervised release. Garner also contends an extraordinary

departure must be justified by extraordinary circumstances, but that his criminal

history was already accounted for in his guidelines calculation.1

       We review a sentence imposed upon revocation of supervised released for

reasonableness. United States v. Sweeting, 437 F.3d 1105, 1106-07 (11th Cir.

2006). “We review a district court’s decision to exceed the chapter seven

guidelines’ recommended sentencing range for an abuse of discretion.” United

States v. Aguillard, 217 F.3d 1319, 1320 (11th Cir. 2000).

       “Under 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e), a district court may, upon finding by a

preponderance of the evidence that a defendant has violated a condition of

supervised release, revoke the term of supervised release and impose a term of

imprisonment after considering certain factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).”

Sweeting, 437 F.3d at 1107. Moreover, Chapter 7 of the guidelines governs

violations of supervised release and provides policy statements which the court

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           Garner’s original 108-month sentence resulted from a downward departure. On appeal,
he also argues because his original guidelines range has been reduced by recent amendments to the
guidelines, his original sentence should not now be construed as a downward departure for purposes
of U.S.S.G. § 7B1.4, which states an upward departure may be warranted where a defendant’s
original sentence resulted from a downward departure. We do not consider this argument because
the district court did not rely on the original departure in imposing the instant sentence.

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must consider, although it is not bound by them. United States v. Silva, 443 F.3d

795, 799 (11th Cir. 2006).

       Here, the district court expressly considered the advisory guidelines range,

as set forth in the U.S.S.G. § 7B1.4 policy statement. Moreover, the court

provided a detailed statement of its reasons for the sentences imposed, our review

of which indicates the court adequately considered the relevant sentencing factors.

Furthermore, the court’s reasons support the sentences imposed in light of the

circumstances of this case. As a result, we conclude the district court did not abuse

its discretion.

       AFFIRMED.

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