Court Opinion

ID: 9952547
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-20 00:00:41.291506+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:32.222547
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-60534            Document: 51-1         Page: 1      Date Filed: 03/19/2024

           United States Court of Appeals
                for the Fifth Circuit
                                   ____________
                                                                   United States Court of Appeals
                                                                            Fifth Circuit
                                    No. 23-60534
                                  Summary Calendar
                                                                          FILED
                                                                    March 19, 2024
                                  ____________
                                                                     Lyle W. Cayce
United States of America,                                                 Clerk

                                                                    Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                          versus

Jimmie Terrell Harrison,

                                            Defendant—Appellant.
                   ______________________________

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Southern District of Mississippi
                             USDC No. 3:18-CR-98-1
                   ______________________________

Before King, Haynes, and Graves, Circuit Judges.
Per Curiam: *
       Jimmie Terrell Harrison, federal prisoner # 20912-043, appeals the
district court’s denial of his motion for compassionate release, filed pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). Harrison is currently serving a 240-month
below-guidelines sentence for his 2019 conviction of possession with intent
to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

       _____________________
       *
           This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-60534        Document: 51-1      Page: 2     Date Filed: 03/19/2024

       On appeal, Harrison argues that the district court erred in determining
that his medical conditions did not constitute extraordinary and compelling
reasons warranting compassionate release, especially because the district
court failed to consider the progressive deterioration of his health and
erroneously believed that he had alleged an increased COVID-19 risk. He
also contends that the district court erred in failing to consider whether the
disparate treatment of defendants whose crimes involve “actual
methamphetamine”          versus     those     whose       crimes     involved
“methamphetamine” constituted an extraordinary and compelling reason
for compassionate release. As to the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors, Harrison
contends that the nature, circumstances, and seriousness of the offense, as
well as the need for deterrence, to protect the public, to effectively provide
health care, and to provide just punishment for the offense, weigh in his favor.
       The record reflects that the district court explicitly considered the
relevant § 3553(a) factors, including the need for the sentence to (i) reflect
the seriousness of the offense; (ii) promote respect for the law; (iii) provide
just punishment; (iv) afford adequate deterrence; and (v) protect the public
from Harrison’s further crimes.       See § 3553(a)(2)(A)-(C).      Harrison’s
disagreement with the district court’s weighing of the § 3553(a) factors is
insufficient to show an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Chambliss,
948 F.3d 691, 694 (5th Cir. 2020). Because the district court did not abuse
its discretion in determining that relief was not warranted under the § 3553(a)
factors, we need not consider his arguments regarding extraordinary and
compelling reasons. See United States v. Rollins, 53 F.4th 353, 358 (5th Cir.
2022); Chambliss, 948 F.3d at 693-94.
       In light of the foregoing, the district court’s decision is AFFIRMED.