Court Opinion

ID: 9352778
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-09 19:02:46.573217+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:59:57.580158
License: Public Domain

USCA11 Case: 22-10195    Document: 28-1      Date Filed: 01/09/2023   Page: 1 of 13

                                                [DO NOT PUBLISH]
                                    In the
                 United States Court of Appeals
                         For the Eleventh Circuit

                           ____________________

                                 No. 22-10195
                           Non-Argument Calendar
                           ____________________

        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                       Plaintiff-Appellee,
        versus
        LEMOND LAWRENCE BURNS,

                                                    Defendant-Appellant.

                           ____________________

                  Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Northern District of Alabama
                   D.C. Docket No. 5:21-cr-00222-LCB-HNJ-1
                           ____________________
USCA11 Case: 22-10195       Document: 28-1        Date Filed: 01/09/2023      Page: 2 of 13

        2                        Opinion of the Court                    22-10195

        Before WILSON, LUCK, and BLACK, Circuit Judges.
        PER CURIAM:
                Lemond Burns appeals his sentence of 150 months’ impris-
        onment for assault of a corrections officer with bodily injury, in vi-
        olation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 111(a), (b) and 2, which was an upward var-
        iance from the advisory Guidelines range of 21 to 27 months.
        Burns asserts the district court’s 150-month sentence was procedur-
        ally and substantively unreasonable because the district court af-
        forded significant weight to improper factors, including Burns’ un-
        charged criminal conduct and lack of remorse, and failed to afford
        significant consideration to Burns’ limited criminal history and the
        nature and circumstances of his offense. After review, 1 we affirm
        the district court.
                                  I. BACKGROUND
                In a presentence investigation report (PSI), a probation of-
        ficer reported that, on April 19, 2021, Burns assaulted a female cor-
        rectional officer, C.E., while incarcerated at Morgan County Jail,
        where he was housed awaiting sentencing in a case involving his
        guilty plea to wire- and access-device fraud charges. Officer C.E.
        was distributing meal trays when Burns requested a cigarette
        break. Officer C.E. told Burns that he could have a cigarette break

        1 We review the procedural and substantive reasonableness of a sentence for
        an abuse of discretion. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007).
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        22-10195               Opinion of the Court                        3

        once mealtime was over and asked Burns to back up. Burns con-
        tinued to approach Officer C.E., then assaulted her, punching her
        twice in the face and knocking her to the ground. Burns then stood
        over Officer C.E., yelling profanities at her until another inmate
        pulled him away. The assault was captured on video.
               Officer C.E. was taken to the hospital by ambulance, and
        sustained injuries to her face and teeth, including a bruised and
        swollen eye and loosened teeth. She also had bruising to her left
        triceps area and back. Four days after the assault, she went to the
        doctor reporting dizziness and a mild headache.
                Regarding a potential adjustment for acceptance of respon-
        sibility, the PSI reported that, while incarcerated at Cullman
        County Jail awaiting sentencing in the instant case, Burns sent let-
        ters identified as “legal mail” in which he sought the assistance of
        associates to engage in a criminal scheme. In the letters, Burns in-
        structed individuals on how to send him papers sprayed with syn-
        thetic drugs disguised as legal mail, and stated the associates could
        earn a significant amount of money selling the contraband. Sher-
        iff’s deputies employed at the Cullman County Jail intercepted
        three such letters on October 5, 2021, October 10, 2021, and Octo-
        ber 25, 2021.
               With a total offense level of 15, and a criminal history cate-
        gory of II, Burns’ advisory Guidelines range was 21 to 27 months’
        imprisonment. The PSI also noted Burns had three prior charges
        adjudicated by the United States Army for which he was assessed
        zero criminal-history points, including (1) a 2017 charge for failure
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        4                      Opinion of the Court                22-10195

        to obey order and wrongful use of marijuana for which the dispo-
        sition was unknown; (2) a 2018 charge for wrongful use of mariju-
        ana that was not prosecuted and resulted in an administrative sep-
        aration; and (3) a charge for desertion that resulted in a general
        court martial and administrative separation. The PSI further noted
        Burns had two pending charges, including a 2021 charge for capital
        murder, for which a continuance was granted, and a 2021 charge
        for domestic violence which had been set for a jury trial. The PSI
        noted the maximum term of imprisonment for assault of a correc-
        tions officer with bodily injury is 20 years.
               Prior to sentencing, Burns objected to the paragraphs de-
        scribing the “legal mail” contraband scheme and the pending do-
        mestic-violence charges, as well as the denial of a two-point reduc-
        tion for acceptance of responsibility. Burns subsequently withdrew
        his objections to the account of the “legal mail” conduct, but main-
        tained his objection to the domestic-violence pending charges.
               At sentencing, the court overruled Burns’ objections to the
        inclusion of the domestic-violence charges. The court then stated
        it was adopting the factual statements contained in the PSI and
        made findings that the offense level was 15, the criminal history
        category was II, and the advisory Guidelines range was 21 to 27
        months.
               The Government addressed the court and noted that mem-
        bers of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office were present in support
        of the victim, who was unable to attend the sentencing hearing.
        Detective Brooks then addressed the court on behalf of the victim.
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        22-10195               Opinion of the Court                        5

        He spoke about the events of April 19, 2021, and the nature of the
        victim’s injuries. The court admitted photographic evidence of the
        victim’s injuries. The Government then addressed the court and
        stated the Guidelines range was “surprisingly low” in light of
        Burns’ conduct and the fact he did not receive a reduction for ac-
        ceptance of responsibility. In particular, the Government noted
        that Burns was not receiving a reduction for acceptance of respon-
        sibility because, during the few months prior to the sentencing
        hearing, the Cullman County Jail had confiscated multiple letters
        from Burns in which he had attempted to give instructions to indi-
        viduals outside of the jail on sending drugs and other products that
        inmates use to smoke marijuana. The Government stated Burns’
        conduct—the sending of letters—continued up until “very re-
        cently.” The Government then recommended a sentence of 27
        months, pursuant to its promise in the written plea agreement,
        while noting it was making the recommendation within the Guide-
        lines range because it agreed to do so before it knew what the
        Guidelines range would be.
              The district court then addressed Burns and stated:
              Mr. Burns, obviously I am very concerned about your
              continuing criminal conduct, even while in custody.
              It demonstrates to me that you are not truly remorse-
              ful for what you have done up to this point and,
              worse than that, your criminal conduct seems to be
              escalating. This was an unprovoked attack that
              caused absolutely horrific injuries to this officer. And
              I cannot imagine how you could have done this.
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        6                    Opinion of the Court                 22-10195

             I do not believe that the [G]uidelines adequately deter
             your criminal conduct or protect the public from
             your further crimes at twenty-seven months.
             So I am going to exercise my authority under Booker
             to impose a sentence outside the [G]uideline[s] range.
             It is the judgment of the court that the defendant,
             Lemond Lawrence Burns, is hereby committed to the
             custody of the [B]ureau of [P]risons to be imprisoned
             for a term of one hundred fifty months. The term of
             imprisonment imposed by this judgment shall run
             consecutively to all other sentences . . . .
             The court has considered the factors found at 18
             U.S.C. [§] 3553(a) and considering the [G]uideline[s]
             computations and taken them under advisement, the
             court finds that the sentence that I have just imposed
             is sufficient but not greater than necessary to comply
             with the statutory purposes of sentencing, specifically
             the nature and circumstances of the offense and the
             history and characteristics of the defendant, to reflect
             the seriousness of the offense and promote respect for
             the law and provide just punishment for the offense,
             to afford adequate deterrence from criminal conduct
             and to protect the public from further crimes of the
             defendant.
             The court does find that the sentence just imposed is
             reasonable and concludes that the sentence imposed
             would have been the same regardless of how the
             [G]uideline[s] issue had been resolved.
             ....
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        22-10195                Opinion of the Court                         7

               Sir, it is exceedingly rare for me to have somebody
               come in my courtroom that I decide seems to be the
               personification of pure evil, and I have no doubt you
               are an absolute danger to the public, to law enforce-
               ment, to anybody you’re around. I don’t know why
               that is. I hope you will take this time to look into your
               heart and consider whether you need to make some
               changes to the life you’re living.
               Burns objected to the imposed sentence as “not supported
        in law or fact.”
                                  II. DISCUSSION
        A. Procedural Reasonableness
                In reviewing the reasonableness of a sentence, we employ a
        two-part process. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007).
        First, we must ensure the district court committed no significant
        procedural error. Id. A sentence may be procedurally unreasona-
        ble if the district court improperly calculates the Guidelines range,
        treats the Guidelines as mandatory, fails to consider the 18 U.S.C.
        § 3553(a) factors, sentences based on clearly erroneous facts, or fails
        to adequately explain its chosen sentence. Id. The district court is
        not required to state on the record that it has explicitly considered
        each of the § 3553(a) factors or to discuss each of the § 3553(a) fac-
        tors. United States v. Kuhlman, 711 F.3d 1321, 1326 (11th Cir.
        2013). Generally, “[a]n acknowledgment the district court has con-
        sidered the defendant’s arguments and the § 3553(a) factors will
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        8                       Opinion of the Court                 22-10195

        suffice.” United States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319, 1324 (11th Cir.
        2008).
               Burns’ sentence is procedurally reasonable. The district
        court satisfied the requirement it consider the § 3553(a) factors and
        provided an adequate explanation for its sentence. The district
        court correctly calculated the Guidelines range, and stated it had
        considered the § 3553(a) factors and Guidelines calculations. See
        Kuhlman, 711 F.3d at 1326; Gonzalez, 550 F.3d at 1324.
        B. Substantive Reasonableness
                If the district court’s decision is procedurally sound, then we
        will consider the substantive reasonableness of the sentence. Gall,
        552 U.S. at 51. We examine whether a sentence was substantively
        reasonable in light of the totality of the circumstances, including
        the extent of any variance from the Guidelines range. Id. A district
        court imposes a substantively unreasonable sentence when it
        “(1) fails to afford consideration to relevant factors that were due
        significant weight, (2) gives significant weight to an improper or
        irrelevant factor, or (3) commits a clear error of judgment in con-
        sidering the proper factors.” United States v. Irey, 612 F.3d 1160,
        1189 (11th Cir. 2010) (en banc) (quotation marks omitted). The
        district court must impose a sentence sufficient, but not greater
        than necessary, to comply with the purposes listed in § 3553(a)(2),
        including the need to reflect the seriousness of the offense, pro-
        mote respect for the law, provide just punishment for the offense,
        deter criminal conduct, and protect the public from the defendant’s
        future criminal conduct. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(A)-(C).
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        22-10195                Opinion of the Court                          9

                In imposing a particular sentence, the court must also con-
        sider the nature and circumstances of the offense, the history and
        characteristics of the defendant, the kinds of sentences available,
        the applicable Guidelines range, the pertinent policy statements of
        the Sentencing Commission, the need to avoid unwarranted sen-
        tencing disparities, and the need to provide restitution to victims.
        Id. § 3553(a)(1), (3)-(7).
               We give due deference to the district court’s decision that
        the § 3553(a) factors, taken together, justify the extent of a variance.
        Gall, 552 U.S. at 59-60. The district court is free to consider any
        information relevant to a defendant’s background, character, and
        conduct in imposing a variance. United States v. Tome, 611 F.3d
        1371, 1379 (11th Cir. 2010). However, a “rigid mathematical for-
        mula that uses the percentage of a departure as the standard for
        determining the strength of the justifications required for a specific
        sentence” is not appropriate. Gall, 552 U.S. at 47. While an appel-
        late court may take the degree of variance into account, there is no
        rule that requires “extraordinary” circumstances to justify a sen-
        tence outside the Guidelines range. Id.
               Burns has not met his burden to show his sentence is sub-
        stantively unreasonable. See Tome, 611 F.3d at 1378 (stating the
        party challenging the sentence bears the burden to show the sen-
        tence is unreasonable). As an initial matter, the 150-month sen-
        tence imposed by the district court is well-below the 240-month
        statutory maximum sentence for assault of a corrections officer
        with bodily injury, an indicator of reasonableness. See 18 U.S.C. §
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        10                     Opinion of the Court                22-10195

        111; United States v. Rosales-Bruno, 789 F.3d 1249, 1256-57 (11th
        Cir. 2015) (holding the sentence was reasonable in part because it
        was 33 months below the statutory maximum of 120 months).
                While Burns makes several arguments regarding the district
        court’s improper consideration of and weighing of the § 3553(a)
        factors, each of his arguments fail. First, Burns’ argument the dis-
        trict court improperly considered the fact his criminal conduct oc-
        curred while he was in custody is unpersuasive, as the nature and
        circumstances of Burns’ offense, including where it occurred, was
        a relevant factor for the court to consider. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1).
        Burns’ ongoing criminal conduct, although uncharged, was rele-
        vant to the court’s consideration of the need to provide adequate
        deterrence and protect the public. Id. § 3553(a)(2). Consideration
        of Burns’ uncharged conduct was also permissible because the dis-
        trict court may rely on uncontested facts contained in a PSI, as well
        as facts not resulting in a conviction. See United States v. Faust,
        456 F.3d 1342, 1348 (11th Cir. 2006) (explaining the district court
        may also consider facts of underlying conduct that did not result in
        a conviction, so long as the facts are proved by a preponderance of
        the evidence and the sentence imposed does not exceed the maxi-
        mum sentence authorized by the jury’s verdict); United States v.
        Polar, 369 F.3d 1248, 1255 (11th Cir. 2004) (stating the district
        court’s factual findings for sentencing purposes may be based on
        evidence heard during trial, undisputed statements in the PSI, or
        evidence presented during the sentencing hearing).
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        22-10195               Opinion of the Court                        11

               Next, Burns’ argument the district court improperly consid-
        ered his lack of remorse similarly fails because such a lack of re-
        morse was relevant to the § 3553(a) factors of the need to promote
        respect for the law, to deter criminal conduct, and to protect the
        public from Burns’ future conduct. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(A)-(C).
        Additionally, Burns’ argument the district court erred because, in
        imposing an upward-variance sentence, it considered factors that
        were elements of Burns’ crime or otherwise already accounted for
        by the Guidelines is unpersuasive because it is clearly established
        by this Court’s case law that a district court may consider factors
        already taken into account by the Guidelines in imposing a vari-
        ance sentence. See United States v. Amedeo, 487 F.3d 823, 833-34
        (11th Cir. 2007) (stating in imposing a variance, the district court
        may also rely on factors that it already considered in calculating the
        defendant’s Guidelines range).
                Further, Burns’ argument his sentence is unreasonable be-
        cause the district court improperly weighed the § 3553(a) factors by
        giving significant weight to Burns’ uncharged criminal conduct and
        lack of remorse, and not enough weight to his limited criminal his-
        tory and the nature and circumstance of the offense, also fails. See
        Rosales-Bruno, 789 F.3d at 1254 (stating the weight given to any
        specific § 3553(a) factor is committed to the sound discretion of the
        district court). Burns’ assertion the court failed to provide an ade-
        quate explanation for its sentence and solely imposed an upward
        variance as a vindictive measure, as evidenced by the presence of
        officers during sentencing, is unsupported by the record. In
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        12                     Opinion of the Court                 22-10195

        imposing its sentence, the court specifically referenced several of
        the § 3553(a) factors, including protecting the public and the need
        to provide adequate deterrence. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(B)-(C). The
        district court also provided other reasons for its upward variance,
        including the escalation of Burns’ criminal conduct, which supports
        the conclusion the court provided an adequate and proper explana-
        tion for its variance. See United States v. Johnson, 803 F.3d 610,
        618-20 (11th Cir. 2015) (affirming an upward variance to 102
        months, from a Guidelines range of 70-to-87 months, and noting
        that the sentencing court “reasonably found” the Guidelines range
        “understated the seriousness” of the defendant’s “recent criminal
        history”); United States v. Early, 686 F.3d 1219, 1221 (11th Cir.
        2012) (explaining where a court imposes an upward variance based
        upon the § 3553(a) factors, it must have a justification compelling
        enough to support the degree of the variance). Moreover, at no
        point during sentencing did the district court indicate it had a vin-
        dictive motive for imposing an upward variance, nor, without
        more, can such a motive be presumed based on the presence of
        officers at sentencing.
               The record in this case does not leave a definite and firm
        conviction the district court committed a clear error of judgment
        in weighing the § 3553(a) factors. See Irey, 612 F.3d at 1190 (stating
        we will vacate on substantive reasonableness grounds only if “left
        with the definite and firm conviction that the district court com-
        mitted a clear error of judgment in weighing the § 3553(a) factors
        by arriving at a sentence that lies outside the range of reasonable
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        22-10195              Opinion of the Court                     13

        sentences dictated by the facts of the case”). Accordingly, we af-
        firm.
              AFFIRMED.