Court Opinion

ID: 150121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-07-06 19:48:33+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:12.856252
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                      No. 09-3041
                                      __________

                           UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                           v.

              RANDY COLEMAN, also known as STEVEN JOHNSON;
           also known as STEVEN LEWIS; also known as KHABIR HAFIZ

                                                  Randy Coleman,

                                                               Appellant

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                            (D. C. No. 2-01-cr-00038-001)
                        District Judge: Hon. Paul S. Diamond

                      Submitted under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                  on May 10, 2010

                      Before: BARRY and ROTH, Circuit Judges
                              and HILLMAN*, District Judge

                              (Opinion filed July 6, 2010 )

       *Honorable Noel L. Hillman, United States District Judge for the District of New
Jersey, sitting by designation.
                                      OPINION

ROTH, Circuit Judges:

       Randy Coleman appeals the denial of his motion pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)

for a sentence modification based on the retroactive amendments to the crack cocaine

Sentencing Guidelines. The District Court had jurisdiction to consider his motion under

18 U.S.C. § 3231, and we have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We will affirm.

I. Background

       Coleman was convicted of, inter alia, possessing crack cocaine with the intent to

distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). He received a sentence of 220 months

incarceration. After appealing his conviction and sentence, Coleman filed a § 3582

motion to modify his sentence. That motion was based on Amendment 706 to § 2D1.1 of

the Sentencing Guidelines, which retroactively reduced the base offense level for crack

cocaine convictions. U.S.S.G. App. C, Amend. 706 (Nov. 1, 2007).

       The District Court found that this amendment applied to Coleman and would result

in a sentence reduction; however, it denied Coleman’s motion based on his post-sentence

conduct, including an assault in which he stabbed another inmate eight times. Coleman

argues that it was error for the District Court to consider his post-sentence conduct. He

argues further that he was entitled to an evidentiary hearing, as he could have introduced

evidence that he had acted in self defense, that he had three years of good conduct, that he

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had paid his assessments and fines in full, and that he had completed over 1,000 hours in

GED classes.

II. Discussion

       Because § 3582(c)(2) provides that a “court may reduce the term of imprisonment,”

we review the District Court’s denial for abuse of discretion. United States v. Styer, 573 F.3d

151, 153 (3d Cir. 2009). Not only does a court have discretion to determine if a modification

is warranted, but it also has discretion to determine if an evidentiary hearing is necessary.

Id.

       Section 3582(c)(2) requires courts to consider the applicable factors set forth in 18

U.S.C. § 3553(a), including the need “to protect the public from further crimes of the

defendant.” 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(C). In addition, courts may consider post-sentencing

conduct when ruling on a sentence modification motion. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10, cmt. n.

1(B)(iii).

       Here, the District Court considered the § 3553(a) factors as well as Coleman’s post-

sentence conduct, including not only the assault but also Coleman’s educational courses and

his payment of all fines and assessments. The District Court weighed these factors and

determined that, even crediting Coleman’s assertion that the assault was justified self-

defense, Coleman presented a public safety risk. It therefore denied his modification motion.

In doing so, the District Court weighed the relevant factors. We cannot conclude that the

Court abused its discretion in denying Coleman’s motion.

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       We likewise find that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in reaching this

determination without an evidentiary hearing. Coleman did not request a hearing and, even

if he had, Coleman has not identified any information he would have presented that the

District Court did not already consider.

III. Conclusion

       Accordingly, we will affirm the District Court’s order denying Coleman’s request

for a modified sentence.

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