Court Opinion

ID: 803183
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-06-26 23:33:42+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:07.055875
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-10021     Document: 00511900204         Page: 1     Date Filed: 06/26/2012

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                    Fifth Circuit

                                                                            FILED
                                                                           June 26, 2012
                                     No. 12-10021
                                   Summary Calendar                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

DONNIE RAY WILLARD, JR.,

                                                  Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 5:02-CR-83-1

Before REAVLEY, SMITH, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Proceeding pro se, Donnie Ray Willard, Jr., federal prisoner # 28690-177,
appeals the denial of his 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) motion to reduce his sentence in
light of Amendment 750 to the Sentencing Guidelines. Willard pleaded guilty
to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack
cocaine) and was sentenced to 188 months in prison.
        The district court’s decision whether to reduce a sentence under
§ 3582(c)(2) is reviewed for an abuse of discretion, while the court’s

       *
         Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
   Case: 12-10021    Document: 00511900204      Page: 2    Date Filed: 06/26/2012

                                  No. 12-10021

interpretation of the Guidelines is reviewed de novo. United States v. Evans, 587
F.3d 667, 672 (5th Cir. 2009). Section 3582(c)(2) permits the discretionary
modification of a defendant’s sentence “in the case of a defendant who has been
sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that has
subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing Commission pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 994(o).” § 3582(c)(2); see United States v. Doublin, 572 F.3d 235, 237 (5th Cir.
2009).
      As an initial matter, the record refutes Willard’s assertions that the
Government failed to determine whether he was eligible for a sentencing
reduction and that the Government and the district court, in finding that he was
not entitled to a reduction, incorrectly determined that he was a career offender.
The district court agreed with the Government that, although Willard was
eligible for § 3582(c)(2) relief based on Amendment 750, the court should not
exercise its discretion to grant such relief.
      We also find without merit Willard’s arguments that the district court, in
denying him a reduction under Amendment 750, accorded too much weight to
his post-conviction disciplinary record, failed to accord proper weight to his post-
conviction rehabilitative conduct, and failed to properly consider the § 3553(a)
factors.   The sentencing court’s decision whether to reduce a defendant’s
sentence is informed by the applicable § 3553(a) factors and the pertinent
guideline policy statements. § 3582(c)(2). The district court may also consider
Willard’s post-sentencing conduct occurring after imposition of the original term
of imprisonment. See United States v. Robinson, 542 F.3d 1045, 1052 (5th Cir.
2008). The record reflects sufficient consideration of Willard’s post-sentencing
conduct and the § 3553(a) factors. See Evans, 587 F.3d at 672-74.
      Willard’s argument that he is entitled to relief under the Fair Sentencing
Act of 2010 (FSA) is without merit. A § 3582(c)(2) proceeding is not a full
resentencing, Dillon v. United States, 130 S. Ct. 2683, 269-94 (2010), and is
limited to the consideration only of retroactive amendments to the Guidelines.

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   Case: 12-10021   Document: 00511900204     Page: 3   Date Filed: 06/26/2012

                                 No. 12-10021

Thus, although the FSA led to Amendment 750, the FSA, standing alone, has no
implications for a § 3582(c)(2) proceeding.
      Lastly, Willard has not shown that the interests of justice required the
appointment of counsel as the § 3582(c)(2) motion did not involve complicated or
unresolved issues. See Robinson, 542 F.3d at 1052. The judgment of the district
court is AFFIRMED.

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