Court Opinion

ID: 4316297
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-28 00:00:17.04188+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:44.303269
License: Public Domain

Case: 17-50642      Document: 00514659392         Page: 1    Date Filed: 09/27/2018

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

                                    No. 17-50642                             FILED
                                  Summary Calendar                   September 27, 2018
                                                                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                             Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

RAMIRO MARTINEZ,

                                                 Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas
                             USDC No. 2:15-CR-246-1

Before DENNIS, CLEMENT, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Ramiro Martinez pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. The
district court sentenced Martinez within the calculated guidelines range to 121
months in prison. He now challenges the sentence imposed.
       Martinez contends that the district court did not sufficiently explain its
sentencing decision. Because he asserts this claim for the first time on appeal,

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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.
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                                  No. 17-50642

our review is for plain error only. See United States v. Mondragon-Santiago,
564 F.3d 357, 361 (5th Cir. 2009).
      The record supports that the district court did not plainly err with regard
to the sufficiency of its explanation. The district court considered the relevant
sentencing materials and the parties’ arguments as to the proper sentence and
offered specific reasons for the sentence that referred to those submissions and
invoked the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. The district court determined that a
sentence within the guidelines range was sufficient and reasonable in view of
the pertinent sentencing concerns. See Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. at 358-
59 (2007). Martinez otherwise has not shown that a more detailed explanation
would have affected his sentence and, accordingly, has not established that any
error in this respect affected his substantial rights. See Mondragon-Santiago,
564 F.3d at 364-65.
      Martinez also contends that the sentence is substantively unreasonable
because it does not account sufficiently for a variety of factors. He argues, inter
alia, that the district court did not properly consider that he had no improper
contact with children; he is unlikely to recidivate or have sexual contact with
children; he became addicted to child pornography at a young age and did not
know it was improper; his crime did not have a victim; he did not produce child
pornography; and the loss of his family and the likelihood of public shame are
sufficient punishment.
      We discern no error, plain or otherwise. See United States v. Becerril-
Pena, 714 F.3d 347, 349 n.4 (5th Cir. 2013). Here, the district court made an
individualized sentencing decision that reflects consideration of, and reference
to, the § 3553(a) factors. We will not reweigh the district court’s assessment of
the § 3553(a) factors or reverse the sentence because we might reasonably hold
that a different sentence is proper. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51-

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                                  No. 17-50642

52 (2007). Martinez’s disagreement with the weight afforded to his arguments
is insufficient to rebut the presumption of reasonableness that attaches to his
within-guidelines sentence. See United States v. Ruiz, 621 F.3d 390, 398 (5th
Cir. 2010); United States v. Alonzo, 435 F.3d 551, 554 (5th Cir. 2006).
      Martinez further asserts that the district court’s application of U.S.S.G.
§ 2G2.2 violated due process because the guideline has no empirical basis. He
concedes, however, that his argument is foreclosed and notes that he raises the
issue simply to preserve it for further review. See United States v. Miller, 665
F.3d 114, 119-23 (5th Cir. 2011). We remain bound by our prior decision. See
United States v. Traxler, 764 F.3d 486, 489 (5th Cir. 2014).
      Finally, Martinez contends that his sentence, in violation of § 3553(a)(6),
creates a sentencing disparity with other defendants convicted of possession of
child pornography. However, where a sentence is within the guidelines range,
the unwarranted-disparity factor is not afforded significant weight. See United
States v. Diaz, 637 F.3d 592, 604 (5th Cir. 2011). Moreover, he has offered no
evidence to support that his sentence represents an unjustified disparity with
similarly situated defendants. See United States v. Candia, 454 F.3d 468, 476
(5th Cir. 2006). While he refers to sentences imposed by other courts in cases
involving possession of child pornography, he has not established that he was
similarly situated to those defendants in all relevant respects. See § 3553(a)(6);
United States v. Duhon, 541 F.3d 391, 396 (5th Cir. 2008).
      Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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