Court Opinion

ID: 9906561
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-04 16:01:23.419348+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:12.366587
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            For the Eighth Circuit
                        ___________________________

                                No. 23-1291
                        ___________________________

                            United States of America

                                      Plaintiff - Appellee

                                        v.

                               Corey Joe Barnhart

                                   Defendant - Appellant
                                 ____________

                     Appeal from United States District Court
                    for the Southern District of Iowa - Central
                                 ____________

                          Submitted: October 16, 2023
                            Filed: December 4, 2023
                                 [Unpublished]
                                 ____________

Before BENTON, SHEPHERD, and KELLY, Circuit Judges.
                          ____________

PER CURIAM.

      Corey Joe Barnhart pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute
methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). The district
court1 sentenced him to 216 months in prison to be served consecutively to his

      1
       The Honorable Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger, United States District Court
Judge for the Southern District of Iowa.
undischarged state sentences. It imposed a fine of $20,000. He appeals the sentence
and fine. Having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms.

                                           I.

      Barnhart argues his below-guidelines sentence (guidelines range 262 to 327
months) is substantively unreasonable. This court reviews for abuse of discretion.
United States v. Thigpen, 848 F.3d 841, 847 (8th Cir. 2017). “[I]t will be the unusual
case when we reverse a district court sentence—whether within, above, or below the
applicable Guidelines range—as substantively unreasonable.” United States v.
Feemster, 572 F.3d 455, 464 (8th Cir. 2009) (en banc).

        The court considered the § 3553(a) factors in sentencing Barnhart. It
recognized the seriousness of the offense, including the multiple types of controlled
substances and their distribution quantities. It noted that he was likely “engaged in
far greater drug trafficking than the seized items indicate.” It discussed his multiple
prior terms of supervision, all of which were unsuccessful. And it recognized the
mitigating factors, including his difficult childhood, exposure to drugs at a young
age, history of substance abuse, and mental health issues. Barnhart argues the court
failed to consider that his prior convictions were non-violent. But the court properly
characterized these convictions as “multiple prior controlled substance offenses.”
The court did not abuse its discretion in declining to vary further from the guidelines.
See United States v. Lazarski, 560 F.3d 731, 733 (8th Cir. 2009) (holding that “it is
nearly inconceivable that the court abused its discretion in not varying downward
still further”).

                                          II.

      Barnhart asserts the court erred in imposing his federal sentence consecutively
to his undischarged state sentences. A district court may impose a sentence
concurrently or consecutively to an undischarged term of imprisonment. 18 U.S.C.
§ 3584(a). Deciding this issue, the court “shall consider . . . the factors set forth in
                                          -2-
section 3553(a).” 18 U.S.C. § 3584(b). The court did so here, noting it was “a very
serious offense falling on the heels of multiple prior very serious controlled
substance offenses. So the nature and circumstances of the offense are obviously
incredibly aggravating.” The court also considered “protecting the public based
upon the defendant’s recidivism here.” The court did not abuse its discretion in
determining that the § 3553(a) factors warranted a consecutive sentence. See United
States v. Dunlap, 2023 WL 4881468, at *1 (8th Cir. Aug. 1, 2023) (unpublished)
(holding no abuse of discretion in imposing a consecutive sentence “especially in
light of Dunlap’s criminal history”).

                                         III.

       Barnhart challenges the court’s imposition of a $20,000 fine. This court
reviews for clear error. United States v. Peterson, 22 F.4th 805, 808 (8th Cir. 2022).
The guidelines advise imposing a fine “in all cases” unless a defendant “establishes
that he is unable to pay and is not likely to become able to pay any fine.” U.S.S.G.
§ 5E1.2(a). The advisory guideline range for the fine was $35,000 to 10,000,000.
The government requested $68,000. Imposing the fine, the court considered “the
financial information provided in the presentence investigation report, the
defendant’s age, his assets, and the length of time that he’s due to be incarcerated.”
Barnhart argues the fine is “beyond his ability to pay.” The record shows otherwise.
His assets included at least two vehicles and two residences without mortgages and
with a value of over $100,000. The court did not clearly err in imposing the fine.
See United States v. Morais, 670 F.3d 889, 894 (8th Cir. 2012) (holding no clear
error in imposing a fine based on defendant’s assets, employment, and education).

                                       *******

      The judgment is affirmed.
                      ______________________________

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