Court Opinion

ID: 71060
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 07:11:34+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:39:15.098339
License: Public Domain

Case: 09-10217       Document: 00511025621          Page: 1    Date Filed: 02/11/2010

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

                                                 FILED
                                                                          February 11, 2010
                                     No. 09-10217
                                   Summary Calendar                    Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                               Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                   Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

JOSHUA LOHMANN,

                                                   Defendant-Appellant.

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                                No. 4:08-CR-147-4

Before DAVIS, SMITH, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*

       Joshua Lohmann pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 50 grams or
more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of metham-

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR .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: 09-10217   Document: 00511025621 Page: 2        Date Filed: 02/11/2010
                                No. 09-10217

phetamine. He appeals his sentence, arguing that the district court erred by de-
nying credit for acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1.
      Although following United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), the sen-
tencing guidelines are advisory only, and we review an ultimate sentence for rea-
sonableness under an abuse-of-discretion standard, the district court still must
properly calculate the guideline-sentencing range. Gall v. United States, 552
U.S. 38, 51 (2007). Generally, we review the district court’s application of the
guidelines de novo and its factual findings for clear error. See United States v.
Cisneros-Gutierrez, 517 F.3d 751, 764 (5th Cir. 2008); United States v. Villegas,
404 F.3d 355, 359 (5th Cir. 2005).
      We accord “even greater deference” than under clear error review to the
refusal to grant a reduction for acceptance of responsibility. United States v.
Buchanan, 485 F.3d 274, 287 (5th Cir. 2007). We will not reverse a denial under
§ 3E.1.1 unless the decision is “without foundation.” United States v. Juarez-
Duarte, 513 F.3d 204, 211 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 128 S. Ct. 2452 (2008).
      Lohmann contends that the district court erred by denying credit for ac-
ceptance of responsibility based on his objection to the drug quantity determin-
ation set forth in the presentence report (“PSR”). In the district court, Lohmann
objected to being held accountable for 23 ounces of methamphetamine on the
strength of statements made by co-defendant Cory Mitchell, who indicated that
he had obtained methamphetamine from Lohmann’s mother and that he had
then distributed that methamphetamine to Lohmann. The PSR also reported
that Lohmann had made a statement denying that his mother had been involved
in methamphetamine distribution.
      As Lohmann notes, there was testimony at sentencing from a law enforce-
ment officer to the effect that it was not feasible for drug transactions between
Mitchell and Lohmann’s mother to have occurred. The district court, however,
in overruling Lohmann’s objection to drug quantity, implicitly determined that
Mitchell’s account was accurate. The court’s view of the evidence regarding drug

                                        2
   Case: 09-10217   Document: 00511025621 Page: 3        Date Filed: 02/11/2010
                                No. 09-10217

quantity is plausible in light of the record, which includes Mitchell’s statements
as reported in the PSR and other evidence that Lohmann’s mother trafficked in
methamphetamine. See United States v. Burns, 526 F.3d 852, 859 (5th Cir.
2008); United States v. Caldwell, 448 F.3d 287, 291 n.1 (5th Cir. 2006). The de-
nial of a reduction for acceptance of responsibility is not “without foundation.”
See Juarez-Duarte, 513 F.3d at 211.
      Accordingly, the judgment is AFFIRMED. Lohman’s motion for substitute
counsel, which was filed after the completion of briefing, is DENIED.

                                        3