Court Opinion

ID: 3037948
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:57:33.411306+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:13:40.564631
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                  ___________

                                    No. 04-2395
                                    ___________

United States of America,              *
                                       *
            Plaintiff - Appellee,      *
                                       * Appeal from the United States
       v.                              * District Court for the Eastern
                                       * District of Arkansas.
Isidro Navarette-Zamora,               *
                                       *      [PUBLISHED]
            Defendant - Appellant.     *
                                  ___________

                           Submitted:
                               Filed: July 20, 2005
                                   ___________

Before
                                    ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Isidro Navarette-Zamora pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 500
grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846.
The district court1 found that his criminal history was Category I, he deserved a three-
level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, he was responsible for over 1700

      1
       The Honorable Susan Webber Wright, United States District Judge for the
Eastern District of Arkansas.
grams of methamphetamine, and his total offense level was thirty-one. The
Guidelines range was 108 to 135 months, but the statutory mandatory minimum was
120 months. On May 18, 2004, the district court imposed the minimum, 120 month
sentence.

       Shortly after sentencing, defense counsel recognized that Mr. Navarette-
Zamora was eligible for safety valve relief. On May 25, 2004, the district court
granted an unopposed motion to modify the presentence report and correct the
judgment. The district court found that Mr. Navarette-Zamora met all the criteria of
U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2 such that the statutory mandatory minimum did not apply. Also,
as adjusted under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(7), his total offense level became 29. The
resultant Guidelines range was 87 to 101 months. The district court applied the
minimum sentence of 87 months.

       Mr. Navarette-Zamora argues on appeal that his sentence involved error under
Blakely v. Washington, 124 S.Ct. 2531 (2004). His appeal was pending when the
Supreme Court issued its opinion in Blakely. Because he raises this issue for the first
time on appeal, we review for plain error under United States v. Pirani, 406 F.3d 543,
551-52 (8th Cir. 2005). The district court, in May 2004, understandably made a
factual finding by the preponderance of the evidence standard and applied the
Guidelines as mandatory. Accordingly, there was error. Under Pirani, Mr. Navarette-
Zamora must show that this error affected his substantial rights, i.e., that the error was
prejudicial. Id. In this context, prejudice means that there is a reasonable probability
that the district court would have granted a lesser sentence had the district court not
treated the Guidelines as mandatory. Id.

      Here, the district court initially imposed the statutory minimum sentence, then
granted safety valve relief and imposed a bottom-of-the-range Guidelines sentence.
There is nothing else to suggest that the district court would have granted a lesser
sentence.

                                           -2-
       In Pirani, we held that a sentence at the bottom of the Guidelines range is
insufficient, standing alone, for a defendant to make the required showing of
prejudice. Id. at 553 (“But sentencing at the bottom of the range is the norm for many
judges, so it is insufficient, without more, to demonstrate a reasonable probability that
the court would have imposed a lesser sentence absent the Booker error.”). Here, it
is arguable that the district court’s repeated bottom-of-the-range sentences suggest
that the district court might have granted a lesser sentence had it not believed itself
to be constrained by a mandatory sentencing regime. We reject this argument
because, as we stated in Pirani, sentencing at the bottom of the range may be the
norm. If it is the norm, it is not unexpected that a district court would repeat this
action twice in the same case. Barring other indicia from the district court that a
lesser sentence would be appropriate, Pirani forecloses relief on the present facts.

      This appeal involves no other claims that merit discussion, and having carefully
reviewed the record, we affirm the judgment of the district court. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.
Counsel’s request to withdraw is granted.

BRIGHT, Circuit Judge, dissenting.

      I dissent.

      I would remand this case for resentencing.

      As the majority notes, the district court sentenced the defendant under
mandatory guidelines and thereby erred. The error is plain. The only question is
whether, under our decision in Pirani, there is a reasonable probability that the
sentencing judge would impose a lower sentence if we sent the case back.

     In Pirani we said that a sentence at the bottom of the guideline range is not
enough to show a reasonable probability of a lower sentence on remand. Pirani did

                                          -3-
not contemplate or consider the unusual situation we have here: The sentencing
judge gives the lowest available sentence the first time around; then it is discovered
that the sentence can be even lower, and the judge gives the lowest available sentence
the second time, too.

       I think it is reasonably clear that the judge thought the available sentences were
too high. I think it is reasonably probable that the judge would give a lower sentence
if she could.

      Thus, here the sentence should be remanded.
                           ______________________________

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