Court Opinion

ID: 4519775
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-26 17:00:40.254328+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:51:07.418659
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                    United States Court of Appeals
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        Tenth Circuit

                            FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT                          March 26, 2020
                        _________________________________
                                                                       Christopher M. Wolpert
                                                                           Clerk of Court
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

       Plaintiff - Appellee,

 v.                                                        No. 19-7057
                                                 (D.C. No. 6:16-CR-0012-RAW-1)
 EDWARD ROBERT SALDANA, II,                                (E.D. Okla.)

       Defendant - Appellant.
                      _________________________________

                            ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
                        _________________________________

Before MATHESON, KELLY, and EID, Circuit Judges.
                  _________________________________

      Edward Robert Saldana, II, proceeding pro se, 1 appeals the district court’s

denial of his motion to reduce his sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), as

amended by the First Step Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-391, 132 Stat. 5194.

      *
        After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding
precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral
estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with
Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
      1
         Because Mr. Saldana is pro se, we construe his filings liberally, but we do
not act as his advocate. Yang v. Archuleta, 525 F.3d 925, 927 n.1 (10th Cir. 2008).
He is subject to the same procedural rules governing other litigants. See United
States v. Green, 886 F.3d 1300, 1307-08 (10th Cir. 2018).
Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we agree with the district court that

he was not entitled to relief, but vacate the order denying the motion and remand for

dismissal for lack of jurisdiction.

                                  I. BACKGROUND

       A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Oklahoma indicted Mr. Saldana

for five counts relating to firearm and drug possession. Under a written plea

agreement, he pled guilty to Counts One, Three, and Four: (1) possessing a firearm

as a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2); (3) possessing

methamphetamine and oxycodone with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C); and (4) possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug

trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). 2 The Government

dismissed Counts Two and Five.

      Mr. Saldana’s Presentence Report (“PSR”) determined his prior Oklahoma

state law conviction for assault and battery of a police officer in violation of 21 Okla.

Stat. Ann. § 649(B) was a crime of violence under United States Sentencing

Guideline § 2K2.1(a)(4)(A). This determination produced a Guidelines range of 46

      2
         Under the plea agreement, Mr. Saldana waived his rights to directly appeal
and collaterally attack his conviction and sentence, including his “right to have [his]
sentence modified pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c).” ROA, Vol. I at 23; see United
States v. Goudeau, 390 F. App’x 814, 817-18 (10th Cir. 2010) (unpublished)
(enforcing defendant’s waiver of his right to seek a sentence modification under
§ 3582(c)(2)). The Government does not seek to enforce Mr. Saldana’s waiver here.

                                            2
to 57 months for Counts One and Three. 3 For Count Four, the PSR recommended the

60-month statutory mandatory minimum. See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.4(b) (stating the

Guideline sentence for a § 924(c) conviction “is the minimum term of imprisonment

required by statute”); 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (imposing a 60-month statutory

mandatory minimum).

      The district court sentenced Mr. Saldana to concurrent 46-month prison terms

for Counts One and Three and a consecutive 60-month term for Count Four. It also

ordered three years of supervised release. Mr. Saldana did not appeal.

      Nearly one year later, Mr. Saldana moved pro se to reduce his sentence under

18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A). The First Step Act, effective December 21, 2018, and

discussed further below, amended § 3582(c)(1)(A) to authorize a defendant to move

the sentencing court for a sentence reduction for “extraordinary and compelling

reasons.” 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i); see Pub. L. No. 115-391 § 603(b), 132 Stat.

at 5239. Previously, only the Director of the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) could bring

such a motion.

      In his motion, Mr. Saldana contended his prior Oklahoma state law conviction

no longer qualified as a crime of violence under § 2K2.1(a)(4)(A), entitling him to a

lower Guidelines range. He also asserted his post-conviction behavior and

participation in rehabilitative programs supported a sentence reduction.

      3
        The PSR grouped Counts One and Three when calculating the Guidelines
range because “one of the counts embodie[d] conduct that is treated as a specific
offense characteristic in, or other adjustment to, the guideline applicable to [the
other] count[].” U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2(c).
                                           3
       The district court denied the motion, concluding Mr. Saldana had “not

established the existence of . . . extraordinary and compelling reasons warranting a

reduction in sentence” under § 3582(c)(1)(A). ROA, Vol. I at 202. Mr. Saldana

timely appealed, arguing the district court abused its discretion in denying a sentence

reduction under § 3582(c)(1)(A). 4

                                     II. DISCUSSION

                                A. Legal Background

       Congress enacted the First Step Act to reform sentencing law and to reduce

recidivism. The Act is probably best known for permitting a sentencing court to

reduce a sentence for specific crack cocaine offenses not at issue here. See Pub. L.

No. 115-391 § 404, 132 Stat. at 5222. It also authorizes a defendant to ask the

sentencing court for a sentence reduction under § 3582(c)(1)(A). See § 603(b), 132

Stat. at 5239. 5

       Under § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i), a district court may grant a sentence reduction if,

after considering the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors, it finds that

       4
         We review de novo whether a district court “possesse[s] jurisdiction to
modify [a] [d]efendant’s sentence” under § 3582(c)(1)(A). United States v. Smartt,
129 F.3d 539, 540 (10th Cir. 1997) (quotations omitted); see United States v. Lucero,
713 F.3d 1024, 1026 (10th Cir. 2013) (“The scope of a district court’s authority in a
sentencing modification proceeding under § 3582(c)(2) is a question of law that we
review de novo.” (brackets and quotations omitted)). We review for abuse of
discretion the district court’s decision to deny an authorized sentence reduction.
United States v. Piper, 839 F.3d 1261, 1265 (10th Cir. 2016) (quotations omitted).
       5
       The district court determined, and the Government does not dispute, that Mr.
Saldana properly exhausted his administrative remedies to bring his motion.
                                           4
“extraordinary and compelling reasons warrant such a reduction” and the “reduction

is consistent with applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing

Commission.” 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). Congress has directed the Sentencing

Commission to promulgate policy statements defining “what should be considered

extraordinary and compelling reasons for [a] sentence reduction, including the

criteria to be applied.” 28 U.S.C. § 994(t). “Rehabilitation of the defendant alone

shall not be considered an extraordinary and compelling reason.” Id.

      The Sentencing Commission has listed four categories of extraordinary and

compelling reasons: “(A) Medical Condition of the Defendant,” “(B) Age of the

Defendant,” “(C) Family Circumstances,” and “(D) Other Reasons.” U.S.S.G.

§ 1B1.13, cmt. n.1. Mr. Saldana does not assert his medical condition, age, or family

circumstances justify relief. He instead relies on “(D) Other Reasons.” Commentary

to § 1B1.13 defines “Other Reasons” to include “an extraordinary and compelling

reason other than, or in combination with, the reasons described in subdivisions (A)

through (C),” “[a]s determined by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons.” Id., cmt.

n.1(D).

      BOP Program Statement 5050.50 identifies several nonexclusive factors to

determine whether “other” extraordinary and compelling reasons exist: the

defendant’s criminal and personal history, nature of his offense, disciplinary

infractions, length of sentence and amount of time served, current age and age at the

time of offense and sentencing, release plans, and “[w]hether release would minimize

                                           5
the severity of the offense.” BOP Program Statement 5050.50 at 12 (2019); 6 see

Reno v. Koray, 515 U.S. 50, 61 (1995) (holding that BOP program statements are

entitled to “some deference” when they reflect a “permissible construction of the

statute” (quotations omitted)).

      Ultimately, “[a] district court is authorized to modify a [d]efendant’s sentence

only in specified instances where Congress has expressly granted the court

jurisdiction to do so.” United States v. White, 765 F.3d 1240, 1244 (10th Cir. 2014)

(quotations omitted). “Unless the basis for resentencing falls within one of the

specific categories authorized by section 3582(c), the district court lacked

jurisdiction to consider [the defendant’s] request.” United States v. Brown, 556 F.3d

1108, 1113 (10th Cir. 2009) (quotations omitted).

                                      B. Analysis

      The district court considered the § 1B1.13 commentary, BOP Program

Statement 5050.50, and the § 3553(a) sentencing factors. It determined Mr. Saldana

had not established extraordinary and compelling reasons justifying a sentence

reduction under § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). Mr. Saldana argues the court failed to adequately

consider (1) his post-conviction rehabilitation efforts, and (2) post-sentencing Tenth

Circuit case law that suggests his Oklahoma state law conviction for assault and

      6
          BOP Program Statement 5050.50 is accessible at https://perma.cc/98YN-
KRQX.

                                           6
battery on a police officer is not a crime of violence under the Sentencing

Guidelines. 7 Neither argument warrants reversal.

      First, the district court considered Mr. Saldana’s post-conviction rehabilitation

efforts. See ROA, Vol. I at 201 (noting his “efforts to better himself [while

incarcerated] are commendable”). But it determined other relevant factors, including

the severity of his offenses, criminal history, and time served, weighed against

granting relief. See id. (noting Mr. Saldana “possessed a firearm while trafficking

methamphetamine and oxycodone,” had a “history . . . [of] two DUI convictions and

an Oklahoma conviction for assault and battery on a police officer,” and had served

only “one-half of the total sentence imposed”). The court did not err in finding,

consistent with 28 U.S.C. § 994(t), that Mr. Saldana’s “[r]ehabilitation . . . alone”

was not “an extraordinary and compelling reason” for a sentence reduction under

§ 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13, cmt. n.3.

      Second, neither the § 1B1.13 commentary nor BOP Program Statement

5050.50 identify post-sentencing developments in case law as an “extraordinary and

compelling reason” warranting a sentence reduction. Moreover, Mr. Saldana does

not explain how his request overcomes our cases stating that § 3582(c), a

jurisdictional statute, does not authorize a sentence reduction based on new case law,

see United States v. Price, 438 F.3d 1005, 1007 (10th Cir. 2006), including

      7
        Although Mr. Saldana fails to cite it, in United States v. Johnson, 911 F.3d
1062, 1070-73 (10th Cir. 2018), we held his Oklahoma statute of prior conviction is
not a “violent felony” under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

                                            7
developments in “crime of violence” case law, see United States v. Diggs, 365 F.

App’x 961, 962 (10th Cir. 2010) (unpublished). 8 We thus find no error in the district

court’s decision not to consider § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) relief on that basis.

      Because Mr. Saldana is unable to show that he satisfies “one of the specific

categories authorized by section 3582(c), the district court lacked jurisdiction to

consider [his] request.” Brown, 556 F.3d at 1113 (quotations omitted). 9

                                 III. CONCLUSION

      The district court should have dismissed Mr. Saldana’s motion because our

cases require the movant to show that § 3582(c) authorizes relief for the court to have

jurisdiction. See White, 765 F.3d at 1250; United States v. C.D., 848 F.3d 1286, 1291

      8
        See 10th Cir. R. 32.1 (“Unpublished decisions are not precedential, but may
be cited for their persuasive value.”); see also Fed. R. App. P. 32.1.
      9
         Section 3582(c)(2) authorizes a court to reduce a sentence “based on a
sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing
Commission.” But “the Sentencing Commission, not the Supreme Court, [must have]
lowered the [Guidelines] range.” United States v. Price, 438 F.3d 1005, 1007 (10th
Cir. 2006); see United States v. Diggs, 365 F. App’x 961, 962 (10th Cir. 2010)
(unpublished) (rejecting defendant’s argument that “development in the ‘crime of
violence’ case law” warranted a § 3582(c) reduction when defendant failed to
“offer[] any relevant reduction of his sentencing range by the Sentencing
Commission”).
       Further, § 3582(c)(1)(B) authorizes the district court to modify a sentence “to
the extent . . . expressly permitted by statute.” But Mr. Saldana has not offered a
statutory basis for a reduction. Although § 404 of the First Step Act allows a court to
retroactively reduce a sentence for offenses whose statutory penalties were “modified
by section 2 or 3 of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010,” Pub. L. No. 115-391 § 404(a),
132 Stat. at 5222, the Fair Sentencing Act did not modify the statutory penalties for
Mr. Saldana’s offenses, see Pub. L. No. 111-220, 124 Stat. 2372.
                                            8
(10th Cir. 2017). We thus vacate the order denying his motion and remand with

instructions to dismiss the motion for lack of jurisdiction.

                                            Entered for the Court

                                            Scott M. Matheson, Jr.
                                            Circuit Judge

                                            9