Court Opinion

ID: 9391366
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-02 00:00:32.048053+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:41.365230
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-20554        Document: 00516733665             Page: 1      Date Filed: 05/01/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit                                        United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Fifth Circuit

                                     ____________                                     FILED
                                                                                     May 1, 2023
                                      No. 22-20554                               Lyle W. Cayce
                                    Summary Calendar                                  Clerk
                                    ____________

   United States of America,

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Jase DePaul Gautreaux,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Southern District of Texas
                               USDC No. 4:21-CR-47-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Jones, Haynes, and Oldham, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Jase DePaul Gautreaux, federal prisoner # 17649-579, appeals the
   denial of his 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) motion for compassionate release.
   On appeal, Gautreaux contends that the district court erred in denying his
   motion because it never addressed the Government’s failure to comply with
   alleged guidance by the Department of Justice regarding the medical

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-20554      Document: 00516733665           Page: 2     Date Filed: 05/01/2023

                                     No. 22-20554

   conditions of prisoners that rise to the level of extraordinary and compelling
   circumstances warranting compassionate release and it failed to consider
   Gautreaux’s medical conditions in conjunction with his vulnerability to
   contracting severe COVID-19 and his rehabilitation while in prison.
          We review the denial of Gautreaux’s § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) motion for an
   abuse of discretion. See United States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d 691, 693 (5th
   Cir. 2020).    The district court’s failure to address the Government’s
   compliance or noncompliance with any alleged governmental policy or
   guidance did not constitute an abuse of discretion. Further, Gautreaux’s
   arguments concerning his medical conditions, his vulnerability to contracting
   severe COVID-19, and his rehabilitation in prison were all before the district
   court, and the district court considered them all, whether individually or
   collectively, in denying relief. See Concepcion v. United States, 142 S. Ct. 2389,
   2404 (2022); United States v. Evans, 587 F.3d 667, 673 (5th Cir. 2009).
          Because Gautreaux fails to demonstrate that the district court abused
   its discretion in denying his motion for compassionate release based on its
   finding that he failed to establish extraordinary and compelling
   circumstances, we do not reach his argument that the district court failed to
   adequately address the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. See United States v.
   Jackson, 27 F.4th 1088, 1093 n.8 (5th Cir. 2022); Chambliss, 948 F.3d at 693.
   The district court’s decision is AFFIRMED.              Gautreaux’s motion to
   reassign the case to a different judge on remand is DENIED as moot. His
   motion to place this opinion under seal is DENIED as unnecessary.

                                               2