Court Opinion

ID: 2813172
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-30 20:01:13.380898+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:16:35.188747
License: Public Domain

FILED
                            NOT FOR PUBLICATION                              JUN 30 2015

                                                                         MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

                             FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                        No. 14-30122

               Plaintiff - Appellee,             D.C. No. 4:13-cr-00093-BMM

 v.
                                                 MEMORANDUM*
ROBERT LEWIS BURSHIA,

               Defendant - Appellant.

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                            for the District of Montana
                     Brian M. Morris, District Judge, Presiding

                              Submitted June 22, 2015**

Before:        HAWKINS, GRABER, and W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judges.

      Robert Lewis Burshia appeals from the district court judgment and

challenges the 144-month sentence imposed following his jury-trial conviction for

three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§§ 1153(a), 113(a)(3), and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, in

          *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
          **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1153(a), 113(a)(6). We have jurisdiction under 28

U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

      Burshia contends that the district court procedurally erred by failing to

explain the sentence adequately, including why it imposed a consecutive 24-month

sentence on the serious bodily injury count. We review for plain error, see United

States v. Valencia-Barragan, 608 F.3d 1103, 1108 (9th Cir. 2010), and find none.

The record reflects that the district court considered the relevant 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a) sentencing factors, including Burshia’s substance abuse problems, and

sufficiently explained the basis for the sentence.

      Burshia also contends that his 144-month sentence is substantively

unreasonable because his need for rehabilitation outside of prison justifies a shorter

sentence. The district court did not abuse its discretion. See United States v.

Overton, 573 F.3d 679, 700 (9th Cir. 2009). The within-Guidelines sentence is

substantively reasonable in light of the section 3553(a) factors and the totality of

the circumstances, including the seriousness of the offense. See United States v.

Carty, 520 F.3d 984, 993 (9th Cir. 2008) (en banc).

      AFFIRMED.

                                           2                              14-30122