Court Opinion

ID: 9352127
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-05 01:00:20.554504+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:58:01.417576
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-30555         Document: 00516597118           Page: 1      Date Filed: 01/04/2023

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

                                      No. 22-30555
                                                                                     FILED
                                                                               January 4, 2023
                                    Summary Calendar
                                                                                Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                     Clerk
   United States of America,

                                                                    Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   John E. Bagent,

                                                                Defendant—Appellant.

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Eastern District of Louisiana
                                USDC No. 2:11-CR-19-1

   Before Higginbotham, Duncan, and Wilson, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
          John E. Bagent, federal prisoner # 31872-034, moves for leave to
   proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) in his appeal from the denial of his 18 U.S.C.
   § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) motion for compassionate release. He is currently serving
   a 225-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent
   to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride and 280 grams or

          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.
Case: 22-30555      Document: 00516597118          Page: 2    Date Filed: 01/04/2023

                                    No. 22-30555

   more of cocaine base. The district court determined that Bagent failed to
   show extraordinary and compelling circumstances warranting relief and that
   the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors did not weigh in favor of relief. See
   § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i).
          Bagent first contends that his preexisting conditions and vulnerability
   to COVID-19 are extraordinary and compelling circumstances that warrant
   compassionate release. Second, he argues that his prior Louisiana conviction
   for aggravated assault with a firearm no longer qualifies as a predicate offense
   and that he would no longer be subject to the career offender enhancement
   under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1. Lastly, Bagent argues that the district court
   improperly balanced the § 3553(a) sentencing factors. Bagent fails to identify
   a nonfrivolous argument for appeal. See United States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d
   691, 693-94 (5th Cir. 2020).
          Accordingly, his IFP motion is DENIED, and the appeal is
   DISMISSED as frivolous. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 & n.24
   (5th Cir. 1997); Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983); 5th Cir.
   R. 42.2.

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