Court Opinion

ID: 9401411
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-13 00:01:17.227332+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:52.545212
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-20331        Document: 00516783322             Page: 1      Date Filed: 06/12/2023

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

                                                                                       FILED
                                      No. 22-20331                                   June 12, 2023
                                    Summary Calendar                                 Lyle W. Cayce
                                    ____________                                          Clerk

   United States of America,

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Eryc Jarrod Henderson,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Southern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 4:20-CR-262-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Smith, Wiener, and Engelhardt, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
         Eryc Jarrod Henderson pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to
   possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. The district court sentenced
   him within the advisory guidelines range to 78 months of imprisonment and
   three years of supervised release. Henderson now appeals.

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-20331      Document: 00516783322          Page: 2   Date Filed: 06/12/2023

                                    No. 22-20331

          As he did in the district court, Henderson argues that the policy
   statement at U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 violates the Eighth Amendment because it
   does not allow the district court to apply a downward departure under the
   provision absent a government motion indicating that the defendant provided
   substantial assistance. However, as the district court expressly recognized at
   Henderson’s sentencing hearing, the “sentencing court has the power to
   consider a defendant’s cooperation under [18 U.S.C.] § 3553(a), irrespective
   of whether the Government files a § 5K1.1 motion.” United States v.
   Robinson, 741 F.3d 588, 599 (5th Cir. 2014). Thus, contrary to Henderson’s
   argument, § 5K1.1 does not prevent the district court from considering and
   giving effect to a defendant’s cooperation with the Government as mitigating
   evidence. See Penry v. Lynaugh, 492 U.S. 302, 318-19 (1989), abrogated on
   other grounds by Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002); Robinson, 741 F.3d at
   599-600.
          AFFIRMED.

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