Court Opinion

ID: 9363993
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-18 01:00:55.948507+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:35.273697
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-40573         Document: 00516613211             Page: 1      Date Filed: 01/17/2023

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

                                                                                      FILED
                                       No. 22-40573                            January 17, 2023
                                     Summary Calendar                            Lyle W. Cayce
                                     ____________                                     Clerk

   United States of America,

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                             versus

   Kerry Lynn Collier,

                                               Defendant—Appellant.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                           for the Eastern District of Texas
                                USDC No. 1:11-CR-42-4
                      ______________________________

   Before Smith, Southwick, and Douglas, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Kerry Lynn Collier, federal prisoner # 16347-078, was convicted of
   one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms
   or more of marijuana and was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment, the
   mandatory minimum sentence after application of an enhancement under 21
   U.S.C. § 851. In this appeal, Collier challenges the denial of his motion for
   compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). He contends that
          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-40573      Document: 00516613211           Page: 2     Date Filed: 01/17/2023

                                     No. 22-40573

   a change in the sentencing laws, both individually and in conjunction with
   other factors, and a disparity between his and a codefendant’s sentence are
   extraordinary and compelling circumstances warranting relief. Collier also
   challenges the district court’s determination that relief was not warranted
   after consideration of the sentencing factors of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
          The denial of a motion for compassionate release is reviewed for abuse
   of discretion. United States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d 691, 693 (5th Cir. 2020).
   A district court abuses its discretion when its decision is based on a legal error
   or a clearly erroneous assessment of the evidence. Id. at 693–94.
          The parties agreed that, pursuant to the First Step Act of 2018, Pub.
   L. No. 115-391, § 401, 132 Stat. 5194, 5220–21, if Collier were sentenced
   today, he would no longer be subject to the Section 851 enhancement and
   240-month mandatory minimum sentence. In denying relief, the district
   court did not categorically refuse to consider this change in the sentencing
   laws, and we find no abuse of discretion in the district court’s conclusion that
   the change in the sentencing laws under the extant facts was not an
   extraordinary and compelling circumstance warranting relief. Additionally,
   Collier’s argument that the district court did not consider the change in the
   sentencing laws in conjunction with other circumstances he raised has no
   merit. Even if the district court did not expressly address Collier’s argument,
   the issue was raised in Collier’s compassionate release motion, and the
   district court stated that it considered the motion and a subsequent reply. See
   Concepcion v. United States, 142 S. Ct. 2389, 2405 (2022). Finally, we find
   that Collier has not shown any abuse of discretion in the district court’s
   conclusion that any sentencing disparity between Collier and a codefendant
   was not an extraordinary or compelling circumstance.
          Collier has also failed to show the district court abused its discretion
   in determining the Section 3553(a) factors did not warrant compassionate

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Case: 22-40573      Document: 00516613211           Page: 3    Date Filed: 01/17/2023

                                     No. 22-40573

   release. See Chambliss, 948 F.3d at 693–94. In explaining its determination,
   the district court relied on Collier’s troubled criminal history; the nature and
   circumstances of his offense of conviction; and the need to protect the public,
   afford adequate deterrence, provide just punishment, and promote respect
   for the law. Collier’s challenge to the district court’s balancing of the Section
   3553(a) factors is not a sufficient ground for reversal. See id. at 694. He
   argues for the first time on appeal that changes in the sentencing laws are
   relevant to the balancing of various Section 3553(a) factors that favor his early
   release. That argument is raised too late. See United States v. Thompson, 984
   F.3d 431, 432 n.1 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 141 S. Ct. 2688 (2021).
          AFFIRMED.

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