Court Opinion

ID: 803887
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-07-09 17:26:06+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:10.030869
License: Public Domain

Case: 11-50745     Document: 00511913192         Page: 1     Date Filed: 07/09/2012

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                    Fifth Circuit

                                                                            FILED
                                                                            July 9, 2012
                                     No. 11-50745
                                   Summary Calendar                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

JAVIER MONTANEZ,

                                                  Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas
                             USDC No. 5:07-CR-147-1

Before SMITH, DeMOSS, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Javier Montanez appeals his 20-month sentence imposed following the
district court’s revocation of his term of supervised release. He argues that his
above-guidelines sentence was plainly unreasonable because it reflected an
overstatement of the seriousness of his violations of the conditions of supervised
release and failed to take into account his personal circumstances. His further
assertion is that the district court should have considered the applicable policy
statements and the relevant factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors and should

       *
         Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
   Case: 11-50745    Document: 00511913192      Page: 2    Date Filed: 07/09/2012

                                  No. 11-50745

have imposed a guidelines sentence of 4-10 months, which would have satisfied
the goals of sentencing.
      Montanez did not make an objection to the reasonableness of the sentence
after it was imposed. Thus, review of the substantive reasonableness of his
sentence is for plain error. See United States v. Whitelaw, 580 F.3d 256, 259 (5th
Cir. 2009). To show plain error, Montanez must show that the district court
committed a clear or obvious error that affects his substantial rights. Id. at 260.
If he makes that showing, the court will not exercise its discretion to correct the
error unless it will seriously affect the “fairness, integrity, or public reputation
of judicial proceedings.” Id.
      The record reflects that the district court considered the policy statement
and the recommended sentencing guidelines range. Although the district court
did not expressly refer to § 3553(a)(1), it was clear that the court implicitly
considered the relevant factors in light of its knowledge of Montanez’s history
and characteristics, having presided over his first revocation proceeding, and its
consideration of the testimony and documents introduced during the revocation
hearing that reflected the nature and circumstances surrounding Montanez’s
present violations. Cf. Whitelaw, 580 F.3d at 262-65; United States v. Gonzalez,
250 F.3d 923, 930 (5th Cir. 2001). The district court also considered Montanez’s
allocution and the arguments of the parties, including defense counsel’s
assertions that the nature of Montanez’s violations did not warrant his
incarceration. Montanez’s appellate argument is essentially a request to have
this court reweigh the § 3553(a) factors, which this court will not do. See Gall
v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). The sentence imposed falls within the
60-month statutory maximum, and the record reflects that the district court
considered the policy statements and the relevant § 3553 factors. Montanez has
not demonstrated any error, plain or otherwise, in the district court’s judgment.
See Whitelaw, 580 F.3d at 265. The judgment is AFFIRMED.

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