Court Opinion

ID: 2805230
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-03 15:01:30.251165+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:29:55.414136
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                             For the Eighth Circuit
                         ___________________________

                                 No. 14-1499
                         ___________________________

                              United States of America

                         lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee

                                            v.

                                   Kenneth Keatings

                       lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant
                                       ____________

                      Appeal from United States District Court
                 for the Western District of Missouri - Kansas City
                                  ____________

                           Submitted: November 14, 2014
                               Filed: June 3, 2015
                                  ____________

Before BYE, SHEPHERD, and KELLY, Circuit Judges.
                           ____________

SHEPHERD, Circuit Judge.

        The district court1 gave Kenneth Keatings a choice for his felon in possession
of a firearm conviction—a year and a day in prison or five years on probation. The
probationary sentence came with a caveat; if he violated the terms of his probation,

      1
       The Honorable Dean Whipple, United States District Judge for the Western
District of Missouri.
he could face ten years in prison, the statutory maximum for his crime. Keatings
chose the probation. Just four months after receiving this sentence, Keatings was
back in front of the district court accused of probation violations—the use of cocaine
and the consumption of alcohol. The court imposed the threatened ten-year sentence.
Keatings argues the district court committed plain error or an abuse of discretion
when it imposed the ten-year sentence. We affirm.

                                           I.

       Keatings initially pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. See
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He faced up to ten years in prison. See 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2).
Keatings’s Sentencing Guidelines range was 30-37 months. At his initial sentencing,
Keatings’s attorney stressed that although Keatings’s criminal history was a Category
3, his last felony was over 18 years old. Also, Keatings was cooperative with the
investigation that led to his conviction, had no pretrial release violations except one
positive test for marijuana that was early in his release, and had maintained an
ongoing, full-time job in which his employer reported that he was an outstanding
employee. Keatings’s attorney pled for the imposition of a probationary sentence,
stating, “He will follow any conditions that the Court makes him follow or lays down
as an order, and give him the opportunity to complete it, and if he doesn’t, the Court
always has repercussions that he is crystal clear aware of if he’s not law-abiding.”
(Sent. Tr. 8.) Keatings also pled his case directly to the court, promising “if you give
me a chance, I’ll show you I’ll be a better man and you’ll never see me again.” (Sent.
Tr. 9.) The district court then reviewed Keatings’s prior criminal history and noted
that on several occasions he had commited probation and parole violations that
resulted in additional prison time. The court then asked Keatings, “Why should I
consider you’ll do any better now if I put you on probation like you asked?” (Sent.
Tr. 15.) Keatings responded that he was trying to get his life in order, continue his
job, and take care of his home. The following colloquy then occurred:

                                          -2-
             The Court: Mr. Keatings, here’s what I’m thinking, I’ll send you
      to prison today for a year and a day, or I’ll put you on probation for five
      years, with the understanding, I’m going to give you some pretty strict
      conditions –
             Defendant Keatings: Yes, sir.
             The Court: - - if you violate a condition, then I’m reserving the
      right to revoke your probation, and the statutory maximum is ten years.
      I’m reserving the right to send you to prison for ten years if you break
      this probation.
             Defendant Keatings: Yes, sir.
             The Court: What do you want to do?
             Defendant Keatings: Take the probation.
             The Court: Do you hear what I’m saying?
             Defendant Keatings: I understand what you’re saying, Your
      Honor.

(Sent. Tr. 16.)

       The court proceeded to lay out the strict conditions of the probation, which
included no possession or consumption of drugs or alcohol and a curfew from 10:00
PM to 5:00 AM. As the sentencing concluded, the court again recited its warning to
Keatings. “Don’t gamble with this. And, remember, Keatings, I’m threatening ten
years if you break this thing, ten years in prison. That will put you in a retirement
home when you get out if you violate the probation.” (Sent. Tr. 25.) As the
sentencing concluded, Keatings stated, “You’ll never see me again.” (Sent. Tr. 27.)

       Two months later, the district court issued an arrest warrant for Keatings based
on the probation office’s report of probation violations. The probation office filed a
revocation packet with the court. The packet included a violation report,
supplemental violation report, and a violation worksheet. The violation worksheet
classified the violations under Chapter 7 of the Sentencing Guidelines and noted the
recommended range of imprisonment based on those violations. The probation office
also recommended a revocation sentence of 33 months imprisonment for Keatings.

                                         -3-
       In February 2014, the district court held the probation revocation hearing for
Keatings. The probation officer testified that Keatings had six sweat patches applied
between October 17, 2013, and December 5, 2013, and that all tested positive for
cocaine usage. The officer further testified that Keatings had been arrested for
driving under the influence of alcohol on November 8, 2013, and that Keatings
admitted to the officers upon his arrest that he had consumed alcohol. Because one
of the six sweat patches had been compromised, the district court determined that
Keatings had violated the conditions of his probation by using cocaine on five
occasions and consuming alcohol on one occasion.

       The court heard from the Assistant United States Attorney and Keatings’s
counsel on the question of sentencing. Keatings’s attorney argued that despite the
probation violations, the court was required to consider the factors under 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553, including the seriousness of the underlying offense, respect for the law, and
just punishment. Counsel also reminded the court of the mitigating factors that had
led the court to impose the lenient sentence in October. Keatings’s counsel
additionally reminded the court that the Sentencing Guidelines range for the felon in
possession conviction was 30 to 37 months imprisonment. Keatings requested a
sentence of 24 months or, if the district court believed that sentence to be too low, an
alternative sentence of 30 months, which was the bottom of his Sentencing
Guidelines range.

       The district court reminded Keatings of the prior sentencing hearing and the
threatened ten-year sentence, the statutory maximum for his conviction. The district
court then said:

             Mr. Keatings, I told you what I was going to do. I’m going to do
      it. I’m revoking your probation. I’m imposing a sentence of ten years
      in the Bureau of Prisons. Upon serving of that sentence, I will release
      you without any probation or supervised release to follow.

                                          -4-
             And I’m imposing this sentence because it was an agreement
      between you and I, and we made a record. You understood it. And then
      you didn’t - - you went a month and you’re right back to drinking. You
      threw the whole thing in my face. You showed by your conduct you had
      no intentions of not drinking.

(Revoc. Tr. 20-21.)

       The court proceeded to detail Keatings’s criminal history and declared that the
criminal history and Keatings’s failure to comply with the probation conditions were
the reasons for the sentence. Keatings pled for additional mercy, requesting the court
impose the 33 months recommended by the probation office. The court responded

      I can’t give you anything but - - I don’t intend - - yes, I could give you
      33. I don’t intend to. I told you ten years if you broke one condition.
      You didn’t wait 30 days to break it. That shows you don’t intend to
      comply with any, any condition I put on you. I told you ten years. It’s
      going to be ten years.

(Revoc. Tr. 23.) The court then imposed the ten-year sentence and recessed the
hearing.

       The following day, the court reopened the hearing “to make a more complete
record” of the reasons for the ten-year sentence. The court again detailed Keatings’s
criminal history and stated it considered the section 3553 factors in imposing the
sentence. The court specifically considered the need “to protect the public from
further crimes of this defendant, to afford adequate deterrence of criminal activity by
this defendant, to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the
law, and to provide just punishment for this defendant, and, of course, the seriousness
of the offense and [his] conduct.” (Revoc. Tr. 29.)

                                         -5-
                                           II.

       Keatings raises two issues in this timely appeal. First, he claims the district
court committed procedural error because it failed to consider the policies in Chapter
7 of the Sentencing Guidelines, did not otherwise properly consider the Sentencing
Guidelines range and the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553, and failed to give adequate
explanations for a sentence that substantially departed from the Sentencing
Guidelines range. Second, Keatings argues that his ten-year, statutory maximum
sentence is substantively unreasonable. We reject both arguments.

                                           A.

       We review a revocation sentence under the same “deferential
abuse-of-discretion” standard we apply to initial sentencing proceedings, considering
“both the procedural soundness of the district court’s decision and the substantive
reasonableness of the sentence imposed.” United States v. Thunder, 553 F.3d 605,
607 (8th Cir. 2009) (quotation omitted). Because Keatings failed to raise his
procedural objections at sentencing, we review any claim of procedural error for plain
error only. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b); United States v. Burnette, 518 F.3d 942, 946
(8th Cir. 2008) (“Procedural sentencing errors are forfeited, and therefore may be
reviewed only for plain error, if the defendant fails to object in the district court.”).
Under plain-error review, the defendant must show (1) an error, (2) that the error is
plain, and (3) that the error affects the defendant’s substantial rights. See United
States v. Pirani, 406 F.3d 543, 550 (8th Cir. 2005) (en banc). “An error affects a
substantial right if it is prejudicial, meaning that there is a reasonable probability the
defendant would have received a lighter sentence but for the error.” United States v.
Maxwell, 664 F.3d 240, 246 (8th Cir. 2011) (quotation omitted). If the first three
prongs are met, we may then exercise our discretion to notice a forfeited error, but
only if “the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of
judicial proceedings.” Pirani, 406 F.3d at 550 (quotation omitted).

                                           -6-
       Keatings’s first procedural argument is that “[n]o mention was made
referencing the revocation/gradation table under 7B1.1 or any policy statements
pursuant to 7B1.3.” (Appellant’s Br. 17.) Although the district court, the
government, and Keatings’s attorney failed to mention Chapter 7 at the hearing, the
probation office had submitted a revocation packet to the court prior to the hearing.
This revocation packet included a detailed violation worksheet based on Chapter 7
of the Sentencing Guidelines. Also, Keatings requested the court impose the 33-
month sentence the probation office recommended in the revocation packet. Because
the district court had before it the analysis Keatings argues should have been
discussed at the hearing and because Keatings made reference to the recommended
sentence, the court did not commit plain error when it failed to mention Chapter 7 at
the hearing.

       Next, Keatings contends the district court failed to consider his original
Sentencing Guidelines range and the section 3553 factors and did not adequately
explain why it was imposing a sentence that substantially departed from the
Sentencing Guidelines range. “[S]ignificant procedural error [includes] . . . failing
to consider the § 3553(a) factors . . . or failing to adequately explain the chosen
sentence—including an explanation for any deviation from the Guidelines range.”
Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). To determine if the district court
sufficiently explained the sentence imposed, we note that the court need not respond
to every argument made by defendant or recite each section 3553 factor. See United
States v. Battiest, 553 F.3d 1132, 1136 (8th Cir. 2009). The court must “‘set forth
enough to satisfy the appellate court that he has considered the parties’ arguments and
has a reasoned basis for exercising his own legal decisionmaking authority.’” United
States v. Robinson, 516 F.3d 716, 718 (8th Cir. 2008) (quoting Rita v. United States,
551 U.S. 338, 356 (2007)). Here the revocation transcript reflects the district court
had significant familiarity with the circumstances of Keatings’s offense as well as his
history and characteristics. Keatings’s counsel discussed the Sentencing Guidelines
range and requested an alternative 30-month sentence, noting that it was at the bottom

                                         -7-
of the range. The court detailed Keatings’s criminal history and noted the specific
section 3553 factors it found relevant in imposing the ten-year sentence. The district
court placed considerable emphasis on Keatings’s current violations of the conditions
of his probation, a consideration that is appropriate in determining the sentence. See,
e.g., Thunder, 553 F.3d at 608-09 (finding 15-month upward variance from
Guidelines range reasonable given defendant’s repeated violations of supervised
release); United States v. Larison, 432 F.3d 921, 922, 924 (8th Cir. 2006) (finding 49-
month upward variance reasonable for same reason). Accordingly, we cannot say the
court committed plain error as it considered the Sentencing Guidelines and the section
3553 factors and explained why it was imposing the statutory maximum sentence,
which included Keatings’s violation of his probation conditions.

                                          B.

      Keatings argues his sentence is substantively unreasonable because the district
court neglected to give those factors that had previously resulted in the probation
sentence the appropriate weight and credit the factors deserved. Also, Keatings
claims the court felt “emotional disgust” because Keatings had “treated [the court]
with contempt” and then improperly based Keatings’s sentence on that factor.

       The substantive reasonableness of a sentence is reviewed for abuse of
discretion. United States v. Feemster, 572 F.3d 455, 461 (8th Cir. 2009) (en banc).
“A district court abuses its discretion when it (1) fails to consider a relevant factor
that should have received significant weight; (2) gives significant weight to an
improper or irrelevant factor; or (3) considers only the appropriate factors but in
weighing those factors commits a clear error of judgment.” Id. (quotation omitted).
Appellate review is “narrow and deferential” and reversal on the basis of substantive
unreasonableness is “unusual.” Id.

                                         -8-
       We note that this case, although similar, is not the same circumstance discussed
by the Seventh Circuit in United States v. Tatum, 760 F.3d 696 (7th Cir. 2014).
There, the Seventh Circuit rejected appellant’s counsel’s Anders2 brief in which
counsel claimed there were no non-frivolous issues for review. Id. at 697, 699. The
appellant had received a sentence of 24 months probation with a warning that if he
violated the terms of his probation he would receive a 24-month sentence of
imprisonment. Id. at 696. When he violated those terms, the court stated it was
“keeping its word” and sentenced him to 24 months imprisonment. Id. at 697. The
Seventh Circuit explained:

      A judge can’t be allowed, when imposing conditions of probation (or of
      supervised release), to commit himself to a specified penalty should
      there be a violation or violations. The number and gravity of any
      violations that are committed would be germane to any rational
      judgment on whether to revoke probation and, if it is revoked, what
      punishment to impose for the violations. Any significant changes in the
      defendant’s situation, such as mental deterioration, would have to be
      considered as well. We don’t think a judge can be permitted to disable
      himself from considering such factors by committing himself in advance
      to a specified sanction for any violation of probation, committed at any
      time, under any circumstances. That’s too much like sentence first, trial
      afterwards.

Id.

       Here, the district court did not “disable[] himself from considering” other
factors before imposing the sentence. In the original sentence, the court stressed that
it was “reserving the right” and “threatening” a ten-year sentence. It did not confine
a revocation sentence to ten years. Indeed, the court recognized, in response to
Keatings’s request, that it could sentence him to 33 months imprisonment, but it

      2
          Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).

                                          -9-
determined that the threatened ten-year sentence was appropriate in light of
Keatings’s criminal history and the other section 3553 factors, including his inability
to comply with the conditions of his probation. See, e.g., United States v. Smith, 770
F.3d 653, 655 (7th Cir. 2014) (“The fact that the defendant’s supervised release had
twice been revoked was something the judge was free, maybe required, to consider
in deciding what sentence to impose for a third set of violations.”). While the court
was obviously disappointed in Keatings’s inability to comply with the conditions of
his probation for even one month, it is clear that the court based Keatings’s sentence
on his failure to comply with the conditions of his probation as well as the section
3553 factors. The court had warned Keatings at his first sentencing hearing that the
court would consider a ten-year sentence if Keatings violated probation. So long as
the court considered and properly weighed the section 3553 factors, under the
substantial deference we owe a district court’s sentencing decisions, the sentence is
not substantively unreasonable.

                                         III.

      Accordingly, we affirm the sentence.
                     ______________________________

                                         -10-