Court Opinion

ID: 53741
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 01:25:37+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:02.499123
License: Public Domain

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

                                                                 FILED
                                                                October 9, 2007
                               No. 07-50305
                             Summary Calendar               Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                    Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                           Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

ALVIN EARL FIELDS

                                           Defendant-Appellant

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Western District of Texas
                         USDC No. 6:06-CR-180-ALL

Before JOLLY, DENNIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
      Alvin Earl Fields appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty plea
conviction for possessing a firearm subsequent to a felony conviction. Fields’
60 month sentence included an upward departure from criminal history category
VI pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3. Fields argues that the district court failed to
clearly articulate the reasons in support of its upward departure.

      *
      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should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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.
                                   No. 07-50305

      Pursuant to United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), this court
ultimately reviews sentences for reasonableness. United States v. Smith, 440
F.3d 704, 706 (5th Cir. 2006). An upward departure from an advisory guideline
sentence is normally reviewed for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Smith,
440 F.3d 704, 707 (5th Cir. 2006). Because Fields did not object to the district
court’s lack of reasons for the departure, we review for plain error. See United
States v. Gracia-Cantu, 302 F.3d 308, 310 (5th Cir. 2002). Regardless whether
this court applies the abuse of discretion or the plain error standard of review,
Fields cannot establish that the district court committed reversible error.
      The district court indicated at sentencing that it was basing its decision
to upwardly depart based upon the information contained in the presentence
investigation report (PSR), which indicated that Fields’ criminal history category
substantially under represented his prior offenses or the likelihood that he
would commit other crimes in the future. See U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3(a). The court’s
written statement of reasons similarly relied upon § 4A1.3(a). The PSR detailed
that Fields had 14 adult convictions by the time he reached age 24. Fields’
convictions, for which he was assessed criminal history points, included
possession of marijuana, possession of controlled substances, theft, failure to
identify, and criminal trespass. In addition, Fields was facing several state
charges when he committed the instant offense. In light of Fields’ criminal
history category and the nature of Fields’ prior offenses, the district court did not
reversibly err in determining that Fields’ prior criminal history was under
represented. See United States v. Zuniga-Peralta, 442 F.3d 345, 348-49 (5th
Cir.) cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 2954 (2006).
      Moreover, the extent of the upward departure was reasonable. The
district court’s 60-month sentence was 23 months more than the top of the
advisory guidelines range but well below the 10-year statutory maximum for the
offense. See United States v. Simkanin, 420 F.3d 397, 419 (5th Cir. 2005);
United States v. Daughenbaugh, 49 F.3d 171, 175 (5th Cir. 1995).

                                         2
                         No. 07-50305

Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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