Court Opinion

ID: 67586
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 06:23:24+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:36.997835
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                        ________________________                 FILED
                                                        U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              No. 08-15577                ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                              JUNE 22, 2009
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                                                           THOMAS K. KAHN
                        ________________________
                                                                CLERK

                    D. C. Docket No. 07-80099-CR-KAM

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

MARION YARBROUGH,
a.k.a. Blockburnal,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Southern District of Florida
                       _________________________

                               (June 22, 2009)

Before CARNES, HULL and WILSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     After pleading guilty, Marion Yarbrough appeals his 480-month sentence,
for transporting a minor in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in

sexual activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2423(a) and 2. After review, we

affirm.

                                I. BACKGROUND

A.    Offense Conduct

      Using a screen name, Yarbrough communicated with a fifteen-year-old girl

via the Internet and cellular telephone. Yarbrough told the girl that he was 21

years old (when in fact he was 34 years old). Yarbrough told the girl he loved her

and repeatedly asked the girl to visit him in Kentucky. The girl, who was having

problems at home, eventually agreed and, through an intermediary, Yarbrough

purchased her a bus ticket.

      On April 24, 2007, the girl followed Yarbrough’s instructions and boarded a

bus in West Palm Beach, Florida and debarked in Nashville, Tennessee, where

Yarbrough met her. Yarbrough then drove the girl to his house in Kentucky.

      Over the next fifteen days, Yarbrough engaged in sexual intercourse with the

girl, including vaginal, anal and oral sex, and used force on at least one occasion.

These sexual encounters occurred twice per day on all but a couple of the days they

were together. Yarbrough did not wear a condom and told the girl he wanted to get

her pregnant, despite her objections.

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      The girl’s mother reported her missing to the Federal Bureau of

Investigation (“FBI”). Working with law enforcement in Palm Beach County and

Kentucky, the FBI eventually located the girl, who indicated that Yarbrough had

fled on foot. Yarbrough was found during a search of the area.

      In an interview with police, the girl said that she felt forced and intimidated

into the sexual encounters, which were painful. Although the girl told Yarbrough

it was painful and to stop, he did not. She also put her thighs together to try to stop

Yarbrough, who told her to open her legs or it would hurt worse. A subsequent

gynecological exam was consistent with forced and repeated sexual activity.

B.    PSI

      The pre-sentence investigation report (“PSI”) recommended the following:

(1) a base offense level of 30, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A3.1(a)(2); (2) a four-level

increase, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A3.1(b)(1), because the offense involved conduct

described in 18 U.S.C. § 2241(a) or (b) (the aggravated sexual abuse statute); (3) a

two-level increase, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A3.1(b)(4), because the victim

sustained serious bodily injury; (4) a two-level increase, pursuant to U.S.S.G. §

2A3.1(b)(2)(B), because the victim was over 12 but less than 16 years old; and (5)

a two-level increase, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A3.1(b)(6)(B), because the offense

involved the use of a computer or an interactive computer service. These

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enhancements resulted in a total offense level of 40.

      However, the PSI also concluded that Yarbrough was a career offender,

pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1, because he had two prior felony convictions under

Kentucky law for fleeing or evading the police in the first degree. Because the

statutory maximum penalty for Yarbrough’s offense was life imprisonment,

Yarbrough’s status as a career offender gave him an offense level of 37 under the

guidelines. See U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(b)(A). After a three-level reduction for

acceptance of responsibility, the PSI calculated an adjusted offense level of 34.

With a criminal history category of VI, the PSI recommended an advisory

guidelines range of 360 months’ to life imprisonment.

      In addition to Yarbrough’s two felony fleeing and evading police

convictions, the PSI reported the following criminal history: (1) a 1991 assault

charge in which Yarbrough was charged with digitally penetrating the vagina of a

minor; (2) a 1994 conviction for contributing to the delinquency of a minor; (3) a

1995 conviction for statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl; and (4) several convictions

between 1993 and 2005, including driving under the influence, driving with a

suspended license and assault. In addition, the PSI reported that, in May 2007,

Yarbrough was arrested for the rape of a 12-year-old girl and that the charges

remained pending in Kentucky.

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      Yarbrough objected to the PSI challenging the four-level aggravated sexual

abuse increase, the two-level serious bodily injury increase and his designation as a

career offender. Before sentencing, the parties entered into an agreement whereby

Yarbrough agreed to withdraw his objection to the four-level aggravated sexual

abuse increase and the government agreed not to seek the two-level serious bodily

injury increase. However, the parties continued to dispute whether Yarbrough was

a career offender.

C.    Sentencing

      The district court accepted the parties’ sentencing agreement, which reduced

Yarbrough’s offense level from 37 to 35, giving him a revised advisory guidelines

range of 292 to 365 months’ imprisonment. Yarbrough formally withdrew his

career-offender objection, which the district court accepted after confirming with

Yarbrough that he was withdrawing that objection knowingly and voluntarily, as

follows:

             MR. METZ:          I’ve spent a considerable amount of time
      yesterday and today researching and speaking with both Probation and
      the Government, and met with Mr. Yarbrough prior to this hearing,
and I’m happy if the Court wants to inquire, but Mr. Yarbrough hereby withdraws
any objection to him being characterized as a career criminal offender.
             In particular, just so the record’s clear, there were two separate
      indictments that did allege what Florida law and the Eleventh Circuit
      has interpreted under fleeing and evading as being violent crimes,
      which would be the elements necessary for the enhancement here.
             There’s an issue about a collateral attack on the Kentucky

                                          5
      statute. I have discussed that with Mr. Yarbrough. After doing so, he,
      however, agrees that he is in fact and should be characterized as a
      career criminal offender, and we would withdraw any objection
      otherwise.
             THE COURT: All right. Mr. Yarbrough, it that correct, that
      you’ve discussed this other issue with your attorney that’s not
      contained in that sentencing agreement we just talked about, and you
      understand that you are withdrawing your objections to being
      categorized as a career offender?
             THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
             THE COURT:          And have you done that willingly and
      voluntarily?
             THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
             THE COURT: And did you understand all the issues after discussing
      them with your attorney?
             THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
             THE COURT: Okay. And were you under the influence of any
      drugs, medicine or alcohol at the time that you were having these
      discussions with your attorney?
             THE DEFENDANT: No, sir.
             THE COURT: I’m going to find that he’s withdrawn that
      objection, as well.

      The district court heard statements from the victim and her mother, who

described the effect that Yarbrough’s actions had on their lives. Among other

things, the victim described the fear and pain she experienced during the ordeal and

how she had resorted to drugs and alcohol as a means to escape. She also stated

that she now has nightmares, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts and that she has

sought counseling from a therapist.

      In accordance with its obligations under the plea agreement, the government

recommended a sentence at the low end of the advisory guidelines range.

                                         6
Yarbrough also requested a sentence at the low end of the range, emphasizing that

he and the prosecutor had arrived at this joint recommendation after several months

of close consideration and negotiation. Yarbrough then personally addressed the

district court and briefly apologized to the victim and her family.

      The district court prefaced its sentence by explaining that, although it

normally deferred to the sentencing agreements reached by parties, it could not do

so in light of its consideration of the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). The district

court emphasized that Yarbrough’s offense was “disturbing” and “about as serious

. . . [as] we can deal with short of death,” that Yarbrough had a history of sexually

deviant behavior with respect to minors, and that its sentence had to account for

“the harm to the victim, her family and to society at large” and provide Yarbrough

with much-needed correctional treatment “to deal with his deviant behaviors.” The

court also noted that it had to “impose a sentence that [would] avoid unwarranted

sentencing disparities among defendants with similar records.” After confirming

that it had considered the statements of the parties, the PSI, the advisory guidelines

range and the § 3553(a) factors, the court imposed an upward variance to 480

months’ imprisonment. Yarbrough filed this appeal.

                                  II. DISCUSSION

      On appeal, Yarbrough argues that his 480-month sentence is unreasonable.

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We review the reasonableness of a sentence for abuse of discretion using a two-

step process. United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1190 (11th Cir. 2008). First,

we look at whether the district court committed any significant procedural error

and then whether the sentence is substantively reasonable under the totality of the

circumstances. Id. The party challenging the sentence bears the burden to show it

is unreasonable in light of the record and the § 3553(a) factors. United States v.

Thomas, 446 F.3d 1348, 1351 (11th Cir. 2006).1 “Sentences outside the guidelines

are not presumed to be unreasonable, but we may take the extent of any variance

into our calculus.” United States v. Shaw, 560 F.3d 1230, 1237 (11th Cir. 2009).

       In his reply brief, Yarbrough argues for the first time that his sentence is

procedurally unreasonable because the district court erroneously classified him as a

career offender. However, a knowing and affirmative withdrawal of a previously

articulated objection constitutes a waiver that precludes appellate review of the

alleged error, and the plain error doctrine is inapplicable. See United States v.

Horsfall, 552 F.3d 1275, 1283-84 (11th Cir. 2008), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 2034

       1
         The § 3553(a) factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the
history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need to reflect the seriousness of the offense,
to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; (3) the need for
deterrence; (4) the need to protect the public; (5) the need to provide the defendant with needed
educational or vocational training or medical care; (6) the kinds of sentences available; (7) the
Sentencing Guidelines range; (8) pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Commission; (9)
the need to avoid unwanted sentencing disparities; and (10) the need to provide restitution to
victims. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).

                                                  8
(2009); United States v. Masters, 118 F.3d 1524, 1526 (11th Cir. 1997).

Yarbrough affirmatively, voluntarily and unequivocally withdrew his career-

offender objection at sentencing. Thus, we decline to address this career offender

argument.

       Apart from his challenge to his career-offender status, Yarbrough does not

take issue with the district court’s guidelines calculations. Nor does Yarbrough

raise any other procedural error. Rather, Yarbrough argues that the district court’s

decision to exceed the advisory guidelines range was substantively unreasonable.

       We cannot say that the district court abused its discretion in imposing a 480-

month sentence, above the advisory guidelines range. The district court stated that

it had considered the parties’ statements, the PSI, the advisory guidelines range and

the § 3553(a) factors. As the district court noted, Yarbrough’s crime was

especially egregious. Yarbrough lured a vulnerable young girl from her home and

took her to another state where, through force and threats, he subjected her to

repeated, painful sexual intercourse almost twice daily for over two weeks. In

doing so, Yarbrough did not use a condom and told his victim he was trying to

impregnate her.2 As reflected in the statements by the victim and her mother,

       2
         The PSI noted that Yarbrough has fathered seven children and that, based on the ages of
the children and their mothers reported by Yarbrough, some of the mothers appeared to have
been minors when the children were conceived.

                                                9
Yarbrough’s conduct has inflicted significant and long-lasting harm. Further,

Yarbrough has a history of sex offenses involving minors and, at the time of

sentencing, faced new charges of raping a 12-year-old girl in Kentucky.

      Yarbrough’s claim that the district court failed to adequately consider the

need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities is not supported by the record.

The district court explicitly acknowledged this factor at sentencing. Furthermore,

the cases Yarbrough cites, United States v. Blas, 360 F.3d 1268 (11th Cir. 2004),

and United States v. Hersh, 297 F.3d 1233 (11th Cir. 2002), are guidelines

departure cases decided prior to United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S. Ct.
738 (2005), and do not support the argument that the variance in this case is

unreasonable. See Shaw, 560 F.3d at 1241 (rejecting a similar sentencing disparity

argument). In any event, Yarbrough had a significant criminal history and indeed

had a criminal history category of VI, while the defendants in Blas and Hersh each

had a criminal history category of I. See Blas, 297 F.3d at 1271; Hersh, 297 F.3d

at 1240. Thus, Yarbrough does not share a similar record to those defendants and

has not shown any unwarranted disparity. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6) (instructing

courts to consider “the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among

defendants with similar records . . . ”).

      Given the totality of the circumstances, Yarbrough has not carried his

                                            10
burden to show that the district court’s upward variance to 480-months from the

advisory guidelines range of 292 to 365 months was unreasonable.

      AFFIRMED.

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