Court Opinion

ID: 804268
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-07-12 23:22:49+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:11.645981
License: Public Domain

Case: 11-11201     Document: 00511918653         Page: 1     Date Filed: 07/12/2012

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

                                                                            FILED
                                                                            July 12, 2012
                                     No. 11-11201
                                   Summary Calendar                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Plaintiff - Appellee

v.

TERRY LYNN HARGERS,

                                                  Defendant - Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 1:07-CR-61-1

Before BARKSDALE, STEWART, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Terry Lynn Hargers, federal prisoner # 36012-177, proceeding pro se
and in forma pauperis, challenges the district court’s denial of his 18 U.S.C.
§ 3582(c)(2) motion seeking modification of his sentence in 2008 of 151-months’
imprisonment for possession, with intent to distribute, crack cocaine. The
motion was pursuant to the amendments in 2011 to the cocaine-base offense
levels in the advisory Sentencing Guidelines.

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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: 11-11201    Document: 00511918653    Page: 2   Date Filed: 07/12/2012

                                 No. 11-11201

      Hargers contends: Dillon v. United States, 130 S. Ct. 2683 (2010), required
the court to reduce his sentence; and it abused its discretion in considering his
prior convictions, his post-conviction conduct, and that, absent his plea
agreement, he may have received a higher sentence pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 851
(providing for increased sentence due to prior convictions).
      The decision to reduce vel non a sentence pursuant to § 3582(c)(2) is
reviewed for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Henderson, 636 F.3d 713,
717 (5th Cir. 2011). In determining whether to reduce a sentence, the court first
determines whether defendant is eligible for a reduction and the extent of that
authorized reduction. Dillon, 130 S. Ct. at 2691. Next, the court must consider
any applicable 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors and determine whether
any reduction is warranted. Id. at 2692.
      The court implicitly determined Hargers was eligible for a reduction, see
United States v. Larry, 632 F.3d 933, 936 (5th Cir. 2011), but concluded that it
was not warranted in the light of the § 3553(a) factors and the circumstances of
his case. Having concluded that Hargers was eligible for a reduction, the court
was under no obligation to reduce his sentence. United States v. Evans, 587 F.3d
667, 673 (5th Cir. 2009); U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10, cmt. n.1 (B)(i)-(ii). Moreover, the
court properly considered the § 3553(a) factors and was permitted to consider
Hargers’ post-sentencing conduct. Evans, 587 F.3d at 672-73; U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10,
cmt. n.1 (B)(i)-(iii). Thus, Hargers has failed to show an abuse of discretion in
denying § 3582(c)(2) relief.
      AFFIRMED.

                                       2