Court Opinion

ID: 51783
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 01:08:44+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:09.780262
License: Public Domain

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             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                  FILED
                      FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                        ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                            MARCH 26, 2007
                              No. 05-17244                 THOMAS K. KAHN
                          Non-Argument Calendar                CLERK
                        ________________________

                    D. C. Docket No. 04-00131-CR-A-N

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                    Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

ALPHONSE CRUMPTON,

                                                    Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Middle District of Alabama
                       _________________________

                             (March 26, 2007)

Before BLACK, CARNES and MARCUS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Alphonse Crumpton appeals his conviction and 138-month sentence for
possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession with intent to

distribute marijuana, both in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and possession of

a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Prior to trial, Crumpton filed a motion to suppress the evidence

obtained during the search of his residence. The search occurred after a warrant

was issued based on the claims of a confidential informant. The magistrate judge

recommended that the district court deny Crumpton’s motion to suppress, and

neither party challenged that recommendation.

      Accordingly, the district court denied the motion, and Crumpton entered an

unconditional guilty plea on all three counts. The sentencing guidelines range for

the two drug counts was 78-97 months, and the two sentences could be served

concurrently. The firearm offense carried a statutory minimum of five years to be

served consecutively with the other two sentences. The court sentenced Crumpton

at the low end of the guidelines range (78 months) for the two drug offenses and at

the statutory minimum (60 months) for the firearm offense for a total of 138

months imprisonment. Crumpton now appeals both the denial of his motion to

suppress and his sentence, arguing that the district court erred by (1) denying his

motion to suppress without an evidentiary hearing, (2) failing to clearly state its

reasons for entering an 138-month sentence, and (3) imposing an unreasonable

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sentence.

                                           I.

       First, we address whether the district court erred in denying Crumpton’s

motion to suppress without holding an evidentiary hearing. Crumpton contends

that the affidavit used to issue the search warrant was insufficient to support a

finding of probable cause because it lacked a basis for confirming the reliability of

the confidential source. Specifically, Crumpton claims that the agent’s mere

assertion that the source was reliable, without any support for that conclusion, was

insufficient.

       The affidavit stated that the confidential source was reliable and had been

reliable in the past. It further stated that the source went to Crumpton’s residence

and bought marijuana within 72 hours before the affidavit was signed. The source

also claimed to have seen more marijuana at the time of the purchase and stated

that he had purchased drugs at Crumpton’s home on prior occasions, but the

affidavit lacked details about these alleged prior purchases. Additionally, the

source stated that drugs were hidden in vehicles located on Crumpton’s property.

       The magistrate judge, after deciding that Crumpton was making a facial

challenge that did not require an evidentiary hearing, recommended that the district

court deny the motion to suppress because the affidavit was sufficient on its face to

                                           3
establish probable cause. Neither party filed any objections, and the district court

subsequently denied the motion. Crumpton then entered a voluntary,

unconditional guilty plea and was sentenced.

      Our circuit law is clear that when a defendant enters a voluntary,

unconditional guilty plea, he waives the right to challenge all nonjurisdictional

defects in the proceedings, which would include a court’s denial of a motion to

suppress. United States v. Patti, 337 F.3d 1317, 1320 (11th Cir. 2003). “A

defendant who wishes to preserve appellate review of a non-jurisdictional defect

while at the same time pleading guilty can do so only by entering a ‘conditional

plea’ in accordance with Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(a)(2).” United States v. Pierre, 120

F.3d 1153, 1155 (11th Cir. 1997).

      In this case, there is no question that Crumpton entered an unconditional

plea with no plea agreement. Where there is a plea agreement, Federal Rule of

Criminal Procedure 11(b)(1)(N) requires that the district court inform the

defendant of “the terms of any plea-agreement provision waiving the right to

appeal” in open court during the colloquy. But there is nothing in Rule 11

imposing an obligation on the district court to inform the defendant that his

unconditional plea waives some of his appellate rights. See United States v.

Lampazianie, 251 F.3d 519, 526 & n.21 (5th Cir. 2001) (finding that although it is

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the preferred practice for the district court to advise the defendant that an

unconditional guilty plea waives the right to appeal any nonjurisdictional issues,

where there is no plea agreement, the court has no obligation to explain the

waiver); United States v. Bell, 966 F.2d 914, 917 (5th Cir. 1992) (“The district

court did not expressly advise [the defendant] that by pleading guilty he would be

waiving his right to seek appellate review of [nonjurisdictional issues], but neither

Rule 11 nor our decisional law commands the district court to offer that

warning.”).

        Nor can we find any binding circuit precedent suggesting that the district

court must inform a defendant entering an unconditional, voluntary guilty plea that

he is waiving his right to appeal any nonjurisdictional issues. Crumpton does not

contend that the district court failed to inform him of anything else in his Rule 11

colloquy. He only claims that the court was required to explain the general waiver

effect a guilty plea has on appellate rights. This is simply not the law, and

therefore, we find that Crumpton waived the right to appeal the district court’s

denial of his motion to suppress when he entered an unconditional, voluntary guilty

plea.

                                            II.

        In addition to challenging the district court’s denial of his motion to

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suppress, Crumpton raises two claims regarding his sentencing. First he argues

that the district court violated 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(1) by failing to provide a

sufficient discussion of its reasons for imposing the 138-month sentence.

Specifically, he argues that after United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S. Ct.

738 (2005), additional particularity is required to allow for the proper appellate

review of the reasonableness of a sentence. Second, he argues that his sentence

was unreasonable in light of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) because of his medical conditions

and his susceptibility to prison abuse.

                                          A.

      First, we address whether the district court sufficiently explained why it

chose to impose a 138-month sentence on Crumpton, which was at the bottom of

the range for the two drug counts plus the statutory minimum for the firearm count.

“The question of whether a district court complied with 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(1) is

reviewed de novo, even if the defendant did not object below.” United States v.

Bonilla, 463 F.3d 1176, 1182 (11th Cir. 2006).

      According to § 3553(c)(1), when a district court imposes a sentence that is

(1) within the guidelines range and (2) greater than 24 months, it must state “the

reason for imposing a sentence at [that] particular point in the range” in open court

at the time of sentencing. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(1). We have acknowledged that

                                           6
§ 3553(c)(1) does not require the same degree of specificity as § 3553(c)(2), where

the sentence imposed is outside of the guidelines range. See United States v.

Veteto, 920 F.2d 823, 826 (11th Cir. 1991). However, the sentencing court must

give some reason for the sentence that it imposes, even if it is within the guidelines

range. Id. In explaining its reasons, the sentencing court should “tailor its

comments to show that the sentence imposed is appropriate, given the factors to be

considered as set forth in § 3553(a).” United States v. Parrado, 911 F.2d 1567,

1572 (11th Cir. 1990). We have held that nothing in Booker requires the district

court to discuss each factor individually. United States v. Scott, 426 F.3d 1324,

1329 (11th Cir. 2005).

      In considering whether the district court properly considered the § 3553(a)

factors, we have held that where the record reflects that the district court

considered the factors, the district court’s statement that it considered the

defendant’s arguments and the factors is sufficient to show proper consideration.

Id. at 1330. In Scott, our discussion was based on the district court’s consideration

of the § 3553(a) factors and not whether the district court complied with

§ 3553(c)(1). See id. But we have, in the context of § 3553(c)(1), recently

reiterated that although the district court must consider and refer to the factors, it is

not required to discuss each factor individually, “particularly where . . . it is

                                            7
obvious the court considered many of the § 3553(a) factors.” Bonilla, 463 F.3d at

1182.

        Here, the district court considered the § 3553(a) factors and set out a

reasonable explanation for its sentencing decision. The court specifically

discussed Crumpton’s medical condition both while considering his request for a

downward departure and while imposing his sentence. Crumpton admitted that,

prior to his arrest, he did not have regular access to medical care. On that basis, the

district court determined that placing Crumpton in a federal medical facility, as

opposed to home detention, would better facilitate the medical treatment he clearly

needs. Whatever care the federal facility could provide would no doubt be better

than the lack of care Crumpton would otherwise receive. This finding clearly

reflected consideration of § 3553(a)(2)(D), which provides that the court shall

consider “the need for the sentence imposed . . . to provide the defendant with

needed . . . medical care.”

        Additionally, the district court stated at sentencing that it had considered

“the facts of the case,” “the nature of the offense,” the applicable guidelines range,

and “the nature of [Crumpton’s] condition” along with other factors in making its

sentencing determination. Both concerns expressed by Crumpton before the

district court, his medical condition and susceptibility to violence by other inmates,

                                            8
were considered when the court decided to sentence him to a medical facility

instead of to a general population prison. The district court, in compliance with §

3553(c)(1), adequately explained its reasons for imposing the sentence that it did.

                                           B.

      Finally, Crumpton argues that his sentence was unreasonable in light of

18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) because of his medical condition and susceptibility to prison

abuse. Noting that a sentence within the guidelines range is not per se reasonable,

he contends that the district court must have given undue weight to the guidelines.

      When reviewing a sentence imposed by the district court, we must first

ensure that the court correctly calculated the guidelines range. United States v.

Winingear, 422 F.3d 1241, 1245 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam). Then, we review

the sentence for reasonableness in light of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. Id. at

1246. “Review for reasonableness is deferential.” United States v. Talley, 431

F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam). Furthermore, although a sentence

within the guidelines range is not per se reasonable, “when the district court

imposes a sentence within the advisory Guidelines range, we ordinarily will expect

that choice to be a reasonable one.” Id.

      At the outset, we note that Crumpton does not specifically argue that the 60-

month sentence imposed for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug

                                           9
trafficking crime under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) was unreasonable. Thus, he

waives that claim. See Greenbrier, Ltd. v. City of Alabaster, 881 F.2d 1570, 1573

n.6 (11th Cir. 1989) (holding that a party waives an issue by failing to argue the

merits of it in his brief on appeal). However, even if he had not waived the issue,

the reasonableness argument does not apply to this portion of his sentence because

it is statutorily prescribed. See United States v. Shelton, 400 F.3d 1325, 1333 n.10

(11th Cir. 2005) (emphasizing that, post-Booker, a district court is still bound by

statutory minimum sentences).

      As for the reasonableness of the portion of Crumpton’s sentence imposed for

his two drug violations, the guidelines range was 78 to 97 months. In determining

what sentence to impose under facts such as these, the district court is to consider

(1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics

of the defendant; (2) the need for the sentence imposed to reflect the seriousness of

the offense, deter criminal conduct, protect the public from further crimes of the

defendant, and provide the defendant with needed medical care, and (3) the

guidelines. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). The district court does not need to explicitly

consider every factor from § 3553(a) on the record; some indication in the record

that the court adequately and properly considered appropriate factors in imposing

the sentence will be sufficient. Scott, 426 F.3d at 1329.

                                          10
      Here, based on our deferential review, the district court did not err in

sentencing Crumpton. Because the court accurately calculated the sentencing

guidelines range, considered the applicable § 3553(a) factors as noted earlier, and

sentenced Crumpton at the low end of the guidelines range, we conclude that his

sentence was reasonable.

      AFFIRMED.

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