Court Opinion

ID: 146873
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-05-20 23:21:26+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:02:11.256366
License: Public Domain

Case: 09-50697     Document: 00511117998          Page: 1    Date Filed: 05/20/2010

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

                                                  FILED
                                                                            May 20, 2010
                                     No. 09-50697
                                   Summary Calendar                         Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                 Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                   Plaintiff – Appellee

v.

MARCOS PARDO,

                                                   Defendant – Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas
                             USDC No. 1:08-CR-196-1

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, CLEMENT, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Marcos Pardo appeals the 120-month sentence imposed on resentencing
following his guilty plea conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted
felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He contends that the above-guidelines
sentence is substantively unreasonable because it was greater than necessary
to satisfy the sentencing goals set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Specifically, he
argues that the sentence overstated the seriousness of his offense, was greater

        *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR .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: 09-50697    Document: 00511117998 Page: 2         Date Filed: 05/20/2010
                                 No. 09-50697

than necessary to afford adequate deterrence and protect the public, and did not
account for his personal history and characteristics.
      We review the “substantive reasonableness of the sentence imposed under
an abuse-of-discretion standard.” Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007).
In reviewing an above-guidelines sentence for substantive unreasonableness, we
consider “the totality of the circumstances, including the extent of any variance
from the Guidelines range.” United States v. Brantley, 537 F.3d 347, 349 (5th
Cir. 2008) (quoting Gall, 552 U.S. at 51).         We also review whether the
Section 3553(a) factors support the sentence and give deference to the district
court’s determination that the Section 3553(a) factors justify the variance. Id.
      The district court supported its sentencing determination with reference
to the Section 3553(a) factors, including the nature and circumstances of the
offense and Pardo’s history and characteristics, the seriousness of the offense,
and the need to protect the public from further criminal conduct by Pardo. See
§ 3553(a)(1), (a)(2)(A) and (C). Further, the district court’s comments at the
resentencing hearing reflect its consideration of the facts set forth in the
presentence report. Although Pardo did not possess the firearm in relation to
another felony offense, the district court noted that at the time of Pardo’s arrest,
he was intoxicated and walking in a residential place with a loaded shotgun
hidden in his pants.    The district court also noted Pardo’s history of gang
affiliation with violent criminal behavior, as well as his extensive criminal career
and recidivist tendencies. Moreover, the district court noted that Pardo had nine
substantive criminal convictions that were not included in the calculation of his
criminal history category. Although the 120-month sentence, more than double
the guidelines range of forty-six to fifty-seven months of imprisonment, is
significant, we have upheld variances similar to and greater than the increase
to Pardo’s sentence. See Brantley, 537 F.3d at 348-50 (upholding a more than
250% variance); United States v. Jones, 444 F.3d 430, 433, 441-42 (5th Cir. 2006)
(upholding a more than double upward variance).

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   Case: 09-50697    Document: 00511117998 Page: 3        Date Filed: 05/20/2010
                                 No. 09-50697

      Pardo’s arguments do not show a clear error of judgment on the district
court’s part in balancing the Section 3553(a) factors; instead, they constitute a
mere disagreement with the district court’s weighing of those factors.         See
United States v. Peltier, 505 F.3d 389, 392 (5th Cir. 2007). Given the significant
deference that is due to a district court’s consideration of the Section 3553(a)
factors and the district court’s reasons for its sentencing decision, Pardo has not
demonstrated that the sentence is substantively unreasonable. See Gall, 552
U.S. at 50-53; Brantley, 537 F.3d at 349.
      In order to preserve the argument for further review, Pardo contends that
Section 922(g)(1) is unconstitutional pursuant to United States v. Lopez, 514 U.S.
549 (1995), because it regulates activity not having a substantial effect on
interstate commerce. As Pardo concedes, his argument is foreclosed by circuit
precedent.   See United States v. Rawls, 85 F.3d 240, 242 (5th Cir. 1996).
Accordingly, the district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.

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