Court Opinion

ID: 858062
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-15 23:23:42.197808+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:38.550671
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-50541       Document: 00512208280         Page: 1     Date Filed: 04/15/2013

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

                                                                            FILED
                                                                           April 15, 2013
                                     No. 12-50541
                                   Summary Calendar                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

RAYMOND DESMIN DEAN,

                                                  Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas
                             USDC No. 6:11-CR-269-1

Before WIENER, ELROD, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
       Raymond Desmin Dean pleaded guilty pursuant to a written plea
agreement to possession of a firearm by an unlawful user and possession of a
stolen firearm. He was sentenced above the advisory guidelines range to
concurrent statutory maximum terms of imprisonment of 120 months on each
count.
       The sole issue on appeal is whether the district court erred in denying
Dean an adjustment for acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1.

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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: 12-50541    Document: 00512208280     Page: 2   Date Filed: 04/15/2013

                                 No. 12-50541

Dean argues that he should have received a two-level reduction in his base
offense level under § 3E1.1, because he pleaded guilty to the charges in the
superseding information, which specifically alleged possession of a stolen .38
caliber firearm; his plea agreement was based upon those charges; and he had
no disagreement with the factual basis, which provided that he admitted to
possessing the firearm described in the information.
      “While the district court’s findings under the sentencing guidelines are
generally reviewed for clear error, a determination whether a defendant is
entitled to an adjustment for acceptance of responsibility is reviewed with even
greater deference.” United States v. Buchanan, 485 F.3d 274, 287 (5th Cir.
2007). We will affirm a sentencing court’s denial of a § 3E1.1 reduction unless
it is without foundation. United States v. Rudzavice, 586 F.3d 310, 315 (5th Cir.
2009).
      Section 3E1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines authorizes a two-level
reduction “[i]f the defendant clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility
for his offense.” U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a). Although entering a guilty plea prior to
trial is a factor to be considered in determining whether an adjustment is
warranted, it is not dispositive. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, comment (n.3). Rather,
acceptance of responsibility requires that a defendant demonstrate “sincere
contrition regarding the full extent of [his] criminal conduct.” United States v.
Diaz, 39 F.3d 568, 572 (5th Cir. 1994) (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted) (emphasis in original). In addition to whether the defendant entered
a guilty plea, the district court takes into account other factors, including
whether the defendant truthfully admitted, or at least did not falsely deny, the
conduct comprising the offense, including additional relevant conduct for which
he is responsible. § 3E1.1, comment. (n.1(a)); see also § 3E1.1, comment (n.3).
      According to the factual resume, with which Dean agreed, officers seized
several firearms during the execution of a search warrant of Dean’s residence.
Dean admitted that the firearms in the house belonged to him. He specifically

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    Case: 12-50541     Document: 00512208280       Page: 3   Date Filed: 04/15/2013

                                   No. 12-50541

admitted that he owned a .38 caliber firearm and that he knew it had been
stolen. Although the .38 caliber firearm was in the residence during the search,
it was not discovered during the search. Dean’s codefendant later buried the gun
in the backyard of the residence, where it was found by officers days later.
      Although Dean pleaded guilty to possessing the .38 caliber firearm, he
subsequently denied any knowledge of the gun during his presentence interview
with the probation officer. Dean has attempted to explain his denial, but he has
never refuted the fact of his denial — which was inconsistent with his prior
admission to the court — or provided any testimony or evidence to rebut the
presentence report’s findings. Accordingly, the district court was entitled to rely
on the presentence report, see United States v. Ruiz, 621 F.3d 390, 396 (5th Cir.
2010), and consider Dean’s subsequent denial in determining whether to grant
a reduction for acceptance of responsibility, see § 3E1.1, comment. (n.1(a)); see
also § 3E1.1, comment (n.3).
      Under the circumstances, and in light of the highly deferential standard
of review in this case, we cannot say that the district court’s denial of the § 3E1.1
reduction was without foundation. See Rudzavice, 586 F.3d at 315; Buchanan,
485 F.3d at 287. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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