Filed: Oct. 11, 2006
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED _ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS ELEVENTH CIRCUIT October 11, 2006 No. 06-12392 THOMAS K. KAHN Non-Argument Calendar CLERK _ D. C. Docket No. 05-00188-CR-CG UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus MACK RAY HERRIN, JR., Defendant-Appellant. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama _ (October 11, 2006) Before DUBINA, HULL and WILSON, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Mack
Summary: [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED _ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS ELEVENTH CIRCUIT October 11, 2006 No. 06-12392 THOMAS K. KAHN Non-Argument Calendar CLERK _ D. C. Docket No. 05-00188-CR-CG UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus MACK RAY HERRIN, JR., Defendant-Appellant. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama _ (October 11, 2006) Before DUBINA, HULL and WILSON, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Mack R..
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[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED
________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
October 11, 2006
No. 06-12392 THOMAS K. KAHN
Non-Argument Calendar CLERK
________________________
D. C. Docket No. 05-00188-CR-CG
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
MACK RAY HERRIN, JR.,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Alabama
_________________________
(October 11, 2006)
Before DUBINA, HULL and WILSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Mack Ray Herrin, Jr. appeals the 24-month sentence he received after
violating the conditions of his supervised release. He contends on appeal that the
district court abused its discretion by sentencing him to the statutory maximum,
and that his sentence is unreasonable. We affirm.
Herrin was originally sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment and 3 years
of supervised release after pleading guilty to bank robbery in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of California. Among the conditions of his
supervised release were that he not commit another crime and refrain from
excessive use of alcohol. While out on supervised release and living in Alabama,
Herrin violated these release conditions when he was arrested for driving while
under the influence of alcohol. His supervised release was continued, although
with several modifications – again, he was prohibited from using alcohol and
controlled substances and required to participate in a drug abuse treatment
program. He was also warned by the district court that if he violated even one
condition of supervised release again, he would receive the maximum penalty that
the law allows. After subsequently testing positive for the use of cocaine, Herrin’s
supervised release was again revoked. This time, the district court sentenced
Herrin to 24 months of imprisonment, which exceeded the advisory sentencing
range under United States Sentencing Guidelines § 7B1.4.1
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Based on Grade C violations of his supervised release and a criminal history category of
IV, Herrin’s advisory Chapter 7 guidelines range was 6 to 12 months. U.S.S.G. § 7B1.4(a). The
maximum statutory term of imprisonment for revocation of supervised release, where the offense
for which supervised release was imposed was a Class C felony, was 24 months. 18 U.S.C. §
2
Herrin appeals his sentence on the grounds that the sentence was an abuse of
discretion and unreasonable given the sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a). Specifically, Herrin argues that the court did not adequately consider
the guideline range and the sentencing factors. He contends that the court’s reason
for imposing the sentence, that it had promised at Herrin’s first revocation hearing
to impose a maximum sentence if he violated any of the conditions of his
supervised release again, does not accomplish the sentencing goals set forth in 18
U.S.C. § 3553(a).
We review the district court’s decision to exceed the advisory sentencing
guideline range for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Silva,
443 F.3d 795,
798 (11th Cir. 2006). Following United States v. Booker,
543 U.S. 220,
125 S. Ct.
738,
160 L. Ed. 2d 621 (2005), we now review a sentence imposed upon
revocation of supervised release for reasonableness, which is essentially the same
as the “plainly unreasonable” standard. United States v. Sweeting,
437 F.3d 1105,
1106-07 (11th Cir. 2006). Under this deferential standard, we consider “the final
sentence, in its entirety, in light of the § 3553(a) factors.” United States v. Martin,
455 F.3d 1227, 1237 (11th Cir. 2006). The challenging party has the “burden of
establishing that the sentence is unreasonable.”
Id.
3583(e)(3).
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Upon finding that a defendant violated supervised release, the district court
may revoke supervised release and impose a term of imprisonment after
considering various factors set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e).
When a district court imposes a sentence outside the guideline range, it must state
its reasons in open court. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(2). One factor the district court
must consider under § 3553(a) is the policy statements of Chapter 7, which contain
recommended ranges of imprisonment for violations of supervised release. 18
U.S.C. § 3553(a)(4)(B); U.S.S.G. § 7B1.4. Nevertheless, we have consistently
held that these policy statements are merely advisory and not binding.
Silva, 443
F.3d at 799. To exceed the recommended range, the court must indicate it
considered the policy statements.
Id. However, the court is not required to state on
the record that it has considered each § 3553 (a) factor, or to discuss each factor.
United States v. Scott,
426 F.3d 1324, 1329 (11th Cir. 2005).
The district court did not abuse its discretion by sentencing Herrin to the
statutory maximum. The court considered the Chapter 7 recommended guidelines.
Herrin’s counsel told the court the applicable guideline range and the court stated
that it found them inappropriate. The district court also stated its reasons for
sentencing outside the guideline range, explaining that it had previously given
Herrin “the benefit of the doubt,” and he failed to comply with court ordered
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conditions of release despite warning that he would be sentenced to the statutory
maximum. Because the guidelines are advisory and the court stated its reasons for
departure as required by § 3553(c)(2), we can find no abuse of discretion in
sentencing Herrin to statutory maximum.
We also find that Herrin’s overall sentence was not unreasonable. The
district court, by acknowledging the advisory guidelines range, demonstrated that it
had considered the Chapter 7 policy statements. The court’s other statements
demonstrate that it took into account the § 3553(a) factors as required. When the
court noted Herrin’s previous violation of release conditions by stating that the
court had given him “the benefit of the doubt,” the court showed consideration of
(1) the nature and circumstances of the violation, (2) Herrin’s history and
characteristics, and (3) the need to protect the public from future crimes. The
district court’s statements that she would “not go back on [her] word,” and that she
intended to sentence Herrin “as [she] promised” demonstrate a consideration of (1)
the need to afford adequate deterrence, (2) the need for just punishment, and (3) the
need to promote respect for the law. The court did not need to make explicit
consideration of all the § 3553(a) factors.
Scott, 426 F.3d at 1329. The district
court’s statements indicate that she gave weight to these factors prior to sentencing.
Nothing in the record convinces us the sentence was unreasonable.
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Upon review of the record and consideration of the parties’ briefs, we find
the district court neither abused its discretion nor imposed an unreasonable
sentence. The sentence is,
AFFIRMED.
6