Filed: Apr. 03, 2019
Latest Update: Mar. 03, 2020
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 18-4683 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. SCOTTY DAVIS, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, at Charleston. Joseph R. Goodwin, District Judge. (2:18-cr-00024-1) Submitted: March 22, 2019 Decided: April 3, 2019 Before MOTZ and RICHARDSON, Circuit Judges, and TRAXLER, Senior Circuit Judge. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Brian
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 18-4683 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. SCOTTY DAVIS, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, at Charleston. Joseph R. Goodwin, District Judge. (2:18-cr-00024-1) Submitted: March 22, 2019 Decided: April 3, 2019 Before MOTZ and RICHARDSON, Circuit Judges, and TRAXLER, Senior Circuit Judge. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Brian ..
More
UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 18-4683
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
SCOTTY DAVIS,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia,
at Charleston. Joseph R. Goodwin, District Judge. (2:18-cr-00024-1)
Submitted: March 22, 2019 Decided: April 3, 2019
Before MOTZ and RICHARDSON, Circuit Judges, and TRAXLER, Senior Circuit
Judge.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Brian J. Kornbrath, Acting Federal Public Defender, Jonathan D. Byrne, Assistant
Federal Public Defender, Lex A. Coleman, Assistant Federal Public Defender, OFFICE
OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellant.
Michael B. Stuart, United States Attorney, Emily J. Wasserman, Assistant United States
Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Charleston, West Virginia,
for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Scotty Davis appeals the 151-month sentence imposed following his guilty plea to
possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing
methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (2012), and possessing three
firearms and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2) (2012). On
appeal, Davis challenges the procedural reasonableness of his sentence, arguing that the
district court erred in not addressing his nonfrivolous policy argument regarding the
disparate treatment in the Sentencing Guidelines of different purities of
methamphetamine, resulting in a Guidelines range that overstated his culpability. We
affirm.
When reviewing the procedural reasonableness of a sentence, we apply an abuse
of discretion standard. Gall v. United States,
552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007); United States v.
Diosdado-Star,
630 F.3d 359, 363 (4th Cir. 2011). In determining procedural
reasonableness, we consider whether the district court properly calculated the defendant’s
advisory Guidelines range, considered the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) (2012) factors, analyzed
any arguments presented by the parties, and sufficiently explained the selected sentence.
Gall, 552 U.S. at 51. The sentencing court’s explanation “must place on the record an
individualized assessment based on the particular facts of the case before it,” one
adequate to “demonstrate that it considered the parties’ arguments and had a reasoned
basis for exercising its own legal decisionmaking authority.” United States v. Bollinger,
798 F.3d 201, 220 (4th Cir. 2015) (alterations and internal quotation marks omitted).
“[A] perfunctory recitation of the defendant’s arguments or the § 3553(a) factors without
2
application to the defendant being sentenced does not demonstrate reasoned
decisionmaking or provide an adequate basis for appellate review.” United States v. Blue,
877 F.3d 513, 518 (4th Cir. 2017) (internal quotation marks omitted).
We conclude that, contrary to Davis’ argument, the district court did not abuse its
discretion in sentencing Davis to 151 months in prison. The court adequately addressed
Davis’ policy argument, declining to reject the public policy determinations underlying
the Guidelines and explaining that consideration of the § 3553(a) sentencing factors led
the court to conclude that the recommended Guidelines range did not overstate Davis’
culpability.
Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court. We dispense with oral
argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the
materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED
3