Opinion
No. 07-11402 Non-Argument Calendar.
February 20, 2008.
Susan Graham James, The Law Office of Susan G. James, Montgomery, AL, for Defendant-Appellant.
Tommie Brown Hardwick, U.S. Attorney's Office, Montgomery, AL, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. D.C. Docket No. 06-00198-CR-W-N.
Before EDMONDSON, Chief Judge, BLACK and PRYOR, Circuit Judges.
Defendant-Appellant Ronald McQueen appeals his 180-month sentence for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). No reversible error has been shown; we affirm.
McQueen argues that his sentence was unreasonable because the district court relied on the same factors already used to calculate his Sentencing Guidelines range to impose a sentence 60 months above the advisory Guidelines range.
Because McQueen was sentenced after the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), we review his sentence for reasonableness in the light of the section 3553(a) factors. United States v. Winingear, 422 F.3d 1241, 1244-46 (11th Cir. 2005). Briefly stated, under section 3553(a), a district court should consider, among other things, the nature and circumstances of the offense, the history and characteristics of the defendant, the need for adequate deterrence and protection of the public, policy statements of the Sentencing Commission, provision for the medical and educational needs of the defendant, and the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1)-(7). "Review for reasonableness is deferential"; and "the party who challenges the sentence bears the burden of establishing that the sentence is unreasonable in the light of [the] record and the factors in section 3553(a)." United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005).
We conclude that McQueen's sentence was reasonable. Though his 180-month sentence was above the advisory Guidelines range of 100 to 125 months, it was well below the 480-month statutory maximum sentence. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B); Winingear, 422 F.3d at 1246 (comparing, as one indication of reasonableness, the actual prison term imposed against the statutory maximum). In addition, the district court explained that it considered the section 3553(a) factors and that a sentence above McQueen's advisory Guidelines range was appropriate. The district court specifically noted that McQueen's sentence reflected the seriousness of his prior criminal history — which included several unscored firearm offenses and a state murder conviction for which he served only one year in prison — and served to protect the public, promote respect for the law, and deter McQueen from committing more crimes. The district court also considered other of McQueen's characteristics, including his several probation violations, sparse employment history, and need for drug treatment. The district court was not required to state on the record that it explicitly considered each of the section 3553(a) factors. United States v. Scott, 426 F.3d 1324, 1329 (11th Cir. 2005).
The district court also considered that, as part of the instant offense, McQueen had driven recklessly and fled on foot from police officers when they attempted to apprehend him. These facts were not included in the calculation of his Guidelines range.
The district court also could determine the appropriate weight to give to the Guidelines after considering the section 3553(a) factors. See United States v. Hunt, 459 F.3d 1180, 1185 (11th Cir. 2006) (explaining that "the Guidelines . . . serve as a starting point for consideration as to whether a given sentence is `reasonable' in view of the entirety of section 3553(a)."). Here, the district court determined that the Guidelines range did not yield a reasonable sentence; and nothing in the record convinces us the sentence was unreasonable.
In his brief, McQueen opines that the reasonableness standard is unpredictable and creates sentencing disparities. But his disagreement with the mandated standard of review does not demonstrate how his sentence in this particular case was unreasonable. In addition, McQueen's arguments that his sentence was unreasonable (because it was imposed in violation of the Sixth Amendment and enhanced under 21 U.S.C. § 851) are meritless, as the record clearly indicates that the district court sentenced McQueen under advisory guidelines and did not impose a section 851 enhancement.
McQueen also argues that the district court was required, as a matter of due process and under Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(h), to give him advance notice of its intent to depart upward from the Guidelines range. But here, the court explicitly noted that it was applying a variance based on its consideration of the section 3553(a) factors, not an upward departure based on Guidelines' departure provisions. And we have concluded that the notice requirement of Rule 32(h) does not apply to Booker variances. United States v. Irizarry, 458 F.3d 1208, 1212 (11th Cir. 2006) (explaining that "[a]fter Booker, parties are inherently on notice that the sentencing guidelines range is advisory . . . [P]arties cannot claim unfair surprise or inability to present informed comment . . . when a district court imposes a sentence above the guidelines range based on the section 3553(a) sentencing factors."), cert. granted, ___ U.S. ___, 128 S.Ct. 828, 169 L.Ed.2d 625 (2008). Accordingly, the district court was not required to give advance notice of its intent to impose a sentence above the advisory Guidelines range.
In his brief, McQueen argues that the Irizarry decision violates Rule 32(h) and notes that other circuits are in disagreement with it. But Irizarry is controlling in the instant case because we have not, sitting en banc, overruled it; nor has the Supreme Court. See Hunt, 459 F.3d at 1181 n. 1.
AFFIRMED.