United States v. Brian Patrick Durning

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Decided: August 22, 2024
• Docket: 23-13289
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 1 of 11

[DO NOT PUBLISH] In the United States Court of Appeals For the Eleventh Circuit

____________________

No. 23-13289 Non-Argument Calendar ____________________

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus BRIAN PATRICK DURNING,

Defendant-Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida D.C. Docket No. 6:22-cr-00102-WWB-RMN-1 ____________________ USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 2 of 11

2 Opinion of the Court 23-13289

Before WILSON, LUCK, and BLACK, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Brian Durning appeals his conviction and sentence of 60 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for assault resulting in bodily injury to a person under 16 years of age while on a plane. Durning asserts several issues on appeal, which we ad- dress in turn. After review, we affirm Durning’s conviction and sentence. I. CONVICTION A. Substantial Bodily Injury Durning contends there was insufficient evidence to estab- lish that minor victim Z.B. suffered a substantial bodily injury. 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(7) criminalizes an assault resulting in substantial bodily injury on an individual who has not attained the age of 16 years. The term “substantial bodily injury” is defined in relevant part to mean “bodily injury which involves . . . a temporary but substantial loss or impairment of the function of any bodily mem- ber, organ, or mental faculty.” 18 U.S.C. § 113(b)(1)(B). Psycho- logical trauma constitutes impairment of the function of a mental faculty. See United States v. Keelan, 786 F.3d 865, 872 (11th Cir. 2015). There was sufficient evidence to support that Z.B. suffered substantial bodily injury. See United States v. Broughton, 689 F.3d 1260, 1276 (11th Cir. 2012) (reviewing de novo whether sufficient USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 3 of 11

23-13289 Opinion of the Court 3

evidence exists to support a conviction, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government and making all reasonable inferences and credibility choices in the Government’s favor). Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Govern- ment and making all reasonable credibility choices in its favor, the jury could have reasonably credited the testimony of Z.B. and her mother Stacey Sherretta to find that Z.B. suffered substantial bod- ily injury. See United States v. Ramirez-Chilel, 289 F.3d 744, 749 (11th Cir. 2002) (stating we defer to a credibility determination by a fact- finder “unless it is contrary to the laws of nature, or is so incon- sistent or improbable on its face that no reasonable factfinder could accept it” (quotation marks omitted)). Before the assault, Z.B., who had experienced selective mutism since she was a small child, had been making significant progress with making and maintaining friendships and participating in school, all of which was set back by the assault. Z.B. felt nauseous for the rest of the flight, suffered a panic attack immediately following the assault, and cried for sev- eral hours, including after they disembarked the plane. Witness Richard Krum corroborated this by describing that Z.B. appeared “completely traumatized,” and Sherretta stated that Z.B. was “pretty much catatonic” during this time. For the rest of their time in Orlando, Z.B. showed no interest in their usual vacation activi- ties, did not want to leave the house in which they were staying, and did not want to wear clothes or swim gear which would have exposed her legs. On their flight back to Los Angeles, Z.B. cried and displayed anxiety that Durning could be on the same flight. USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 4 of 11

4 Opinion of the Court 23-13289

For a full year after the assault, Z.B. and her mother reported that Z.B. frequently slept in the same bed as her mother because she was scared, had nightmares, and had difficulty sleeping. She experienced anxiety, fear, and crying spells due to triggers associ- ated with Durning’s assault, such as her pediatrician and substitute teacher touching her legs and torso. Z.B. did not want to hang out with her friends or engage in other usual summertime activities, did not want to go to school, and typically wore oversized, baggy clothes which covered her entire body, including her hair. Sher- retta reported that Z.B. missed upwards of 40 days of school be- tween the assault and the trial, and Z.B. would often wake up, cry, and vomit before school; on the days when Z.B. went to school, Sherretta often had to pick her up early. Z.B.’s ongoing stress led to difficulty staying motivated with schoolwork, in turn leading to a significant drop in her grades, for which she had to receive inten- sive tutoring. Z.B. saw the school counselor and a professional therapist throughout the year. Z.B. also developed tics during this time, and six weeks before trial, Sherretta noticed that Z.B. cut her- self on her thigh because of her anguish. Z.B. expressed to Sher- retta anxiety regarding contact with boys and school dances, such as being afraid of or not knowing what to do if a boy attempted to hold her hand or kiss her. Taken together, the trial testimony of Z.B. and her mother is adequate to support beyond a reasonable doubt that Z.B. suf- fered psychological trauma, which constitutes impairment of a mental faculty. See United States v. Friske, 640 F.3d 1288, 1291 (11th Cir. 2011) (stating when the Government relies on circumstantial USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 5 of 11

23-13289 Opinion of the Court 5

evidence to prove an element of the offense, reasonable inferences from the evidence must support the conviction, not mere specula- tion); United States v. Henderson, 693 F.2d 1028, 1030-31 (11th Cir. 1982) (providing circumstantial evidence is frequently more than sufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and the jury must decide whether to draw the inference between the evidence presented and the fact asserted); Keelan, 786 F.3d at 872; 18 U.S.C. § 113(b)(1)(B). Her ongoing anxiety and social adjustment troubles were evident in the testimony of her grades suffering, panic attacks and crying spells triggered by situations which reminded her of Durning, disinterest in things and people which she used to enjoy, and fear of physical contact with non-family members, especially men and boys. Such evidence is sufficient to support that Z.B. suf- fered a substantial bodily injury within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 113. Accordingly, we affirm as to this issue. See United States v. Achey, 943 F.3d 909, 913 (11th Cir. 2019) (“If a reasonable jury could conclude that the evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the verdict will be affirmed.” (quotation marks omitted)). B. Causation Durning also contends there was insufficient evidence that he caused Z.B.’s injury. A district court can find actual and proxi- mate causation if the causal connection between the conduct of a defendant and the victim’s suffering is “not too attenuated,” either factually or temporally. Keelan, 786 F.3d at 873. Sufficient evidence supports that Z.B.’s substantial bodily in- jury was caused by Durning. See Broughton, 689 F.3d at 1276; 18 USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 6 of 11

6 Opinion of the Court 23-13289

U.S.C. § 113(a)(7) (criminalizing assault “resulting in” substantial bodily injury). When viewing the evidence in the light most favor- able to the Government and making all reasonable inferences and credibility choices in the Government’s favor, the jury could have reasonably credited the testimony of witnesses as to causation. See id.; Ramirez-Chilel, 289 F.3d at 749. Z.B. and Sharon Joseph’s testi- mony established that Durning touched Z.B. on her inner thigh. Z.B. also testified that Durning whispered to her that he would take her away from her family, rubbed his leg against her even after she moved away from him, touched her breast, and touched her hair and neck. Joseph, Z.B., Sherretta, Pedro Maldonado, and Krum all testified that Z.B. appeared extremely disturbed after the assault, had a panic attack for the hour following the assault, and cried for hours; several witnesses described Z.B. as “catatonic” or “clearly in a traumatic state” for the remainder of the flight and while driving to Z.B.’s family’s destination in Orlando. Sherretta and Z.B. both reported that Z.B. had ongoing nightmares for almost a year after- ward, which they attributed to the assault and which led Z.B. to want to sleep in the same bed as her mother, something Z.B. his- torically “never” did. Further, several of Z.B.’s particularly bad panic attacks during the year after the assault were associated with triggers traceable to Durning, including non-family adults touching her legs and torso. Taken together, the trial testimony of Z.B., Sherretta, Jo- seph, Maldonado, and Krum is adequate to support beyond a rea- sonable doubt that Z.B.’s substantial psychological injury was caused by Durning’s assault. See Keelan, 786 F.3d at 872; Friske, 640 USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 7 of 11

23-13289 Opinion of the Court 7

F.3d at 1291; Henderson, 693 F.2d 1030-31. Her ongoing anxiety, sleep issues, and fear of physical contact with non-family members are traceable, both factually and temporally, to Durning’s actions, and the causal connection is not so attenuated as to preclude a find- ing of actual and proximate causation. See Keelan, 786 F.3d at 873. Accordingly, we affirm as to this issue. II. SENTENCE A. Reasonableness Durning asserts the district court abused its discretion in var- ying upward from the Guidelines range and imposing the statutory maximum sentence. A district court abuses its discretion when it “(1) fails to afford consideration to relevant factors that were due significant weight, (2) gives significant weight to an improper or irrelevant factor, or (3) commits a clear error of judgment in con- sidering the proper factors.” United States v. Irey, 612 F.3d 1160, 1189 (11th Cir. 2010) (en banc). The factors for considering whether a sentence is unreasonable are set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and include the nature and circumstances of the offense, the history and characteristics of the defendant, the need to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant, and the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct. United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 260-61 (2005); 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). “The weight to be accorded any given § 3553(a) factor is a matter committed to the sound discretion of the district court.” United States v. Clay, 483 F.3d 739, 743 (11th Cir. 2007). The district USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 8 of 11

8 Opinion of the Court 23-13289

court may “attach great weight” to any single factor or combina- tion of factors. United States v. Overstreet, 713 F.3d 627, 638 (11th Cir. 2013) (quotation marks omitted). Further, when determining the defendant’s sentence, a district court is “free to consider any information relevant to [the defendant’s] background, character, and conduct.” United States v. Tome, 611 F.3d 1371, 1379 (11th Cir. 2010) (quotation marks omitted). “[A]n acknowledgment by the district court that it has considered the defendant’s arguments and the factors in [§] 3553(a) is sufficient” to indicate the district court considered the relevant factors. United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 786 (11th Cir. 2005), abrogated on other grounds by Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338 (2007). The district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing a substantial upward variance to Durning’s sentence. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007) (stating when reviewing for substantive reasonableness, we consider the totality of the circum- stances under a deferential abuse-of-discretion standard). While Durning’s sentence is significantly above the Guidelines range for his conviction, this does not create a presumption of unreasonable- ness. See United States v. Goldman, 953 F.3d 1213, 1222 (11th Cir. 2020) (“We do not presume that a sentence outside the guideline range is unreasonable and must give due deference to the district court’s decision that the § 3553(a) factors, as a whole, justify the extent of the variance.”). At sentencing, the district court discussed each § 3553(a) factor before imposing Durning’s sentence, focusing particularly on the nature and circumstances of the offense before USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 9 of 11

23-13289 Opinion of the Court 9

turning to each other factor.1 The decision by the district court to attach great weight to the seriousness of the offense conduct, as well as Durning’s history of alcohol-related criminal issues, was well within its discretion. See Talley, 431 F.3d at 786; Clay, 483 F.3d at 743; Overstreet, 713 F.3d at 638; Tome, 611 F.3d at 1379. The dis- trict court acknowledged several of Durning’s positive personal characteristics, but most of the factors named by the district court were either neutral or weighed in favor of a longer sentence. Be- cause the district court considered all the proper factors and did not consider any improper ones, and in the absence of a clear error of judgment in weighing those factors, the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing an upward variance. See Irey, 612 F.3d at 1189. B. Acquitted Conduct Durning also contends the district court erred in considering acquitted conduct regarding the sexual nature of his offense. “[A] jury’s verdict of acquittal does not prevent the sentencing court from considering conduct underlying the acquitted charge, so long as that conduct has been proved by a preponderance of the evi- dence.” United States v. Watts, 519 U.S. 148, 157 (1997). We have

1 The district court did not err in considering the sexual nature of Durning’s

offense or in considering Tabari Francis’s testimony because both are part of the nature and circumstances of the offense. Additionally, the district court did not err in beginning to form an opinion about Durning’s behavior toward Francis before Francis testified because Maldonado, who testified before Fran- cis, had spoken about his belief that Durning was pretending to be asleep while sitting beside Francis. USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 10 of 11

10 Opinion of the Court 23-13289

noted that, under our longstanding precedent, “relevant conduct of which a defendant was acquitted . . . may be taken into account in sentencing for the offense of conviction, as long as the Govern- ment proves the acquitted conduct relied upon by a preponderance of the evidence.” United States v. Cavallo, 790 F.3d 1202, 1233 (11th Cir. 2015). The district court did not err in considering acquitted con- duct when determining Durning’s sentence. See United States v. Cantellano, 430 F.3d 1142, 1144 (11th Cir. 2005) (reviewing de novo a constitutional challenge to a sentence). Our precedent and the precedent of the Supreme Court affirm that relevant acquitted con- duct may be considered at sentencing. See Watts, 519 U.S. at 157; Cavallo, 790 F.3d at 1233. Furthermore, the testimony of Z.B., her mother Sherretta, and Joseph is sufficient to establish by a prepon- derance of the evidence that Durning’s contact with Z.B. was sex- ual in nature. Accordingly, we affirm as to this issue. C. Sex Offender Treatment Durning further contends the district court abused its discre- tion in imposing sex offender mental health treatment as a condi- tion of supervised release. The Sentencing Guidelines permit sen- tencing courts to impose any conditions of supervised release that are “reasonably related” to the § 3553(a) factors, so long as the con- ditions “involve no greater deprivation of liberty than is reasonably necessary for the purposes set forth” in § 3553(a) “and are con- sistent with any pertinent policy statements issued by the Sentenc- ing Commission.” U.S.S.G. § 5D1.3(b); see also United States v. Zinn, USCA11 Case: 23-13289 Document: 36-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2024 Page: 11 of 11

23-13289 Opinion of the Court 11

321 F.3d 1084, 1089 (11th Cir. 2003). Although the nature and cir- cumstances of the offense is one factor to consider, a special condi- tion need not be related to the offense of conviction to be valid. See United States v. Bull, 214 F.3d 1275, 1276-78 (11th Cir. 2000). This is because “each factor [in § 5D1.3(b)] is an independent considera- tion to be weighed.” Id. at 1278. The district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing sex offender mental health treatment as a condition of supervised re- lease. See United States v. Moran, 573 F.3d 1132, 1137 (11th Cir. 2009) (reviewing the imposition of special conditions of supervised re- lease for abuse of discretion); United States v. Taylor, 338 F.3d 1280, 1283 (11th Cir. 2003) (“We will reverse only if we have a definite and firm conviction that the district court committed a clear error of judgment in the conclusion it reached.” (alteration in original)). The district court did not err in considering the sexual nature of Durning’s offense, which in turn allowed the court to consider the need to address § 3553(a) factors as they relate to sex offenses. The fact that Durning was not convicted of a sex offense does not pre- clude the consideration of the sexual nature of his assault on Z.B. See Bull, 214 F.3d at 1276-78. Sex offender mental health treatment is reasonably related to several § 3553(a) factors, including protec- tion of the public and rehabilitation. See Moran, 573 F.3d at 1139 (determining sex offender treatment protects the public because it can help defendants avoid similar future misconduct). Accord- ingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing sex offender mental health treatment. AFFIRMED.