United States v. Caldwell

246 F. App'x 819

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Freddie Lee Caldwell pled guilty to: Count 1, transportation of child pornography by means of a computer in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 2252A(a)(l) West Supp. 2007); Count 2, distribution of child pornography by means of a computer in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 2252A(a)(2)(B) West Supp.2007); Count 4, possession of three or more images of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 2252A(a)(5)(B) West Supp.2007); Count 5, use of interactive computer service to receive obscene material in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1462 (2000). He was sentenced to eighty-four months of imprisonment.

On appeal, Caldwell raises the following issues, whether: (1) the Government failed to provide discovery; (2) the district court erred by denying Caldwell’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea; (3) the district court erred at sentencing by relying on evidence withheld by the Government; (4) his sentence was reasonable; and (5) the Government committed prosecutorial mis conduct at sentencing. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

First, we find that the district court did not abuse its discretion by delaying Caldwell’s sentencing hearing so that his counsel could be sure he received the disputed discovery items. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 16(a); United States v. Muse, 83 F.3d 672, 675 (4th Cir.1996) (stating review standard). To the extent Caldwell alleges Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963) violations, we find no reversible error. United States v. Ruiz, 536 U.S. 6226, 633, 122 S.Ct. 2450, 153 L.Ed.2d 586 (2002).

Second, we find no abuse of discretion in the district court’s decision to deny Caldwell’s motion to withdraw his plea. Fed. R.Crim.P. 11(h); United States v. Ubakanma, 215 F.3d 421, 424 (4th Cir.2000). Third, there is insufficient record evidence to support Caldwell’s claim that the Government withheld evidence used against him at sentencing.

Next, Caldwell alleges that his eight-four-month sentence is unreasonable. Caldwell was sentenced within a properly-calculated Sentencing Guidelines range and thus his sentence presumptively is reasonable. United States v. Johnson, 445 F.3d 339, 341-44 (4th Cir.2006); see Rita v. United States, — U.S. —, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 2462-67, 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007) (holding that an appellate court may apply a presumption of reasonableness to a district court’s sentence that reflects a proper application of the Sentencing Guidelines). “[A] defendant can only rebut the presumption [of reasonableness] by demonstrating that the sentence is unreasonable when measured against the § 3553(a) factors.” United States v. Montes-Pineda, 445 F.3d 375, 379 (4th Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 127 S.Ct. 3044, 168 L.Ed.2d 759 (2006). Caldwell has failed to demonstrate his sentence was unreasonable. Id.

Finally, we find Caldwell’s claims of prosecutorial misconduct without foundation. Accordingly, we affirm Caldwell’s convictions and sentence. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.