NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS OCT 8 2024 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 22-10336 D.C. No. Plaintiff - Appellee, 1:20-CR-00040-1-DAD-BAM-1 v. MEMORANDUM* CHRISTOPHER JEORGE MILLICAN,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California Dale A. Drozd, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted September 12, 2024 San Francisco, California
Before: BYBEE, BEA, and MENDOZA, Circuit Judges.
Christopher Millican appeals his conviction and 570-month sentence for
sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt of visual depictions of a minor engaged in
sexually explicit conduct. We have jurisdiction to review Millican’s conviction and
sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. For the following reasons, we affirm in part
and vacate and remand in part.
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. 1. Millican argues that his confession should have been suppressed
because he did not receive an adequate Miranda warning and he invoked the right
to counsel. He concedes that he did not object to introduction of his confession on
these grounds at trial.
A motion to suppress evidence must be filed either before the deadline
established by the district court or by the start of trial, whichever is first. Fed. R.
Crim. P. 12(b)(3), (c)(1). A motion to suppress that is not filed by that deadline is
untimely. Fed. R. Crim. P. 12(c)(3). A court may review an untimely motion only
for good cause. Id. Millican has not offered any cause, much less good cause, for
failing timely to raise this issue at the trial court. Therefore, Millican forfeited his
Miranda claims. See id.
2. Millican argues that the district court erred by admitting data sent to
law enforcement by Snapchat and Comcast without requiring the custodians of
records to testify to the data in person. He contests two different sets of evidence:
(1) the cyber tip from Snap, Inc. (“Snapchat”); and (2) the search warrant responses
from Snapchat and Comcast Cable Communications, LLC (“Comcast”).
The Confrontation Clause bars the introduction of testimonial hearsay against
a criminal defendant unless the declarant is unavailable and the party against whom
the statement is admitted had a prior opportunity to cross-examine the declarant. See
Lucero v. Holland, 902 F.3d 979, 987 (9th Cir. 2018) (quoting United States v.
2 Brooks, 772 F.3d 1161, 1167 (9th Cir. 2014)). As such, it applies only to statements
that are both testimonial and hearsay. See Smith v. Arizona, 144 S. Ct. 1785, 1792
(2024); Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 51–52 (2004).
Because Millican did not object to the introduction of these statements at the
district court, we review for plain error. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725,
731–32 (1993).
First, the United States never moved to introduce the cyber tip submitted by
Snapchat into evidence. Instead, it relied on the cyber tip to show its effect on
Detective Raymond Dias’s investigation. See United States v. Lopez, 913 F.3d 807,
826 (9th Cir. 2019) (citing United States v. Payne, 944 F.2d 1458, 1472 (9th Cir.
1991)) (acknowledging that statements offered to show their effect on the listener
are not hearsay). Since the cyber tip was offered for its effect on the listener, and
not for the truth of the matter asserted, it was not hearsay and did not offend the
Confrontation Clause. See Lucero, 902 F.3d at 987 (quoting Brooks, 772 F.3d at
1167).
Second, the data produced by Snapchat and Comcast were hearsay-excepted
business records kept in the ordinary course of business. A statement is testimonial
if its primary purpose “is for use as evidence at a future criminal trial.” United States
v. Fryberg, 854 F.3d 1126, 1135–36 (9th Cir. 2017) (internal quotation marks
omitted) (quoting United States v. Morales, 720 F.3d 1194, 1200 (9th Cir. 2013)).
3 The creation and preservation of records of messages and images sent between
accounts by Snapchat, as well as IP address information by Comcast, was not done
for the primary purpose of being used in a later criminal prosecution. Melendez-
Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305, 324 (2009). That business records were later
delivered to law enforcement in response to a search warrant does not change the
primary purpose for which they were created. See Fryberg, 854 F.3d at 1135–36.
As such, the records submitted by Snapchat and Comcast in response to the search
warrant were not testimonial, and their introduction into evidence does not violate
the Confrontation Clause.
3. Millican argues that the district court erred by admitting evidence that
he unsuccessfully tried to meet a minor in Florida because this evidence possessed
a danger of unfair prejudice that substantially outweighed its probative value.
Because Millican did not object to this issue during trial, and did not receive a
definitive ruling on his objection before trial, we review for plain error. See Olano,
507 U.S. at 731–32.
A “court may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially
outweighed by a danger of . . . unfair prejudice . . . .” Fed. R. Evid. 403. This
remedy is to be used “sparingly,” and we afford “great deference” to the district
court’s decision. United States v. Haischer, 780 F.3d 1277, 1281 (9th Cir. 2015)
(internal citations and quotations omitted). Here, the evidence of this potential meet
4 up was probative to show that Millican was attracted to minors and to counter his
defense that his confession was coached. Meanwhile, given the egregious conduct
in this case, this evidence was not likely to encourage the jury to make a decision
based on emotion rather than fact. See id. (quoting United States v. Anderson, 741
F.3d 938, 950 (9th Cir. 2013)). As such, the danger of unfair prejudice did not
substantially outweigh the evidence’s probative value, and the district court did not
err in admitting it at trial.
4. Millican challenges both the procedural and substantive reasonableness
of his 570-month sentence. Procedurally, he avers that the district court failed to
acknowledge and address his objection to consecutive sentences. Substantively, he
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS OCT 8 2024 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 22-10336 D.C. No. Plaintiff - Appellee, 1:20-CR-00040-1-DAD-BAM-1 v. MEMORANDUM* CHRISTOPHER JEORGE MILLICAN,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California Dale A. Drozd, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted September 12, 2024 San Francisco, California
Before: BYBEE, BEA, and MENDOZA, Circuit Judges.
Christopher Millican appeals his conviction and 570-month sentence for
sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt of visual depictions of a minor engaged in
sexually explicit conduct. We have jurisdiction to review Millican’s conviction and
sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. For the following reasons, we affirm in part
and vacate and remand in part.
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. 1. Millican argues that his confession should have been suppressed
because he did not receive an adequate Miranda warning and he invoked the right
to counsel. He concedes that he did not object to introduction of his confession on
these grounds at trial.
A motion to suppress evidence must be filed either before the deadline
established by the district court or by the start of trial, whichever is first. Fed. R.
Crim. P. 12(b)(3), (c)(1). A motion to suppress that is not filed by that deadline is
untimely. Fed. R. Crim. P. 12(c)(3). A court may review an untimely motion only
for good cause. Id. Millican has not offered any cause, much less good cause, for
failing timely to raise this issue at the trial court. Therefore, Millican forfeited his
Miranda claims. See id.
2. Millican argues that the district court erred by admitting data sent to
law enforcement by Snapchat and Comcast without requiring the custodians of
records to testify to the data in person. He contests two different sets of evidence:
(1) the cyber tip from Snap, Inc. (“Snapchat”); and (2) the search warrant responses
from Snapchat and Comcast Cable Communications, LLC (“Comcast”).
The Confrontation Clause bars the introduction of testimonial hearsay against
a criminal defendant unless the declarant is unavailable and the party against whom
the statement is admitted had a prior opportunity to cross-examine the declarant. See
Lucero v. Holland, 902 F.3d 979, 987 (9th Cir. 2018) (quoting United States v.
2 Brooks, 772 F.3d 1161, 1167 (9th Cir. 2014)). As such, it applies only to statements
that are both testimonial and hearsay. See Smith v. Arizona, 144 S. Ct. 1785, 1792
(2024); Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 51–52 (2004).
Because Millican did not object to the introduction of these statements at the
district court, we review for plain error. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725,
731–32 (1993).
First, the United States never moved to introduce the cyber tip submitted by
Snapchat into evidence. Instead, it relied on the cyber tip to show its effect on
Detective Raymond Dias’s investigation. See United States v. Lopez, 913 F.3d 807,
826 (9th Cir. 2019) (citing United States v. Payne, 944 F.2d 1458, 1472 (9th Cir.
1991)) (acknowledging that statements offered to show their effect on the listener
are not hearsay). Since the cyber tip was offered for its effect on the listener, and
not for the truth of the matter asserted, it was not hearsay and did not offend the
Confrontation Clause. See Lucero, 902 F.3d at 987 (quoting Brooks, 772 F.3d at
1167).
Second, the data produced by Snapchat and Comcast were hearsay-excepted
business records kept in the ordinary course of business. A statement is testimonial
if its primary purpose “is for use as evidence at a future criminal trial.” United States
v. Fryberg, 854 F.3d 1126, 1135–36 (9th Cir. 2017) (internal quotation marks
omitted) (quoting United States v. Morales, 720 F.3d 1194, 1200 (9th Cir. 2013)).
3 The creation and preservation of records of messages and images sent between
accounts by Snapchat, as well as IP address information by Comcast, was not done
for the primary purpose of being used in a later criminal prosecution. Melendez-
Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305, 324 (2009). That business records were later
delivered to law enforcement in response to a search warrant does not change the
primary purpose for which they were created. See Fryberg, 854 F.3d at 1135–36.
As such, the records submitted by Snapchat and Comcast in response to the search
warrant were not testimonial, and their introduction into evidence does not violate
the Confrontation Clause.
3. Millican argues that the district court erred by admitting evidence that
he unsuccessfully tried to meet a minor in Florida because this evidence possessed
a danger of unfair prejudice that substantially outweighed its probative value.
Because Millican did not object to this issue during trial, and did not receive a
definitive ruling on his objection before trial, we review for plain error. See Olano,
507 U.S. at 731–32.
A “court may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially
outweighed by a danger of . . . unfair prejudice . . . .” Fed. R. Evid. 403. This
remedy is to be used “sparingly,” and we afford “great deference” to the district
court’s decision. United States v. Haischer, 780 F.3d 1277, 1281 (9th Cir. 2015)
(internal citations and quotations omitted). Here, the evidence of this potential meet
4 up was probative to show that Millican was attracted to minors and to counter his
defense that his confession was coached. Meanwhile, given the egregious conduct
in this case, this evidence was not likely to encourage the jury to make a decision
based on emotion rather than fact. See id. (quoting United States v. Anderson, 741
F.3d 938, 950 (9th Cir. 2013)). As such, the danger of unfair prejudice did not
substantially outweigh the evidence’s probative value, and the district court did not
err in admitting it at trial.
4. Millican challenges both the procedural and substantive reasonableness
of his 570-month sentence. Procedurally, he avers that the district court failed to
acknowledge and address his objection to consecutive sentences. Substantively, he
argues that his lengthy sentence for a no-contact crime creates an unwarranted
disparity between him and similar offenders convicted of similar offenses.
The parties agree that we review Millican’s substantive claim for abuse of
discretion, but they disagree about the standard to be applied to his procedural claim.
Because we conclude that Millican preserved his objection, we apply abuse of
discretion to it as well.
First, as to procedural reasonableness, when a criminal defendant offers a non-
frivolous argument related to the factors set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), “the [district]
judge should normally explain why he accepts or rejects the party’s position.”
United States v. Carty, 520 F.3d 984, 992–93 (9th Cir. 2008) (citing Rita v. United
5 States, 551 U.S. 338, 356 (2007)); see 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c). Both before and at
sentencing, Millican objected to the imposition of consecutive sentences. The
district judge addressed that argument when he discussed the heinous and egregious
nature of the crime and the need to protect the community from future conduct of
the defendant. Additionally, immediately after announcing the sentence, the district
judge offered a detailed response as to why he believed a consecutive sentence was
warranted. Thus, Millican was entitled to, and did, have his objections heard and
considered. His sentence is not procedurally unreasonable.
Second, as to substantive reasonableness, the district court imposed a sentence
below the range suggested by the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which would
have been life incarceration, but was reduced to 600 months based on the statutory
maximum. A primary purpose for the non-binding Sentencing Guidelines is to
promote consistency in sentences for similar offenses and similar offenders. See
United States v. Green, 592 F.3d 1057, 1072 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing United States v.
Saeteurn, 504 F.3d 1175, 1181 (9th Cir. 2007)). As such, any discrepancy here
benefited Millican. Furthermore, the need to prevent unwarranted sentence
discrepancies is only one factor set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). The district court
acted within its discretion by assigning more weight to other factors, such as the
need to protect the community and provide just punishment for this egregious
offense. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a); United States v. Marcial-Santiago, 447 F.3d 715,
6 719 (9th Cir. 2006) (“[T]he need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities is only
one factor a district court is to consider in imposing a sentence.”). Therefore, the
sentence was not substantively unreasonable.
5. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3014 (“JVTA”)
mandates a special assessment “of $5,000 on any non-indigent person . . . convicted
of,” inter alia, sexual exploitation of a minor or receipt of child pornography.
18 U.S.C. § 3014(a)(3). The special assessment is imposed for each count of
conviction, not a single assessment per offender. See United States v. Randall, 34
F.4th 867, 877 (9th Cir. 2022). The determination of whether an offender is indigent
depends both on the defendant’s current financial situation as well as their future
earning capacity. See United States v. Strange, 692 F. App’x 346, 349 (9th Cir.
2017). Lastly, where an oral and written judgment sentencing a criminal defendant
are inconsistent, the oral pronouncement controls. See United States v. Jones, 696
F.3d 932, 938 (9th Cir. 2012) (quoting United States v. Hicks, 997 F.2d 594, 597 (9th
Cir. 1993)). An inconsistency requires that the written judgment be vacated and
remanded to conform to the verbal sentence. United States v. Holden, 908 F.3d 395,
404 (9th Cir. 2018) (citing Jones, 696 F.3d at 938).
We review the imposition of two JVTA special assessments for plain error,
United States v. Kirilyuk, 29 F.4th 1128, 1140 (9th Cir. 2022), the finding of non-
indigency for clear error, United States v. Orlando, 553 F.3d 1235, 1240 (9th Cir.
7 2009), and the alleged defect in the written judgment for abuse of discretion, Holden,
908 F.3d at 403.
The district court properly imposed two separate $5,000 JVTA special
assessments, one for each count of conviction, totaling $10,000. See Randall, 34
F.4th at 877. Similarly, the district court did not commit clear error by concluding
that Millican was not indigent because he possesses vocational skills and has a
history of employment. See Strange, 692 F. App’x at 349.
Nevertheless, because the district judge indicated at sentencing that the special
assessment payments were to “begin immediately” rather than be “due immediately”
as described in the written judgment, a limited remand is necessary. See Holden,
908 F.3d at 403; Jones, 696 F.3d at 938. Accordingly, we vacate the JVTA payment
schedule and remand for the narrow purpose of amending the written judgment to
correspond with the oral pronouncement at sentencing.
AFFIRMED in part; VACATED and REMANDED in part.