United States v. Jose Lazaro Robaina

194 F. App'x 735
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
DecidedSeptember 5, 2006
Docket06-11033
StatusUnpublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 194 F. App'x 735 (United States v. Jose Lazaro Robaina) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Jose Lazaro Robaina, 194 F. App'x 735 (11th Cir. 2006).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Jose Lazaro Robaina appeals his sentence of 36 months’ imprisonment following the revocation of his term of supervised release. First, Robaina argues that the district court’s decision to sentence him at the statutory maximum was “unreasonable and violated [his] due process [rights] because there was insufficient evidence in the record that [he] was a drug dealer.” Second, Robaina argues that his sentence was illegal because the court failed to: (a) make a statement of the reasons for the departure upwards; (b) consider the guidelines’ Chapter 7 policy statements; (c) consider the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors; and (d) consider 18 U.S.C. § 3583(d), which he argues requires the court to consider substance abuse programs in sentencing.

*737 I.

We review an appellant’s total sentence for reasonableness. United States v. Sweeting, 437 F.3d 1105, 1107 (11th Cir. 2006). In reviewing a sentence for reasonableness, we are guided by the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). United States v. Winingear, 422 F.3d 1241, 1246 (11th Cir. 2005). Such review is deferential, requiring only that we “evaluate whether the sentence imposed by the district court fails to achieve the purposes of sentencing.” United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir.2005). Because Robaina failed to object to the constitutionality of his sentence before the district court, we will review this issue only for plain error. United States v. Nash, 438 F.3d 1302, 1304 (11th Cir.2006).

Finally, we review a district court’s decision after revocation of supervised release to impose a sentence above the range recommended by Chapter 7 of the Sentencing Guidelines for abuse of discretion. United States v. Brown, 224 F.3d 1237, 1239 (11th Cir.2000). A court abuses its discretion when its decision “rests upon a clearly erroneous finding of fact, an errant conclusion of law, or an improper application of law to fact.” United States v. Baker, 432 F.3d 1189, 1202 (11th Cir.2005), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 1809, 164 L.Ed.2d 544 (2006).

“Defendants involved in revocation proceedings are entitled to certain minimal due process requirements.” United States v. Frazier, 26 F.3d 110, 114 (11th Cir. 1994). In the parole revocation context, the Supreme Court has held that due process requires:

(a) written notice of the claimed violations;
(b) disclosure of the evidence against the person;
(c) an opportunity to be heard in person and to present evidence;
(d) the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses;
(e) a “neutral and detached” hearing body; and
(f) a written statement by the factfinders indicating the evidence upon which they relied and their reasons for revoking supervision.

Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 488-89, 487, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 2604, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972). We have extended the “protections granted those facing revocation of parole [to cover] those facing the revocation of supervised release.” United States v. Copeland, 20 F.3d 412, 414 (11th Cir. 1994).

We have held that “[t]he findings of fact of the sentencing court may be based on evidence heard during trial, facts admitted by a defendant’s plea of guilty, undisputed statements in the presentence report, or evidence presented at the sentencing hearing.” United States v. Wilson, 884 F.2d 1355, 1356 (11th Cir.1989). Further, a sentencing court “may consider any information with sufficient reliability.” United States v. Riley, 142 F.3d 1254, 1258 (11th Cir.1998).

Having carefully reviewed the record and the briefs of the parties, we find no reversible error. Although the district court did not expressly state that it had considered the § 3553(a) factors, it is nevertheless clear from our review of the sentencing transcript that it considered those factors. Further, the court did acknowledge that the advisory imprisonment range was 12 to 18 months. Based on our review of the record, we conclude that the sentence at the statutory maximum was reasonable.

Robaina does not specifically explain how the district court violated his due process rights beyond connecting the *738 violation to a lack of evidence. However, due process does not specifically address such an issue. Add to this the fact that Robaina does not cite any authority on this point, and it becomes difficult to detect how we should analyze the issue. Nevertheless, the record shows that Robaina did receive written notice of the claimed violations in form of the probation officer’s petition and superceding petition. It is also clear that Robaina’s counsel had access to the probation officer’s report, which disclosed the evidence against him. Next, the court gave Robaina an opportunity to be heard, and although he did not present evidence or examine any adverse witnesses after admitting to the violations, his opportunity to do so was not restricted. Finally, the court was neutral, and although it did not expressly state the reasons for the revocation, as discussed below, this is not plain error.

Before the district court, Robaina’s counsel admitted that Robaina was a drug addict and that he had been arrested with eight small bags of cocaine. The government also raised his drug addiction and asserted that he also sold drugs. The probation officer’s report contained background information about Robaina, and further reported that eight bags of cocaine had been found in Robaina’s residence, and that the probation officer had determined that Robaina had moved without telling him and that he was not working but was dealing drugs.

While Robaina’s counsel did question the sufficiency of the physical evidence alone to support the finding that Robaina was dealing drugs, he did not address the probation officer’s report, and he did not otherwise challenge the reliability of the findings contained therein.

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Bluebook (online)
194 F. App'x 735, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-jose-lazaro-robaina-ca11-2006.