United States v. Kevin Hudson

682 F. App'x 347

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: March 22, 2017
• Docket: 16-10524 Summary Calendar
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Kevin D. Hudson appeals the district court’s judgment revoking his two terms of supervised release. For the first time on appeal, he argues that the district court violated his constitutional right to confront witnesses when it allowed the probation officer to testify about the out-of-court statements of his mother and sister. We review this newly raised argument for plain error only. See Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135, 129 S.Ct. 1423, 173 L.Ed.2d 266 (2009). To establish plain error, Hudson must show a forfeited'error that is clear or obvious and that affects his substantial rights. See id. If he makes such a showing, this court has the discretion to correct the error but will do so only if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. See id.

The out-of-court statements by Hudson’s mother and sister were irrelevant to the determination whether Hudson violated any of the conditions of his supervised release. Hudson pleaded true to each of the allegations in the revocation petition. The Government introduced the evidence in order to rebut Hudson’s proffered justifications for possessing and using controlled substances. The right to confrontation did not apply because the hearsay testimony related to the revocation sentence rather than the decision to revoke supervised release. See Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 489, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972); United States v. Beydown, 469 F.3d 102, 108 (5th Cir. 2006); United States v. Giang Ho, 598 Fed.Appx. 317, 318 (5th Cir. 2015). Therefore, the district court did not commit clear or obvious error when it admitted the hearsay testimony. See Puckett, 556 U.S. at 135, 129 S.Ct. 1423.

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

* Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.