United States v. Shull

232 F. App'x 367

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Jonathan Lee Shull pled guilty to two bank robberies in North Carolina and one in Tennessee. He was sentenced to 240 months for each North Carolina robbery and 293 months for the Tennessee robbery. The sentences ran concurrently. We previously vacated the sentences and remanded for resentencing light of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Following resentencing, the district court imposed the identical sentences. Shull now appeals, contending that the district court erred when it increased his offense level by six points for possession of a firearm during the Tennessee robbery. Finding no error, we affirm.

At resentencing, the district court found by a preponderance of the evidence presented at the sentencing hearing that Shull had displayed and pointed a pistol at a bank teller. Accordingly, he had “otherwise used” a firearm during the Tennessee robbery, warranting the six-level enhancement. See U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2B3.1(b)(2)(B) (2003). It is established that the district court’s use of the preponderance of the evidence standard while applying the guidelines as advisory does not violate the Sixth Amendment. United States v. Morris, 429 F.3d 65, 72 (4th Cir.2005).

Shull’s sentence falls within the applicable statutory maximum and the properly calculated advisory guideline range. Further, the district court considered the factors set forth at 18 U.S.C.A. § 3553(a) (West 2000 & Supp.2006) when imposing sentence. We conclude that the sentence is reasonable. See United States v. Green, 436 F.3d 449, 457 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 2309, 164 L.Ed.2d 828 (2006); United States v. Hughes, 401 F.3d 540, 546 (4th Cir.2005). We accordingly affirm. * We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal arguments are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.

* Because the sentence is not above the advisory guideline range but was instead correctly determined, we reject Shull’s claim that the sentence is unreasonable because the district court did not state how a sentence above the advisory range serves the purposes of 18 U.S.C.A. § 3553(a).