United States v. Whalen

97 F. App'x 132

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: May 10, 2004
• Docket: No. 03-30200; D.C. No. CR-02-30010-ALA
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

**

Bruce Whalen appeals the sentence imposed for his conviction of unlawful possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5). During a search of Whalen’s home, FBI agents found two floppy diskettes containing 44 images of child pornography and a laptop computer containing an additional 29 images of child pornography. Whalen argues that the district court erred in counting each graphics file containing an image of child pornography as an “item” for purposes of U.S.S.G. § 2G2.4(b)(2). He also argues that the district court erred in declining to depart downward on the basis of his alleged diminished mental capacity. We review de novo the district court’s interpretation and application of the sentencing guidelines. United States v. Montano, 250 F.3d 709, 712 (9th Cir.2001). We lack jurisdiction to review a district court’s decision not to depart downward absent evidence that the court believed it lacked the authority to do so. United States v. Tam, 240 F.3d 797, 805 (9th Cir.2001). We affirm.

We conclude that the district court did not err in counting each graphics file containing an image of child pornography as ah “item” for purposes of U.S.S.G. § 2G2.4(b)(2). Whalen’s argument is squarely foreclosed by our decisions in United States v. Fellows, 157 F.3d 1197, 1201-02 (9th Cir.1998), and United States v. Perreault, 195 F.3d 1133, 1134-35 (9th Cir.1999). Because the district court clearly acknowledged that it had the authority to depart downward on the basis of diminished mental capacity (among other grounds), we conclude that we lack jurisdiction to consider the district court’s decision not to depart downward. Tam, 240 F.3d at 805.

AFFIRMED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.