United States v. Huckeba

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
August 25, 2015
TENTH CIRCUIT Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee, No. 14-6167
(D.C. No. 5:14-CR-00038-M-1)
v. W.D. Oklahoma
STEPHEN D. HUCKEBA,
Defendant - Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before MATHESON, MURPHY, and PHILLIPS, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this court has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). Accordingly, we
grant the parties’ requests and order the case submitted without oral argument.
I. INTRODUCTION
Stephen Huckeba pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly transporting
child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(1), and one count of
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited,
however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th
Cir. R. 32.1.
receiving and attempting to receive child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 2252(a)(2). The district court sentenced him to 151 months’ imprisonment, a
term at the bottom of the advisory range set out in the United States Sentencing
Guidelines. Huckeba appeals, asserting the sentence imposed by the district court
is both procedurally and substantively unreasonable. This court exercises
jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and affirms
the sentence imposed by the district court.
II. BACKGROUND
In September 2013, an Edmond, Oklahoma Police Department detective
was conducting an investigation into the sharing of child pornography over the
internet. The detective discovered Huckeba had downloaded child pornography
from a peer-to-peer network (“P2P”). 1 By following the Internet Protocol (“IP”)
address 2 associated with that file-sharing account, investigators discovered
Huckeba’s identity. When confronted by investigators, Huckeba admitted that for
the past couple of years he had possessed and viewed pornographic images of
children, including images of infants being sexually abused. A search of
1
For a brief explanation of how P2P networks operate, see United States v.
Cartier, 543 F.3d 442, 444 (8th Cir. 2008).
2
An IP address is a unique numeric address used by computers on the
Internet. Every computer attached to the Internet must be assigned an IP address
so that Internet traffic sent from and directed to that computer may be directed
properly from its source to its destination. “The IP . . . address is unique to a
specific computer. Only one computer would be assigned a particular IP
address.” United States v. Perrine, 518 F.3d 1196, 1199 n.2 (10th Cir. 2008).
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Huckeba’s computer by federal and state law enforcement officials uncovered 306
pornographic videos of children and 2,837 still images of child pornography on
the computer’s hard drive. Investigators determined that Huckeba targeted
pornographic images of children ranging from infancy to five-years old and that
he had actively sought “younger pics” online.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Huckeba with one
count of knowingly transporting child pornography and one count of receiving
and attempting to receive child pornography. 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(1), (a)(2).
Huckeba pleaded guilty to both counts. In advance of the sentencing hearing, the
United States Probation Office prepared a Presentence Investigation Report
(“PSR”). Based on an offense level of thirty-four and a criminal history category
of I, the PRS calculated Huckeba’s advisory guidelines range as 151 to 188
months’ imprisonment. In calculating Huckeba’s offense level, the PSR included
a four-level upward adjustment because he possessed sadomasochistic child
pornography. See U.S.S.G. § 2G2.2(b)(4).
Although Huckeba originally objected to the application of the adjustment
set out in § 2G2.2(b)(4), he ultimately conceded the enhancement applied and
withdrew his objection. He did, however, request a substantial downward
variance—five years’ imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release,
the statutory minimum sentence available under 18 U.S.C. § 2252(b)(1). In
support of his request for a variance, Huckeba argued that the four-level upward
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adjustment set out in § 2G2.2(b)(4) was outdated in the era of P2P networks, as
the Sentencing Commission’s own statistics showed the adjustment applied in
79.4% of cases prosecuted in fiscal year 2011. He also argued that application of
the adjustment in his case would result in an unjust sentencing disparity between
him and similarly situated defendants. As an example, Huckeba cited the
sentencing disparity between him and another defendant, Charles Layne, whom
the district court had sentenced weeks before. Huckeba noted that Layne received
a lighter sentence simply because Layne happened not to be subject to
§ 2G2.2(b)(4). Huckeba contended this disparity was unjust because Layne was
more culpable in light of his prior convictions for contact sexual offenses. 3
According to Huckeba, this disparity—along with consideration of his
background, prior criminal history, and offense conduct—warranted a downward
variance.
The district court disagreed, concluding that Huckeba was not similarly
situated to Layne because Huckeba had possessed sadomasochistic child
pornography. Agreeing with the government that such pornography constituted
the “vilest of the vile child pornography,” the district court determined a
3
“Contact sexual offenses” include “any illegal sexually abusive,
exploitative, or predatory conduct involving actual or attempted physical contact
between the offender and a victim occurring before or concomitantly with the
offender’s commission of a non-production child pornography offense.” U.S.
Sentencing Commission, Federal Child Pornography Offenses, at 100 (Ch. 4)
(2012).
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downward variance was not warranted. The district court sentenced Huckeba to a
bottom-of-the-advisory-guidelines-term of 151 months’ imprisonment on each of
the two counts, to be served concurrently.
III. ANALYSIS
“After the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S.
220 (2005), this court reviews sentences for reasonableness.” United States v.
Friedman, 554 F.3d 1301, 1307 (10th Cir. 2009). “Reasonableness review is a
two-step process comprising a procedural and a substantive component.” Id.
(quotation omitted). Huckeba challenges on appeal both the procedural and
substantive reasonableness of his sentence.
A. Procedural Reasonableness
Procedural reasonableness “relates to the manner in which the district court
calculated and explained the sentence.” United States v. A.B., 529 F.3d 1275,
1278 (10th Cir. 2008). On appeal, this court must assure itself that “the district
court committed no significant procedural error, such as failing to calculate (or
improperly calculating) the Guidelines range, treating the Guidelines as
mandatory, failing to consider the § 3553(a) factors, selecting a sentence based on
clearly erroneous facts, or failing to adequately explain the chosen
sentence—including an explanation for any deviation from the Guidelines range.”
Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). When, however, a defendant fails
to contemporaneously object to procedural sentencing errors, this court reviews
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only for plain error. United States v. Romero, 491 F.3d 1173, 1177 (10th Cir.
2007). To satisfy this heavy burden, a defendant must show: (1) error, (2) that is
plain, (3) which affects substantial rights, and (4) which seriously affects the
fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id. at 1178.
Huckeba asserts the district court committed two procedural errors, treating
the guidelines as mandatory and failing to consider all of the sentencing factors
set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Huckeba did not object at sentencing to either
procedural error he now raises on appeal. Thus, this court’s review is limited to
plain error. Because, however, Huckeba has failed to argue he is entitled to
appellate relief under the plain-error standard, this court need not address the
issue of procedural reasonableness. United States v. Lamirand, 669 F.3d 1091,
1098-1100 n.7 (10th Cir. 2012) (“[T]he failure to argue for plain error and its
application on appeal . . . surely marks the end of the road for an argument for
reversal not first presented to the district court.” (quotation omitted)).4
4
A review of the record in this case reveals the likely explanation for the
absence of an objection at the sentencing hearing—the assertion on appeal that
the district court treated the guidelines as mandatory and failed to consider the
§ 3553(a) factors is frivolous. Huckeba’s counsel noted the advisory nature of the
guidelines four times during the sentencing hearing. Huckeba’s argument that the
district court procedurally erred by treating the guidelines as mandatory is based
entirely on the district court’s discretionary decision not to depart downward from
the advisory guidelines range. But see United States v. Davis, 437 F.3d 989, 997
(10th Cir. 2006) (rejecting the defendant’s “belief that the district court treated
the guidelines as de facto mandatory simply because it did not impose a sentence
below the guideline range”). His argument that the district court failed to
consider the § 3553(a) factors is equally meritless. When a district court imposes
(continued...)
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B. Substantive Reasonableness
Substantive reasonableness review “focuses on whether the length of the
sentence is reasonable given all the circumstances of the case in light of the
factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).” Friedman, 554 F.3d at 1307 (quotation
omitted). We review the substantive reasonableness of a sentence under an
abuse-of-discretion standard. United States v. Sells, 541 F.3d 1227, 1237 (10th
Cir. 2008). A sentence is substantively unreasonable only if the district court
“exceeded the bounds of permissible choice, given the facts and the applicable
law in the case at hand.” United States v. McComb, 519 F.3d 1049, 1053 (10th
Cir. 2007) (quotation omitted). When the sentence imposed by the district court
is within the properly calculated advisory guidelines range, there is a presumption
of reasonableness. United States v. Verdin-Garcia, 516 F.3d 884, 898 (10th Cir.
4
(...continued)
a sentence within the advisory guidelines range, as did the district court here, it
need not recite “magic words,” respond to every argument for leniency that it
rejects, or explicitly refer to every § 3553(a) factor. United States v.
Rodriguez-Quintanilla, 442 F.3d 1254, 1258–59 (10th Cir. 2006) (quotation
omitted). Rather, the district court need only provide a “general statement of its
reasons” for imposing a within-guidelines sentence. United States v. Lente, 647
F.3d 1021, 1034 (10th Cir. 2011) (quotation omitted). The district court noted its
application of the § 3553(a) factors, considered Huckeba’s argument for a
downward variance in light of those factors, and asked questions in response to
that argument. United States v. Sanchez-Leon, 764 F.3d 1248, 1266 (10th Cir.
2014) (holding that the district court satisfied its procedural sentencing duties
when it “noted factors it should consider under § 3553(a),” the parties “presented
the factors to justify a variance,” and “the court asked clarifying questions,” even
though the district court “fail[ed] to acknowledge some of [the defendant’s]
arguments for leniency”).
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2008). A defendant may rebut this presumption, but the burden is a “hefty one,
because abuse-of-discretion is a deferential standard of review.” Id.
Huckeba argues the district court abused its discretion by not varying
downward because: (1) the Sentencing Commission’s 2012 report to Congress
recognized that offense level adjustments for child-pornography offenders apply
to the majority of defendants; and (2) several § 3553(a) factors—including his
personal history, the need to deter criminal activity, and the need to protect the
public from future criminal conduct—warranted a lesser sentence.
Huckeba asserts the guideline adjustments for child-pornography offenses
are outdated and result in unwarranted disparate sentences for similarly situated
defendants. Huckeba focuses on U.S.S.G. § 2G2.2(b)(4), the adjustment for
sadomasochistic pornography, arguing two similarly situated child pornography
defendants may or may not suffer the four-level adjustment simply because of the
operation of the P2P network software. As support for this argument, he relies on
a 2012 report prepared by the Sentencing Commission for Congress. See U.S.
Sentencing Commission, Federal Child Pornography Offenses (2012) [hereinafter
the “2012 Report”].
Huckeba’s arguments are foreclosed by this court’s recent decision in
United States v. Grigsby, 749 F.3d 908, 908-09 (10th Cir. 2014). Like Huckeba,
Grigsby cited the 2012 Report as evidence that the child-pornography Guidelines
should be categorically ignored as outdated and failing to account for a
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defendant’s individual culpability. Id. at 910. This court rejected Grigsby’s
reliance on the 2012 report, holding that district courts must consider the
Sentencing Guidelines range in sentencing determinations and that only
“Congress and the Commission are responsible for altering the Guidelines.” Id. at
911. Noting that district courts must “carefully apply” the child-pornography
Guidelines and “remain mindful that they possess broad discretion in fashioning
sentences” under those Guidelines, Grigsby nevertheless reaffirmed that a district
court retains discretion as to whether to vary downward based on a policy
disagreement with § 2G2.2. Id. (“To be sure, district courts that disagree with
§ 2G2.2 may vary from the Guidelines. But if they do not, we will not
second-guess their decisions under a more lenient standard simply because the
guideline is not empirically-based.” (quotation omitted)); see also United States v.
Henderson, 649 F.3d 955, 964 (9th Cir. 2011) (“We further emphasize that
district courts are not obligated to vary from the child pornography Guidelines on
policy grounds if they do not have, in fact, a policy disagreement with them.”).
Citing the “vile” nature of the type of pornography Huckeba possessed and
taking into consideration the § 3553(a) factors, the district court concluded a
downward variance was unwarranted. The district court expressed concern with
the extensiveness of Huckeba’s child-pornography collection and the disturbing,
“very, very violent” nature of those images. Given these facts, the district court’s
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refusal to vary downward from the advisory sentencing range is unquestionably
reasonable.
Raising a second disparity argument, Huckeba argues his sentence is
improperly disparate from that of another particular child-pornography defendant,
Charles Layne. As this court has previously noted, however, the “unwarranted
disparity” provision of § 3553(a) does not require a sentencing court to compare
particular defendants, but rather looks to national uniformity in sentencing of
similarly situated defendants. United States v. Ivory, 532 F.3d 1095, 1107 (10th
Cir. 2008). In any event Huckeba received a longer sentence than Layne based on
Huckeba’s possession of a particular type of child pornography, sadomasochistic
pornography. A distinction that, as noted above, is unquestionably reasonable.
C. The District Court Did Not Abuse its Discretion in Weighing the
Remaining § 3553(a) Factors.
Finally, Huckeba argues the district court abused its discretion by failing to
give adequate weight to: (1) the deterrent effect of the mandatory supervised-
release terms and sex-offender registration requirements; and (2) his good
personal character, as evidenced by third-party letters, continued employment,
payment of taxes, and written allocution. In so arguing, Huckeba essentially asks
this court to reweigh the § 3553(a) factors anew. But see United States v. Smart,
518 F.3d 800, 808 (10th Cir. 2008) (“We may not examine the weight a district
court assigns to various § 3553(a) factors, and its ultimate assessment of the
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balance between them, as a legal conclusion to be reviewed de novo.”). None of
the factors identified by Huckeba are sufficient to overcome the presumption of
reasonableness that attaches to his within-guidelines sentence, particularly given
the exceedingly vile nature of the sadomasochistic child pornography he
possessed.
IV. CONCLUSION
For those reasons set out above, the sentence imposed by the United States
District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is hereby AFFIRMED.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Michael R. Murphy
Circuit Judge
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