United States v. Clark

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
Pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 206
File Name: 06a0443p.06
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
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Plaintiff-Appellee, -
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
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No. 05-6625
v.
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AUBREY CLARK, -
Defendant-Appellant. -
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Tennessee at Jackson.
No. 03-10038—James D. Todd, Chief, District Judge.
Submitted: October 23, 2006
Decided and Filed: November 29, 2006
Before: SILER, MOORE, and GILMAN, Circuit Judges.
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COUNSEL
ON BRIEF: April R. Goode, OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tennessee, for Appellant. James W. Powell,
ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Jackson, Tennessee, for Appellee.
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OPINION
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KAREN NELSON MOORE, Circuit Judge. Defendant-Appellant Aubrey Clark appeals his
sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Clark previously appealed his
conviction and his initial sentence, and we affirmed his conviction but vacated his sentence and
remanded for resentencing. Clark argues that, on remand, the district court erred by applying a
reasonableness standard to determine his sentence rather than imposing a sentence sufficient, but
not greater than necessary, to comply with the purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Because the district
court gave appropriate consideration to the applicable Guidelines range, the § 3553(a) factors, and
Clark’s arguments for a shorter sentence, we AFFIRM Clark’s sentence.
I. BACKGROUND
On December 19, 2003, Clark was convicted by a jury on one count of possession of cocaine
with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Clark was sentenced to 360 months
in prison and eight years of supervised release. On June 1, 2005, we affirmed his conviction, but
1
No. 05-6625 United States v. Clark Page 2
vacated his sentence and remanded for resentencing in light of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220(2005). United States v. Clark, No. 04-5389 (6th Cir. June 1, 2005) (unpublished order).
On remand, the district court calculated a base offense level of 26 and a two-level increase
for obstruction of justice, resulting in an adjusted offense level of 28. Based on Clark’s prior
convictions, the district court determined a criminal history category of VI, but further concluded
that Clark qualified as a career offender under Guideline § 4B1.1(a), raising his offense level to 37
with a recommended sentencing range of 360 months to life in prison. Clark objected to the
determination that he qualified as a career offender, arguing that the small amounts of cocaine that
he sold that led to three prior convictions did not justify career-offender status. Clark also argued
that because he was 45 years old and suffered from diabetes, blood clots, ulcers, high blood pressure,
and mental illness, a sentence below the Guidelines range was warranted.
The district court rejected Clark’s argument that he did not qualify as a career offender,
stating that Clark’s repeated criminal activity and the corresponding damage to society justified a
very long sentence. The district court noted Clark’s health problems, but suggested that the
healthcare and treatment programs in prison would benefit Clark. The district court also noted
Clark’s age and the likelihood that a sentence less than 360 months would be adequate to prevent
Clark from committing further crimes upon release, given his advanced age at the time when he
would be released. Accordingly, the district court sentenced Clark to 300 months in prison and eight
years of supervised release. The district court also recommended a long-term drug treatment
program while in prison and suggested to Clark that he take advantage of other available programs
as well. Clark timely appealed.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Forfeiture
The government argues that Clark has forfeited appellate review of his sentence in two
distinct ways. First, the government argues that Clark forfeited appellate review because, in his
appellate brief, he “made conclusory statements without any effort at developing an argument.”
Appellee Br. at 12. The government is correct that an issue is deemed forfeited on appeal if it is
merely mentioned and not developed. See United States v. Reed, 167 F.3d 984, 993 (6th Cir.), cert.
denied, 528 U.S. 897 (1999). However, Clark clearly identified his argument that the district court’s
sentencing was procedurally unreasonable because the court allegedly applied the wrong standard,
and counsel cited precedent on the issue and argued why that precedent required resentencing. Clark
developed his argument sufficiently to raise the issue for appellate review.
Second, the government argues that Clark forfeited appellate review of his argument because
he did not raise it below. We have set forth the following rule on this issue:
[D]istrict courts, after pronouncing the defendant’s sentence but before adjourning
the sentencing hearing, [must] ask the parties whether they have any objections to
the sentence just pronounced that have not previously been raised. If the district
court fails to provide the parties with this opportunity, they will not have forfeited
their objections and thus will not be required to demonstrate plain error on appeal.
If a party does not clearly articulate any objection and the grounds upon which the
objection is based, when given this final opportunity [to] speak, then that party will
have forfeited its opportunity to make any objections not previously raised and thus
will face plain error review on appeal.
United States v. Bostic, 371 F.3d 865, 872-73 (6th Cir. 2004) (footnote omitted). Immediately after
issuing its sentence, the district court asked defense counsel: “Anything else, Ms. Goode?” Joint
Appendix (“J.A.”) at 36 (Dist. Ct. Sentencing Hr’g Tr. at 34). The government contends that this
No. 05-6625 United States v. Clark Page 3
satisfied the district court’s obligation to “ask the parties whether they have any objections to the
sentence just pronounced that have not previously been raised.”
A district court can satisfy the requirements of the Bostic rule only by clearly asking for
objections to the sentence that have not been previously raised, and the context of the transcript in
this case reveals why this is so. The district court announced to Clark that it was sentencing him to
300 months in prison and eight years of supervised release, specified the conditions of supervised
release, waived any fines, ordered a special assessment of $100, informed Clark of his right to
appeal, and suggested to Clark that he take advantage of mental health counseling, drug treatment
programs, educational programs, and medical benefits while in prison. At that point, the district
court briefly spoke with Clark’s counsel, Ms. Goode, and the prosecutor, Mr. Kitchen:
The Court: Anything else, Ms. Goode?
Ms. Goode: Would Your Honor specifically recommend the drug treatment
program?
The Court: I will. Obviously Mr. Clark is a serious drug user. I’ll recommend the
long-term drug treatment program for him.
Anything else, Mr. Kitchen?
Mr. Kitchen: No, sir, Your Honor.
The Court: All right, take Mr. Clark back.
J.A. at 36-37. At that point, the district court concluded the proceedings.
Ms. Goode understandably could have interpreted the district court’s question as a
solicitation for any requested modifications to the sentence itself, such as additional or different
treatment programs (as Ms. Goode then requested), rather than a solicitation for objections. The
district court’s question was ambiguous and thus did not satisfy its obligation to ask clearly for
further objections. Accordingly, Clark’s failure to raise his argument below does not limit us to
plain-error review.
B. Sentencing
On appeal, we must determine whether a district court’s sentencing determination was
reasonable. United States v. Webb, 403 F.3d 373, 383 (6th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, --- U.S. ---, 126
S. Ct. 1110 (2006). In determining reasonableness, we consider “not only the length of the sentence
but also the factors evaluated and the procedures employed by the district court in reaching its
sentencing determination.” Id.; accord United States v. Davis, 458 F.3d 505, 510 (6th Cir. 2006);
United States v. Richardson, 437 F.3d 550, 553-54 (6th Cir. 2006). Accordingly, we “may conclude
that a sentence is unreasonable when the district judge fails to ‘consider’ the applicable Guidelines
range or neglects to ‘consider’ the other factors listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).” Webb, 403 F.3d at
383; see also Richardson, 437 F.3d at 553. Furthermore, “[w]here a defendant raises a particular
argument in seeking a lower sentence, the record must reflect both that the district judge considered
the defendant’s argument and that the judge explained the basis for rejecting it.” Richardson, 437
F.3d at 554.
Clark argues that the district court erred by imposing what it believed to be a “reasonable”
sentence. We have stated repeatedly:
[A] district court’s job is not to impose a “reasonable” sentence. Rather, a district
court’s mandate is to impose “a sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary,
to comply with the purposes” of section 3553(a)(2). Reasonableness is the appellate
standard of review in judging whether a district court has accomplished its task.
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United States v. Foreman, 436 F.3d 638, 644 n.1 (6th Cir. 2006); see also Davis, 458 F.3d at 509-10.
However, at no point during sentencing did the district court state that it believed its task was to
impose a reasonable sentence, or even use the word “reasonable.” Moreover, even when a district
court does misstate its task as that of imposing a reasonable sentence, we review the sentence
imposed under the standards explained above. See Davis, 458 F.3d at 510; cf. United States v.
Jackson, 466 F.3d 537, 539-40 (6th Cir. 2006) (concluding that a sentence was reasonable despite
the defendant’s argument that the district court erred by applying a reasonableness standard).
The transcript of the sentencing hearing in this case reveals that the district court considered
in detail “the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the
defendant,” 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), taking into account Clark’s age and medical problems, his past
criminal conduct, and the offense for which he was convicted. The district court discussed the need
for the sentence to protect the public from further crimes and to provide just punishment for the
offense, as called for by §§ 3553(a)(2)(A) and (C). The district court discussed Clark’s educational,
medical, and other treatment needs and made specific recommendations to meet those needs, as
called for by § 3553(a)(2)(D). The district court also addressed and took into account each argument
that Clark raised — specifically, his career offender status, his age, his medical condition, and his
drug addiction. Clark has not identified any relevant considerations that the district court failed to
take into account, and has not argued that the length of Clark’s sentence was unreasonable in and
of itself. Accordingly, the district court’s sentencing was reasonable.
III. CONCLUSION
Because the district court gave appropriate consideration to the applicable Guidelines range,
the § 3553(a) factors, and Clark’s arguments for a shorter sentence, we AFFIRM Clark’s sentence.