United States v. Allen Duncan, Jr.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 19a0203n.06
No. 18-2212
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
FILED
Apr 23, 2019
)
) DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
) ON APPEAL FROM THE
v. ) UNITED STATES DISTRICT
) COURT FOR THE EASTERN
ALLEN DUNCAN, JR., ) DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
)
Defendant-Appellant. )
)
)
BEFORE: COLE, Chief Judge; BOGGS and GIBBONS, Circuit Judges.
JULIA SMITH GIBBONS, Circuit Judge. Allen Duncan pled guilty to one count of
being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). After serving his
full term of imprisonment, Duncan was put on supervised release. Duncan violated the terms of
his release and pled guilty to three violations. Citing Duncan’s extensive criminal history and
failure to comply with the terms of his supervised release, the district court revoked Duncan’s
release and sentenced him to twelve months in prison with no supervised release to follow. Duncan
appeals that sentence as procedurally and substantively unreasonable, challenging the district
court’s analysis of § 3553(a) sentencing factors. We affirm the district court’s revocation of
supervised release and imposition of the twelve-month custodial sentence.
I.
On August 8, 2012, federal agents executed a search warrant on Duncan’s residence in
Detroit, Michigan. Pursuant to the warrant, agents seized several firearms and various drugs
Case No. 18-2212, United States v. Duncan
including narcotic painkillers, benzodiazepines, marijuana, and heroin. Duncan was arrested
without incident and later released. A record check revealed that Duncan had three prior felony
convictions, including a 2007 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. At the
time of the search, Duncan was on supervised release for that 2007 conviction. Duncan was re-
arrested and indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 922(g)(1).
Duncan pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement under Fed. R. Crim. P. 11, and the district
court sentenced Duncan to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The
terms of Duncan’s release included the standard conditions of supervision, as well as other “special
conditions of supervision” specific to Duncan. Relevant here, the conditions of Duncan’s post-
release supervision included that: (1) “[t]he defendant shall not commit another federal, state or
local crime”; (2) “the defendant shall not leave the judicial district without the permission of the
court or probation officer”; and (3) “the defendant shall notify the probation officer within seventy-
two hours of being arrested or questioned by a law enforcement officer[.]” DE 26, J., Page ID 70.
Duncan’s supervised release commenced in December 2017, after he served his 54-month
term with the Bureau of Prisons. On February 28, 2018, police arrested Duncan and six others in
Walker, Michigan on suspicion of prescription fraud. Duncan was charged in Michigan state court
with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud; he ultimately pled guilty to unlawful possession of
prescription forms, a misdemeanor.
In May 2018, Duncan ran a stop sign in Redford, Michigan and was issued a citation.
Duncan failed to report this citation to his probation officer, as required by the terms of his release.
On August 1, 2018, Duncan’s probation officer filed a violation report, alleging that
Duncan committed four release violations. The report alleged that Duncan violated the terms of
-2-
Case No. 18-2212, United States v. Duncan
his supervised release by (1) committing another crime, (2) leaving the Eastern District of
Michigan without permission, (3) associating with persons convicted of a felony without
permission, and (4) failing to notify his probation officer within 72 hours of being issued a traffic
citation. Duncan pled guilty to violations (1), (2), and (4), and the court dismissed violation (3).
At the sentencing hearing on September 18, 2018, Duncan asked the court to reinstate
supervised release as a first option or, in the alternative, to impose a period of home confinement.
In short, Duncan sought a non-custodial sentence for his release violations, claiming that “to
punish [him] with prison time is not going to help.” DE 43, Sentencing Tr., Page ID 162. The
United States Sentencing Guidelines provided a range of seven to thirteen months’ imprisonment
for Duncan’s violations.
At the hearing, the district court considered the sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a). The court recited the factual bases for the three release violations and considered the
nature and circumstances of those offenses. The court also considered Duncan’s history and
characteristics, noting Duncan’s history of drug offenses, education level, technical skills, and
family obligations. Concerning the need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense
and to promote respect for the law, the court emphasized that Duncan’s release violations were
serious and that Duncan’s conduct reflected a lack of respect for the law. Considering deterrence
and public protection, the court opined that, “in all great probability, when [Duncan] get[s] out,
[he’s] going to continue to push [p]ills.” DE 43, Sentencing Tr., Page ID 167. Finally, the court
reviewed the kinds of sentences available, including the two-year maximum, the Guidelines range,
and supervised release.
-3-
Case No. 18-2212, United States v. Duncan
The district court then entered a judgment revoking Duncan’s supervised release and
sentencing him to twelve months’ imprisonment with no supervised release to follow. Duncan
timely appealed.
II.
Duncan contends that the district court’s sentencing decision was both procedurally and
substantively unreasonable. We review a district court’s sentencing decision—including the
revocation of supervised release—for reasonableness under an abuse-of-discretion standard.
United States v. Adams, 873 F.3d 512, 516 (6th Cir. 2017); United States v. Bolds, 511 F.3d 568,
575 (6th Cir. 2007) (holding that “post-Booker, this Circuit will review supervised release
revocation sentences . . . under a deferential abuse of discretion standard for reasonableness”
(internal quotation marks omitted)). The reasonableness inquiry is two-fold, and we must vacate
if a sentence is procedurally or substantively unreasonable. Adams, 873 F.3d at 516–17; United
States v. Houston, 529 F.3d 743, 753 (6th Cir. 2008).1 Our inquiry begins with procedural
reasonableness and then turns to substantive reasonableness. See Bolds, 511 F.3d at 581; see also
Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 49 (2007).
A. Procedural Reasonableness
In evaluating a sentence for procedural reasonableness, we ask, inter alia, whether the
district court erred by failing to consider the Guidelines’ sentencing factors in § 3553(a). Bolds,
511 F.3d at 579 (citing Gall, 552 U.S. at 51). These sentencing factors begin with “the nature and
1
The government argues that the panel should apply the plain-error standard of review because Duncan failed
to raise a procedural objection to the district court’s Bostic question. See United States v. Bostic, 371 F.3d 865, 872–
73 (6th Cir. 2004). At sentencing, the district judge asked each party if there were “[a]ny objections to the sentence,”
and Duncan immediately objected to the type of sentence. It is unclear whether the judge’s question meets the Bostic
standard or whether Duncan had further objections because the district judge interjected during Duncan’s response.
We therefore apply the less-deferential abuse-of-discretion standard. In doing so, however, we note that because we
affirm under a less-deferential standard of review, it follows that we would also affirm under the more-deferential
plain-error standard.
-4-
Case No. 18-2212, United States v. Duncan
circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant.” 18 U.S.C. §
3553(a)(1). The court must also consider the following:
the need for the sentence imposed . . . to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to
promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; to
afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct; to protect the public from further
crimes of the defendant; and to provide the defendant with needed educational or
vocational training, medical care, or other correctional treatment in the most
effective manner.
Id. § 3553(a)(2)(A)–(D). In addition, the court must look at “the kinds of sentences available,” the
applicable sentencing range, and any pertinent policy statements under the Guidelines. Id.
§ 3553(a)(3)–(5). Finally, the court must consider “the need to avoid unwarranted sentence
disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct.”
Id. § 3553(a)(6).
To be sure, “a district court ‘need not recite’ the § 3553 factors when it imposes a sentence.”
United States v. Denny, 653 F.3d 415, 423 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting United States v. Hernandez-
Fierros, 453 F.3d 309, 312 (6th Cir. 2006)). Rather, a district court adequately explains its
sentencing decision when it shows that it “has considered the parties’ arguments and has a reasoned
basis for exercising [its] own legal decisionmaking authority.” Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338,
356 (2007). Indeed, “the crucial question is whether the record makes clear that the sentencing
judge listened to each argument, considered the supporting evidence, was fully aware of the
defendant’s circumstances and took them into account in sentencing him.” United States v.
Wallace, 597 F.3d 794, 804 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting United States v. Vonner, 516 F.3d 382, 387
(6th Cir. 2008) (en banc) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Duncan asserts that the district court ignored most of the § 3553(a) factors, but the
sentencing transcript tells a different story. At sentencing, the district court addressed the nature
and circumstances of the offense as well as Duncan’s history and characteristics, as required by
-5-
Case No. 18-2212, United States v. Duncan
§ 3553(a)(1). The court noted that Duncan committed three violations—committing another
crime, leaving the judicial district without permission, and failing to notify his probation officer
after being arrested or questioned by a law enforcement officer—within a few months after
beginning his three-year term of supervised release. The district court extensively discussed
Duncan’s criminal history, highlighting Duncan’s numerous criminal convictions and repeated
violations of probation and supervised release. The court also considered Duncan’s personal
characteristics, including his age, family relationships, education, and technical skills.
Further, the district court considered the factors laid out in § 3553(a)(2)(A)–(D). The court
assessed the need for Duncan’s sentence to reflect the seriousness of Duncan’s release violations;
to promote respect for the law; to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct; to protect the
public from further crimes by Duncan; and to provide Duncan with needed educational or
vocational training, medical care, or other correctional treatment in the most effective manner.
Finally, pursuant to § 3553(a)(3)–(4), the district court considered the kinds of sentences
available for Duncan and the applicable sentencing range under the Guidelines. The court noted
that the maximum term of imprisonment for Duncan’s violations was two years and that the
Guidelines prescribed a range of seven to thirteen months. The court further acknowledged that it
had discretion to impose a sentence outside of the Guidelines range or place Duncan back on
supervised release.
The district court did not discuss any pertinent policy statements or the need to avoid
unwarranted sentence disparities among similarly-situated defendants found guilty of similar
conduct, as instructed by § 3553(a)(4)–(6). However, as explained above, we do not require the
district court to conduct an unabridged recitation of the factors at sentencing. See Denny, 653 F.3d
at 423.
-6-
Case No. 18-2212, United States v. Duncan
It is clear to us that the district court listened to the parties’ arguments, considered the
record evidence, and provided a reasoned basis for its sentencing decision. See Rita, 551 U.S. at
356; Wallace, 597 F.3d at 804. In addition to the arguments at sentencing, the district court
reviewed the petition for revocation, probation report, both parties’ sentencing memoranda, letters
of support submitted on Duncan’s behalf, and the presentence investigation report for the
conviction that resulted in Duncan’s term of supervised release. The district court was fully aware
of Duncan’s circumstances and considered all the factors in determining the appropriate sentence
for his release violations. Because the district court sufficiently considered the § 3553(a) factors,
we find that Duncan’s sentence was “procedurally sound.” See Bolds, 511 F.3d at 581.
B. Substantive Reasonableness
Under the substantive-reasonableness inquiry, we look at the totality of the circumstances,
including the extent of any variance from the Guidelines range. United States v. Tristan-Madrigal,
601 F.3d 629, 633 (6th Cir. 2010). “A sentence is substantively reasonable if it is proportionate to
the seriousness of the circumstances of the offense and offender, and sufficient[,] but not greater
than necessary, to comply with the purposes of § 3553(a).” United States v. Solano-Rosales,
781 F.3d 345, 356 (6th Cir. 2015) (internal quotations marks and citation omitted). In contrast,
“[a] sentence is substantively unreasonable if the district court selects the sentence arbitrarily,
bases the sentence on impermissible factors, fails to consider pertinent § 3553(a) factors or gives
an unreasonable amount of weight to any pertinent factor.” Tristan-Madrigal, 601 F.3d at 633(quoting United States v. Walls, 546 F.3d 728, 736 (6th Cir. 2008)). For sentences falling within
the applicable Guidelines range, as here, we may apply a rebuttable presumption of
reasonableness. Bolds, 511 F.3d at 581; United States v. Liou, 491 F.3d 334, 337 (6th Cir. 2007).
-7-
Case No. 18-2212, United States v. Duncan
Duncan asserts two bases for this court to vacate his sentence as substantively
unreasonable: (1) the district court considered an impermissible factor in determining Duncan’s
sentence,2 and (2) a twelve-month term of imprisonment is disproportionate to offenses that
constituted Duncan’s release violations. Neither argument is persuasive.
First, Duncan argues that the district court abused its discretion by basing its sentencing
decision on an impermissible factor: “whether Duncan was worth the resources that would have
been spent on an appropriate sentence involving community supervision.” CA6 R. 15, Appellant
Br., at 26. In other words, Duncan asserts that the district court impermissibly considered
rehabilitation when crafting Duncan’s sentence.
Rehabilitation has a precarious place in sentencing considerations. Section 3553(a)
instructs a district court to consider a defendant’s need for “training, medical care, or other
correctional treatment.” 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(D). Yet, another statute directs the court to
“recogniz[e] that imprisonment is not an appropriate means of promoting correction and
rehabilitation.” Id. § 3582(a). The Supreme Court has clarified the apparent tension between these
statutory texts by explaining that a district court “may not impose or lengthen a prison sentence to
enable an offender to complete a treatment program or otherwise promote rehabilitation.” Tapia
v. United States, 564 U.S. 319, 335 (2011). We have said that Tapia’s holding “requires reversal
only where there is an identifiable basis for concluding that the district court based the length of
2
This court has taken inconsistent positions on whether the consideration of an impermissible factor is
properly analyzed as a procedural error or a substantive error. See Adams, 873 F.3d at 520 (analyzing under
substantive reasonableness); United States v. Cabrera, 811 F.3d 801, 809 (6th Cir. 2016) (analyzing under procedural
reasonableness); United States v. Walker, 649 F.3d 511, 513–14 (6th Cir. 2011) (substantive); United States v. Malone,
503 F.3d 481, 484 (6th Cir. 2007) (procedural). The procedural-substantive “distinction is more than semantic,”
Cabrera, 811 F.3d at 808, because it controls whether the presumption of reasonableness applies.
Specifically, however, this court has previously analyzed the district court’s consideration of rehabilitation
as an impermissible factor under substantive reasonableness. Adams, 873 F.3d at 520 (quoting United States v.
Albaadani, 863 F.3d 496, 504 (6th Cir. 2016)). Like the appellant in Adams, Duncan argues that the district court
impermissibly considered rehabilitation as a factor in imposing Duncan’s sentence. See id. at 520–21. As such, we
analyze this issue under the substantive prong, applying the rebuttable presumption of reasonableness.
-8-
Case No. 18-2212, United States v. Duncan
the sentence of incarceration in part on rehabilitation.” United States v. Krul, 774 F.3d 371, 372
(6th Cir. 2014).
The district court did not revoke Duncan’s release and impose a year-long prison sentence
for the purpose of promoting rehabilitation or providing Duncan resources that he otherwise would
not have. The record indicates that the district court revoked supervised release and imposed a
custodial sentence because Duncan violated the terms of his release and because previous
rehabilitative efforts failed. That the court commented on Duncan’s criminal history and how it
demonstrated his incapacity for rehabilitation does not violate the directive in Tapia. See id. at
377 (Griffin, J., concurring in the judgment) (noting that a sentencing court does not violate Tapia
“every time it mentions a defendant’s ability to be rehabilitated”). Further, the district court’s
acknowledgement of Duncan’s failed rehabilitation was directly in response to Duncan’s principal
argument at sentencing—that Duncan can only succeed in rehabilitating himself if placed back on
supervised release.
We find no identifiable basis to conclude that the district court imposed the sentence or
calculated its length for the purpose of rehabilitation. See Krul, 774 F.3d at 372. Duncan has not
shown that the district court based his sentence on this impermissible factor, and thus Duncan has
not rebutted the presumption of substantive reasonableness.
Duncan next contends that his sentence is substantively unreasonable because it is
disproportionate to the underlying criminal conduct—that is, his release violations for committing
another crime, leaving the district without permission, and failing to notify his probation officer
about a traffic citation.
In analyzing Duncan’s claim, the court “focuses on the length and type of the sentence.”
United States v. Camacho-Arellano, 614 F.3d 244, 246–47 (6th Cir. 2010). Because Duncan’s
-9-
Case No. 18-2212, United States v. Duncan
sentence falls within the applicable Guidelines range, he must point to something “that overcomes
the presumption of reasonableness.” United States v. Melton, 782 F.3d 306, 313 (6th Cir. 2015)
(internal quotation marks omitted).
Here, Duncan’s sentence involves both the revocation of supervised release and twelve
months’ incarceration. Duncan asserts that the district court’s sentencing decision was a
disproportionate response to his release violations, but he cites no case law or record evidence to
support this proposition. Instead, Duncan restates his arguments from the sentencing hearing that
he “had been adjusting well, maintaining gainful employment, and playing a positive role in his
family, church, and community.” CA6 R. 15, Appellant Br., at 27. The district court duly
considered these circumstances, and we will not reweigh the factors already considered by the
district court. See United States v. Ely, 468 F.3d 399, 404 (6th Cir. 2006) (noting that “to balance
the factors differently than the district court did . . . is simply beyond the scope of [this court’s]
appellate review”).
We conclude that the district court imposed a substantively reasonable sentence when it
revoked Duncan’s supervised release and sentenced him to twelve months in prison. This sentence
falls within the range provided by the Guidelines for the types of violations Duncan committed.
Duncan has pointed to no record evidence or authority showing that his sentence was
disproportionate to the offense conduct. As such, he has failed to rebut the presumption that his
sentence was substantively reasonable.
III.
Because the district court imposed a reasonable sentence when it revoked Duncan’s
supervised release and sentenced him to twelve months’ imprisonment, we affirm.
- 10 -