United States v. Terry

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States v. Terry, 251 F. App'x 808 (4th Cir. 2007)

United States v. Terry

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Chad Terry and Brandy Renee Dowell (“Appellants”) were both sentenced to two years of imprisonment following their guilty pleas to violating supervised release. On appeal, we granted the Appellants’ unopposed motion to consolidate. Appellants argue that their sentences, which are above the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range but within the statutory maximum, constitute reversible error. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

We do not find that Appellants’ two-year sentences are plainly unreasonable. United States v. Crudup, 461 F.3d 433, 437 (4th Cir. 2006) (providing review standard), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 127 S.Ct. 1813, 167 L.Ed.2d 325 (2007). Although neither district court specifically discussed by name the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors applicable to supervised release sentences, see 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e), both courts gave reasons for the sentences that fit within factors outlined in § 3553(a). In short, both courts explained sufficiently why the defendants were given sentences outside their advisory sentencing ranges. See Rita v. United States, — U.S. -, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 2469, 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007) (noting that “[w]here a [sentencing] matter is ... conceptually simple” and the record makes clear that the sentencing judge considered the evidence and arguments, “we do not believe the law requires the judge to write more extensively”); United States v. Johnson, 445 F.3d 339, 345 (4th Cir. 2006) (stating district court need not “robotically tick through § 3553(a)’s every subsection” or “explicitly discuss every § 3553(a) factor on the record”) (internal quotation and citations omitted).

Accordingly, we affirm the sentences. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Chad TERRY, Defendant—Appellant; United States of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Brandy Renee Dowell, Defendant— Appellant
Status
Unpublished