United States v. Season Hymas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States v. Season Hymas, 582 F. App'x 770 (9th Cir. 2014)
Alarcón, Tashima, Murguia

United States v. Season Hymas

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Defendant Season Hymas pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor theft from a financial institution in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(b). She appeals the district court’s order imposing restitution in the amount of $100,272.72. Reviewing for abuse of discretion, United States v. Booth, 309 F.3d 566, 575 n. 6 (9th Cir. 2002), we affirm the district court’s order.

Under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3663A, courts are directed to order restitution “in the full amount of each victim’s losses.” 18 U.S.C. § 3664(f)(1)(A). When more than one defendant has contributed to the loss, courts have discretion to either “make each defendant liable for payment of the full amount [or] apportion liability among the defendants to reflect the level of contribution to the victim’s loss.” 18 U.S.C. § 3664(h).

The district court properly exercised its discretion when it declined Defendant’s request to apportion restitution to reflect her low degree of culpability and responsibility for the victim’s loss. The court was aware that it had such discretion, but nonetheless found Defendant blameworthy with re *771 spect to the offense for which she was charged. The reason the district court gave is also consistent with the purposes that restitution is designed to serve. See United States v. Green, 722 F.3d 1146, 1150 (9th Cir.) (noting that the purpose of restitution is “not to punish the defendant, but to make the victim whole again” (internal quotation marks omitted)), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 134 S.Ct. 658, 187 L.Ed.2d 422 (2013). Even if the court could have apportioned restitution in light of the fact that her codefendant’s sentence had already been imposed, its decision not to do so was properly within its discretion.

AFFIRMED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Season HYMAS, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished