United States v. Ford

• Decision Date: 08 February 2013
• Docket Number: No. 12–2094.,12–2094.
• Citation: 705 F.3d 387
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff–Appellee v. Harold FORD, Defendant–Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

705 F.3d 387

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff–Appellee

v.Harold FORD, Defendant–Appellant.

No. 12–2094.

United States Court of Appeals,

Eighth Circuit.

Submitted: Nov. 16, 2012.

Filed: Feb. 8, 2013.

Felicia Annette Jones, Assistant Federal Public Defender, argued, Saint Louis, MO, for appellant.

Cristian Matthew Stevens, Assistant United States Attorney, argued, Saint Louis, MO, for appellee.

Before RILEY, Chief Judge, WOLLMAN and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.

MELLOY, Circuit Judge.

Harold Ford pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking (Count I), one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence (Count II), and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm (Count III). He appeals the district court's ¹ sentence. We affirm.

I.

Ford's three convictions stemmed from two different incidents in 2009. In April 2009, Ford held a woman at gunpoint, forced her to drive him around in her car, and forced her to withdraw money from her bank account. Ford eventually released her but stole her car. Police were initially unable to locate Ford or the stolen car. Then, in May 2009, Ford was driving the stolen car when police attempted to stop him for driving erratically. Ford was carrying a firearm. In an effort to avoid capture, Ford fired at police from close range through the front and side windows of the patrol car. One officer was shot through the hand and the hearing of another officer was damaged. Ford was then apprehended. He eventually pleaded guilty to the three charges listed above.

At Ford's sentencing hearing, Dr. Donald Cross, a clinical psychologist, testified that Ford suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder, a result of childhood abuse, and borderline intellectual functioning. Dr. Cross described Ford as “a very angry man” but testified that in his opinion people around Ford “would be fairly safe” if, after Ford's release from prison, Ford lived in a “type of facility where his whereabouts are known 24 hours a day, his medication can be managed, food is basically supplied for him so he does not have to go out into the community” and where Ford could receive regular counseling. Defense counsel moved for a downward departure or variance based on Ford's “posttraumatic stress disorder and depression and the fact that ... [Ford] has a low IQ and been physically and emotionally abused to such a severe extent.” The district court denied defense counsel's motion.

Speaking from the bench, the district court noted 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) “lists a number of factors I'm required to consider,” including “the history and characteristics of the defendant, the need for the sentence imposed to reflect the seriousness of the offense, [and the need] ... to protect the public....” The district court discussed Ford's limited mental capacity and history of abuse. The district court cited the seriousness of Ford's crimes and referencedDr. Cross's opinion that Ford would require constant monitoring outside of prison. The district court determined Ford's crimes showed a “lack of respect for society and lack of respect for the law.” Ultimately, the district court stated, “when I look at the totality of the circumstances ... I am persuaded that a sentence of life in prison is the only reasonable sentence to be imposed today.” The court concluded, “[P]rotecting the public mandates the sentence that I imposed....”

Grouping Counts I and III, the district court determined a Sentencing Guidelines range of 444 months' to life imprisonment applied to Ford. The district court sentenced Ford to 180 months' imprisonment on Count I, life imprisonment on Count II to run consecutively with Counts I and III, and life imprisonment on Count III to run concurrently with Count I. Defense counsel objected to the grouping of Counts I and III. The court stated, “[W]hether we grouped correctly or didn't group correctly, I would engage in a variance to achieve [a life sentence] because it's the only way I can reasonably value [18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) ]....”

Ford timely appealed. On appeal, Ford argues (1) the district court erred by grouping Counts I and III; (2) his sentence was unreasonable because the district court failed to adequately consider 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a); and (3) the district court failed to properly explain his sentence.

II.

We address the district court's consideration of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and explanation of Ford's sentence together and then separately address the grouping of Counts I and III.

A. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) Factors and Proper Explanation of the Sentence

“When we review a defendant's sentence to determine whether it is unreasonable with regard to the application of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), we apply a deferentional abuse-of-discretion standard.” United States v. Acosta, 619 F.3d 956, 962–63 (8th Cir.2010) (quoting United States v. Gonzalez, 573 F.3d 600, 607 (8th Cir.2009)). “[T]he court has substantial latitude to determine how much weight to give the various factors under § 3553(a).” United States v. Ruelas–Mendez, 556 F.3d 655, 657 (8th Cir.2009). Further, “[i]n explaining the sentence the district court need only set forth enough to satisfy the appellate court that he has considered the parties' arguments and has a reasoned basis for exercising his own legal decisionmaking authority.” Acosta, 619 F.3d at 963 (quoting Gonzalez, 573 F.3d at 607). “The court's explanation is sufficient if the sentencing record taken as a whole demonstrates that the court considered the relevant factors.” United States v. Krzyzaniak, 702 F.3d 1082, 1085 (8th Cir.2013) (citing United States v. Gray, 533 F.3d 942, 944–46 (8th Cir.2008)).

The transcript of Ford's sentencing hearing shows the district court did consider the § 3553(a) factors, including Ford's history of abuse and limited mental capacity; the court simply determined the need to protect the public outweighed any leniency Ford's specific characteristics might indicate. Such a determination is within the district court's discretion, and we find no abuse of that discretion. Ruelas–Mendez, 556 F.3d at 658 (decision to place greater weight on some factors “is a permissible exercise of the considerable discretion available to a sentencing court under the post- Booker regime”). For the same reason, we conclude the district court sufficiently explained Ford's sentence. The district court's discussion of the § 3553(a) factors, including the seriousness of Ford's crimes, the danger Ford poses to the public, and Dr. Cross's opinion that Ford would need medication, 24–hour monitoring,...