[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FILED
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUITU.S. COURT OF APPEALS
________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
FEB 26, 2010
No. 09-13068 JOHN LEY
Non-Argument Calendar CLERK
________________________
D. C. Docket No. 08-00105-CR-3-MCR
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
CHARLES CUNNINGHAM,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Florida
_________________________
(February 26, 2010)
Before EDMONDSON, BIRCH and WILSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Charles Cunningham appeals his 60-month sentence, imposed below the
applicable guideline range of 78 to 97 months’ imprisonment, after pleading guilty
to possessing child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B) and
(b)(2). On appeal, he argues that the district court, in imposing his sentence,
committed procedural error by improperly failing to consider all of his history and
characteristics. Also, he argues that the 60-month sentence was unwarranted under
the circumstances. Cunningham requested that the district court depart further
downward and give him a more lenient sentence because his conduct was
uncharacteristic of a classic pedophile.
In reviewing the reasonableness of a sentence, we apply an abuse-of-
discretion standard using a two-step process that begins with determining whether
the district court committed any significant procedural error. If no procedural error
is found, then we examine whether the sentence is substantively reasonable under
the totality of the circumstances. United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1189–90
(11th Cir. 2008). The party challenging the sentence has the burden of establishing
unreasonableness in light of the record and the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. United
States v. Thomas, 446 F.3d 1348, 1351 (11th Cir. 2006).
First, the district court did not commit procedural error. The court correctly
calculated the appropriate guideline range. Moreover, there is no suggestion that
clearly erroneous facts were relied upon or that the court failed to explain
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adequately the sentence. Second, Cunningham’s sentence is not substantially
unreasonable. The district court properly considered the § 3553(a) factors. The
court considered the guidelines, the arguments of the parties, and the § 3553(a)
factors, and rendered an individualized sentence, one that included a downward
variance, resulting in a sentence that is five years less than the statutory maximum.
The court explained the basis for the chosen sentence, stating that Cunningham’s
offense was serious, involving more than 1,100 erotic or pornographic images of
children and nine “hardcore” pornographic videos. Cunningham bought and
downloaded illicit material over an eight-month period. The court stated that it
was important to impose a term of imprisonment of several years to deter similar
criminal conduct by others and mete out justice for the child victims. The court
noted that the sentence was at the low end of the range in four out of five similar
possession cases in the district. Finally, the court noted that it took Cunningham’s
age and health into account in imposing its sentence.
Accordingly, Cunningham has not satisfied his burden of establishing
procedural or substantive unreasonableness in light of the record and the § 3553(a)
factors. We affirm the judgment of the district court.
AFFIRMED.
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