United States v. Jason McGee

Case: 15-10305 Document: 00513258583 Page: 1 Date Filed: 11/04/2015 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED November 4, 2015 No. 15-10305 Summary Calendar Lyle W. Cayce Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee v. JASON RANDEL MCGEE, also known as Too Tall, Defendant - Appellant Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas USDC No. 5:13-CR-75-1 Before BARKSDALE, CLEMENT, and ELROD, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: * In 2007, Jason Randel McGee pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(c), and 18 U.S.C. § 2. He was sentenced to 12-months’ imprisonment and three-years’ supervised release for each count. In 2015, following the second revocation of his supervised release, the district court sentenced McGee to an above-Guidelines sentence of 24- * Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4. Case: 15-10305 Document: 00513258583 Page: 2 Date Filed: 11/04/2015 No. 15-10305 months’ imprisonment. McGee challenges his sentence, contending the court erred by inadequately explaining the reasons for the upward variance. Post-Booker, the Guidelines are advisory only, and a properly preserved objection to an ultimate sentence is reviewed for reasonableness. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). Booker, however, concerned a Guidelines sentence imposed pursuant to a conviction, not a violation of supervised release. United States v. Miller, 634 F.3d 841, 842–43 (5th Cir. 2011). Therefore, even post-Booker, revocation sentences are reviewed under the plainly-unreasonable standard of 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a)(4). Id. at 843. As McGee concedes, he did not raise this issue in district court; therefore, review is only for plain error. United States v. Whitelaw, 580 F.3d 256, 259–60 (5th Cir. 2009). Under this standard, McGee must show a forfeited plain (clear or obvious) error that affected his substantial rights. E.g., Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009). If he does so, we have the discretion to correct the error, but should do so only if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the proceedings. Id. McGee has not shown the requisite “clear” or “obvious” error. The court stated it imposed a 24-month sentence due to the need for deterrence and protection. It was proper for the court to consider these factors. See 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e); 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(B),(C). Nothing in the record suggests McGee would have received a different sentence had the court provided more reasons for its choice. See United States v. Davis, 602 F.3d 643, 647 (5th Cir. 2010). Finally, McGee’s collateral assertion that the record does not permit meaningful appellate review is unavailing. AFFIRMED. 2