[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FILED
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
JULY 23, 2009
No. 08-16622 THOMAS K. KAHN
Non-Argument Calendar CLERK
________________________
D. C. Docket No. 06-00075-CR-4-RLV
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
CARL MITCHELL HOOPER,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Georgia
_________________________
(July 23, 2009)
Before EDMONDSON, PRYOR and FAY, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Carl Mitchell Hooper appeals his 190-month sentence, imposed within the
applicable guideline range, after pleading guilty to crimes involving sexual activity
with a minor. On appeal, he argues that his sentence was unreasonable. For the
reasons set forth below, we affirm.
I.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Hooper, charging him
with: knowingly transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent that such
individual engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a
criminal offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a) (Count One); and knowingly
persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing an individual to travel in interstate
commerce to engage in sexual activity for which a person could be charged with a
criminal offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(a) (Count Two). The indictment
alleged that the events giving rise to the charges occurred on or about June 15 and
16, 2006. Hooper pled guilty to both counts in the indictment.
In preparing a pre-sentence investigation report (“PSI”), the probation
officer provided the following background information. In March 2003, Hooper
was convicted in Tennessee of sexual battery; according to the police report in that
case, a 17-year old girl referred to as “CG” reported that Hooper had come to her
residence and forcibly raped her. Less than two months after Hooper’s conviction
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in that case, and while he was out on probation, Tennessee law enforcement
officers responded to a report by CG of aggravated assault, and, upon their arrival,
she informed them that Hooper had choked and raped her. The officers located
Hooper nearby, who, being armed with knives, swung a knife at an officer,
attempted to steal a patrol car, and punched an officer in the head two or three
times. Although CG later declined to pursue the rape charge against Hooper, he
was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault, assault, resisting arrest, and
evading arrest. Hooper was ultimately released from custody in September 2005.
Some time in late 2005 or early 2006, Hooper, then 27 years old, and the
victim in this case – referred to here as “LD” – then 14 years old, began a sexual
relationship. In May 2006, LD’s mother called the police after learning that
LD was pregnant with an older man’s child. In response, Detective Caroline Cobb
of the Walker County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office spoke to Hooper on the telephone,
and Hooper informed her that he was 27 years old, was the father of LD’s unborn
child, and was on probation for sexual battery in Tennessee. A few days later,
Hooper was charged with statutory rape in Georgia and was subsequently released
on a $5,000 bond. Despite being admonished not to contact LD, LD’s stepfather
informed Detective Cobb that Hooper called LD less than 15 minutes after he was
released on bond.
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On June 14, 2006, law enforcement officers in Tennessee obtained a warrant
charging Hooper with violating sex offender registration laws, as he had moved
without providing proper notification. The following morning, LD’s mother and
stepfather discovered that LD was missing. LD’s stepfather informed Detective
Cobb that LD had been upset the previous evening after learning that Hooper was
to be arrested in Tennessee, and he discovered that LD had left the house through
her bedroom window at some point during the night.
The following evening, law enforcement officers in Jacksonville, Florida,
found Hooper and LD sleeping on a public beach. The officers ultimately learned
that Hooper had picked up LD the previous day, traveled to Tennessee with her,
and stayed in a motel room, where they engaged in sexual intercourse. Then, on
their way to Jacksonville, they traveled through Georgia, stopping at a rest area
where they engaged in sexual activity in a wooded area. They also engaged in
sexual activity on the beach in Jacksonville. Hooper informed the officers that he
knew that LD was 14 years old, but thought it was “okay” since he was the father
of her unborn child.
In calculating Hooper’s applicable guideline range, the probation officer
initially determined that Hooper had a base offense level of 24, pursuant to
U.S.S.G. § 2G1.3(a). The probation officer then applied a two-level enhancement
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because Hooper unduly influenced a minor to engage in prohibited sexual conduct,
pursuant to § 2G1.3(b)(2)(B), and a two-level enhancement because the offense
involved the commission of a sex act or sexual act, pursuant to § 2G1.3(b)(4)(A).
The probation officer then applied a 2-level reduction for acceptance of
responsibility, giving Hooper a total offense level of 26.
However, because the instant offenses were covered sex offenses and
Hooper had a prior conviction in Tennessee for sexual battery, the probation
officer determined that Hooper qualified as a Repeat and Dangerous Sex Offender
Against Minors under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.5. Hooper’s status as such an offender,
coupled with the applicable statutory maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment,
gave him a new, superseding offense level of 34, as this offense level was greater
than the offense level otherwise applicable. This offense level was reduced by two
levels for acceptance of responsibility. Hooper’s status as a repeat sex offender
also gave him a criminal history category of V, which, when combined with his
offense level of 32, produced an applicable guideline range of 188 to 235 months’
imprisonment.
Hooper raised three objections at sentencing. First, he argued that he should
have received a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility instead of a
two-level reduction. Second, Hooper objected to his classification as a repeat and
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dangerous sex offender against minors under § 4B1.5. Defense counsel asserted
that, while § 4B1.5 was “technically” applicable, it was inappropriate under the
facts of the case because Hooper was not a sexual predator, but was rather engaged
in long-term relationships with both CG and LD. In this respect, defense counsel
referred to a social history report of Hooper, purportedly indicating that, although
he was 28 years old, he was “emotionally delayed” and thus on par with teenagers
such as CG and LD. Defense counsel then argued that, if the court agreed that
§ 4B1.5 did not apply, then it should address his objection to the two-level
enhancement under § 2G1.3(b)(2)(B) for unduly influencing a minor to engage in
sexual activity. On that point, counsel emphasized that LD was the one who
initiated the sexual activity, she called Hooper upon his release from custody, and
Hooper wanted to take responsibility for the unborn child on account of his love
for LD.
The district court sustained Hooper’s first objection, finding that he was
entitled to a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility. However, the
court overruled Hooper’s other two objections. With respect to the two-level
enhancement for unduly influencing a minor to engage in sexual activity, the court
found it “disturb[ing]” that, “even if the girl called him, he didn’t have to go get
her, particularly after he had been told to stay away from her. I mean here is a
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fellow out on bond for an offense and he goes right back to doing the same thing.”
The court also found that Hooper qualified as a repeat and dangerous sex offender
against minors under § 4B1.5, emphasizing that Hooper’s two Tennessee offenses
involving CG occurred one after the other and involved violence, demonstrating
that Hooper had a “total disregard for the law,” which was “compounded by the
fact that when he got out on bond, the court ordered him to stay away from this
young girl and he just ignored what the court said . . . .” As a result of these
rulings, Hooper’s offense level became 31, giving him a guideline range of 168 to
210 months’ imprisonment.
Defense counsel then requested that the court impose a sentence below the
applicable guideline range, emphasizing Hooper’s traumatic childhood, his lack of
emotional maturity, and the reciprocal and devotional aspects of his relationship
with LD. Rather than imposing a sentence at that time, the district court, upon
defense counsel’s request, sent Hooper to receive a psychological evaluation in
order to determine his competency.
After Hooper was found competent to proceed with sentencing, the court
held another hearing, at which time the government requested that the court impose
a sentence at the high-end of the applicable guideline range, arguing that Hooper
was a sexual predator. Defense counsel responded by generally repeating the
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arguments advanced at the first sentencing hearing and introducing the following
documents, which the court admitted into the record: an affidavit prepared by LD;
an affidavit prepared by CG; and Hooper’s medical and psychiatric records.
After Hooper briefly addressed the court, the court pronounced its sentence
as follows:
Well, it wasn’t hard for the court to come to the conclusion that the
young lady was pursuing Mr. Hooper as much as he was pursuing her.
There is no question about that. . . . Of course I understand the nature
of the charge and the gravity of the charge.
I understand that Mr. Hooper obviously did not learn from the first
time, which is significant to me and to my deciding what level will be
the outcome of the case.
The court then sentenced Hooper to 190 months’ imprisonment and 30 years of
supervised release, explaining:
I believe, according to 3553 of Title 18 United States Code that this is
adequate punishment. I believe that it, plus the extended period of
supervised release, protects the public. I think it fits all of the
requirements of 3553. I think for the defendant to have any further
contact with the young lady and/or his child needs to be under the
supervision of the probation department. I hope this will deter the
defendant in the future to avoid any further contact with young girls.
Defense counsel objected to the sentence on the ground that it was unreasonable
under § 3553(a). This appeal followed.
II.
We review a defendant’s sentence for reasonableness under an
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abuse-of-discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, __, 128 S.Ct.
586, 591, 594, 597, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007); United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179,
1190-91 (11th Cir. 2008). The party challenging the sentence bears the burden of
establishing that the sentence is unreasonable in the light of both the record and the
factors in section 3553(a).
The factors in § 3553(a) that the court must consider are:
(1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and
characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need to reflect the seriousness
of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just
punishment for the offense; (3) the need for deterrence; (4) the need to
protect the public; (5) the need to provide the defendant with needed
educational or vocational training or medical care; (6) the kinds of
sentences available; (7) the Sentencing Guidelines range; (8) pertinent
policy statements of the Sentencing Commission; (9) the need to
avoid unwanted sentencing disparities; and (10) the need to provide
restitution to victims.
United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 786 (11th Cir. 2005) (citing 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a)). It is sufficient for the district court to acknowledge that it has
considered the § 3553(a) factors, but it need not explicitly discuss each of them.
United States v. Scott, 426 F.3d 1324, 1329 (11th Cir. 2005).
We will only reverse a procedurally proper sentence if we are left with the
definite and firm conviction that the district court committed a clear error of
judgment in weighing the section 3553(a) factors by arriving at a sentence that lies
outside the range of reasonable sentences dictated by the facts of the case. In this
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respect, our review for reasonableness is deferential, as appellate judges are not
authorized to substitute their personal views of what might be the best sentence for
the sentence imposed by the district judge.
III.
On appeal, Hooper argues that his sentence was substantively unreasonable
under the § 3553(a) factors.1 We disagree. This sentence was well below the 30-
year statutory maximum penalty. See United States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319,
1324 (11th Cir. 2008) (concluding that the court’s sentence was reasonable in part
because it was well below the statutory maximum), cert. denied, (U.S. June 22,
2009) (No. 08-10528); United States v. Valnor, 451 F.3d 744, 751-52 (11th Cir.
2006) (same). In addition, in arriving at its sentence, the district court stated that it
had considered the § 3553(a) factors and found that its sentence constituted
“adequate punishment” under those factors. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(A)
(instructing the district court to consider the need for its sentence “to provide just
punishment for the offense”). The court also concluded that its sentence of
1
Hooper also argues that his sentence was procedurally unreasonable because the court
never resolved his objection to the two-level enhancement for unduly influencing a minor to engage
in sexual activity, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2G1.3(b)(2)(B). However, this argument is entirely
without merit, as the district court did overrule this objection at sentencing. We also note that this
enhancement had no effect on the calculation of Hooper’s applicable guideline range in light of the
application of § 4B1.5. See U.S.S.G. § 4B1.5(a)(1) (providing for a superseding offense level based
on the statutory maximum penalty where that offense level is greater than the Chapter Two offense
level otherwise applicable).
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incarceration, coupled with the extended 30-year period of supervised release,
would protect the public, and it expressed its hope that the sentence would “deter
[Hooper] in the future to avoid any further contact with young girls.” See 18
U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(B)-(C) (instructing the district court to consider, respectively,
the need for its sentence “to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct” and
“protect the public from further crimes of the defendant”).
Furthermore, the district court appropriately acknowledged the “gravity of
the charge,” as Hooper, a 27-year old man, knowingly engaged in a sexual
relationship with a 14-year old girl, impregnated her, and eloped with her, taking
her away from her family. See Pugh, 515 F.3d at 1202 (“[W]e have typically
treated child sex offenses as serious crimes, upholding severe sentences in these
cases.”); 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), (2)(A) (requiring the court to consider,
respectively, “the nature and circumstances of the offense,” and “the need for the
sentence . . . to reflect the seriousness of the offense”).
Hooper argues that his offense was less severe than the typical
child-predator offense, as Hooper and LD were engaged in a long-term, romantic
relationship of sorts, with LD “pursuing Mr. Hooper as much as he was pursuing
her.” Nonetheless, Hooper knew that his relationship with LD was unlawful, and
after Hooper was charged with statutory rape in connection with this relationship,
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he immediately resumed the relationship, ignoring the state court’s specific
instructions to the contrary. As a result, the district court concluded that, even if
LD was the one to contact Hooper upon his release, Hooper’s willingness to ignore
the court’s admonition showed a “total disregard for the law.” See 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a)(2)(A) (instructing the district court to consider the need for its sentence
“to promote respect for the law”).
Hooper also argues that his “borderline intellectual functioning” mitigated
the severity of his offense because he was emotionally closer in age to teenagers
than he was to people his own age. However, Hooper appears to rely only on a
social history report that, although referenced by defense counsel at sentencing,
was never actually admitted into the record. In any event, that report, which
Hooper includes in his record excerpts, does not diagnose Hooper with any sort of
social or psychological impairment and does not establish that Hooper was
incapable of forming relationships with people his own age.2 Indeed, the PSI
provides that, growing up, “most of [Hooper’s] free time was spent with his
brother’s friends, all of whom were five or six years older . . . .” Hooper similarly
relies on his troubled childhood as a mitigating factor, but there is also nothing in
2
Hooper states at one point in his brief that he “has recently been diagnosed as having
borderline intellectual functioning, i.e., borderline mentally retarded,” but he provides no support
for this assertion.
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the record establishing that Hooper’s childhood was responsible for, let alone
connected with, his sexually deviant behavior.
Hooper also contends that his prior convictions involving CG were not
severe because she was a 17-year old girl with whom he was in a serious
relationship. Regardless of the legitimacy of Hooper’s relationship with CG,
Hooper ignores the fact that his convictions were otherwise severe. First, Hooper
was convicted of sexual battery, and CG informed the police upon their arrival that
Hooper had raped her. Furthermore, less than a mere two months after that
conviction, CG called the police again and reported that Hooper had choked and
raped her. When the police arrived at the scene, Hooper was armed with knives,
swung a knife at an officer, attempted to steal a patrol car, and physically assaulted
an officer. Although CG later declined to pursue the rape charge, Hooper was
convicted of three counts of aggravated assault, assault, resisting arrest, and
evading arrest. Thus, Hooper’s prior convictions in this regard were relatively
serious, violent, and reflective of his disregard for the law. See 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a)(1) (instructing the district court to consider “the history and
characteristics of the defendant”).
Finally, Hooper contends that the court’s sentence created an unwarranted
sentencing disparity because he would have received a lesser sentence had he been
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prosecuted in state court. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6) (instructing the district court
to consider “the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants
with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct”). However,
we have recently rejected such an argument, holding that § 3553(a)(6) is concerned
only with unwarranted sentencing disparities at the federal level. United States v.
Docampo, No. 08-10698, manuscript op. at 22-26 (11th Cir. June 15, 2009).
In sum, we conclude that Hooper has not met his burden, in light of the
record and the pertinent § 3553(a) factors, to rebut the presumption of
reasonableness attached to the court’s within-range sentence. Accordingly, we
affirm.
AFFIRMED.
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