UNITED STATES v. MARSHALL (2018)

Steven Shawn Marshall appeals the district court's order denying his 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) (2012) motion for a sentence reduction under Amendment 782 to the Sentencing Guidelines. Finding no error, we affirm.

A district court may reduce the sentence of a defendant who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a Sentencing Guidelines range subsequently lowered by the Sentencing Commission. United States v. Smalls, 720 F.3d 193, 195 (4th Cir. 2013). “Whether to reduce a sentence and to what extent is a matter within the district court's discretion.” Id. “We review a district court's grant or denial of a [18 U.S.C.] § 3582(c)(2) motion for abuse of discretion.” Id. In determining whether to reduce a defendant's sentence, the court must consider the applicable 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) (2012) factors and whether a reduction would pose a danger to any person or the community, and may also consider the defendant's post-sentencing conduct. Id.; see U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.10 p.s. cmt. 1(B)(i)-(iii) (2014).

“[A]bsent a contrary indication, we presume a district court deciding a § 3582(c)(2) motion has considered the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors and other pertinent matters before it.” Smalls, 720 F.3d at 195-96 (internal quotation marks omitted); United States v. Legree, 205 F.3d 724, 728-29 (4th Cir. 2000). Contrary to Marshall's assertion, we conclude that, although the district court's order denying the motion was relatively brief, the court adequately considered the § 3553(a) factors, public safety, and Marshall's post-sentencing conduct. We discern no abuse of discretion in the court's decision to deny Marshall's motion. Accordingly, we affirm the district court's order.

We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

PER CURIAM

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.