UNITED STATES v. BRADLEY (2021)

Eric Shawn Bradley appeals the district court's order denying his motion for compassionate release. We review a district court's denial of a motion for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Kibble, 992 F.3d 326, 329 (4th Cir. 2021). The district court noted that Bradley had exhausted his administrative remedies and assumed, without deciding, that he stated extraordinary and compelling circumstances warranting release. See 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). Although the district court improperly applied the Sentencing Guidelines’ policy statement applicable to motions filed by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, see U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.13(a), p.s. (2018), “we are not limited to evaluation of the grounds offered by the district court to support its decision, but may affirm on any grounds apparent from the record.” United States v. Ali, 991 F.3d 561, 571 (4th Cir. 2021) (internal quotation marks omitted); Kibble, 992 F.3d at 331. Our review of the record reveals that the district court thoroughly considered the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors and determined that relief was not warranted under the circumstances in Bradley's case. See United States v. High, No. 20-7350, 997 F.3d 181 (4th Cir. May 7, 2021). We therefore conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for compassionate release. See Kibble, 992 F.3d at 332.

Accordingly, we affirm the district court's order and deny Bradley's motion for the appointment of counsel. 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Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.