UNITED STATES v. WALKER III (2021)

Howard Lee Walker, III, federal prisoner # 20961-043, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute heroin. After serving about half of his custodial sentence, Walker filed a motion for compassionate release. See 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i), as amended by the First Step Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-391, § 603(b), 132 Stat. 5194, 5239. Walker appeals the district court's denial of that motion.

Walker argues that compassionate release is warranted because he suffers from underlying health conditions that put him at greater risk during the COVID-19 pandemic and because he needs to obtain custody of his minor child. We review the district court's decision to deny a motion for compassionate release for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d 691, 693 (5th Cir. 2020). The district court concluded that Walker was not entitled to compassionate release because he failed to show extraordinary and compelling reasons and because the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors did not weigh in his favor. Walker has not shown that the district court's assessment of the § 3553(a) factors was based on a legal error or a clearly erroneous view of the record. See Chambliss, 948 F.3d at 693. Because we may affirm on this ground, we need not consider the other bases for the district court's denial. See United States v. Chacon, 742 F.3d 219, 220 (5th Cir. 2014).

AFFIRMED.

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.  

Per Curiam:* FN* Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4.