Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Christopher Thomas YARBROUGH, Defendant-Appellant.
MEMORANDUM *
Christopher Thomas Yarbrough appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the 14-month sentence imposed upon revocation of supervised release. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
Yarbrough contends that the district court procedurally erred by imposing sentence based on the seriousness of the underlying offense and other improper sentencing factors, and that it imposed an unreasonable sentence.
The record reflects that the district court considered Yarbrough’s underlying offense in connection with permissible 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e) sentencing factors, including Yarbrough’s history and characteristics and the need to protect the public, and to assess the extent of Yarbrough’s breach of the court’s trust. See United States v. Simtob, 485 F.3d 1058, 1062-63 (9th Cir. 2007) (nature and severity of the underlying offense can be considered as part of the criminal history of the violator because it is relevant to the violator’s propensity for recidivism, the threat he poses to the public, and the extent of his breach of the district court’s trust). The court heard argument from Yarbrough that seriousness of the offense was not an appropriate sentencing consideration, and the court explained that Yarbrough was being sentenced for his failure to comply with the conditions of supervision, and not for the state court conviction that resulted in the revocation. On this record, we conclude that the court did not base the revocation sentence primarily on the basis of improper sentencing factors. See id. at 1063. Moreover, the within-Guidelines sentence is substantively reasonable in light of the section 3583(e) sentencing factors and the totality of the circumstances. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51, 128 S.Ct. 586, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007).
AFFIRMED.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Docket No: No. 17-30142
Decided: February 16, 2018
Court: United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)