                                                                                                                           Opinions of the United
2007 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit


8-28-2007

USA v. Bronson
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 06-2045




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Recommended Citation
"USA v. Bronson" (2007). 2007 Decisions. Paper 538.
http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2007/538


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                                              NOT PRECEDENTIAL

     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
          FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT


                    No. 06-2045


         UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                          v.

              JOHN I. BRONSON, JR.

                                  Appellant




   On Appeal from the United States District Court
      for the Western District of Pennsylvania
              (D. C. No. 03-cr-00087)
          District Judge: Hon. Joy F. Conti


     Submitted under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                 on May 16, 2007


Before: FISHER, NYGAARD and ROTH, Circuit Judges

              (filed: August 28, 2007 )




                   OPINION
ROTH, Circuit Judge:

       John I. Bronson, Jr., appeals his judgment of sentence. He contends that the District

Court did not reasonably apply the sentencing factors found in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). For the

reasons set forth below, we will affirm the District Court’s sentence of 135 months imposed

on Bronson.

I. Factual and Procedural History

       On March 18, 2004, Bronson pled guilty to two counts – (1) conspiracy to distribute

five kilograms or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine in violation

of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A)(iii), and 846; and (2) possession with intent to

distribute and distribution of a quantity of oxycodone in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1)

and 841(b)(1)(C). The statutory minimum sentence for these violations is 120 months. The

conviction carried a adjusted offense level of 31. Bronson had a previous conviction which

gave him a criminal history level of III. The Sentencing Guidelines recommended a sentence

of 135 to 168 months for an offense level of 31 and criminal history level of III. He was

sentenced to 151 months of prison on July 30, 2004. Bronson appealed his conviction and

his sentence. On July 25, 2005, this Court affirmed the conviction but vacated Bronson’s

sentence, remanding the case for re-sentencing in accordance with United States v. Booker,

543 U.S. 220 (2005). On September 9, 2005, Bronson filed a petition for a writ of certiorari

with the United States Supreme Court, but that petition was denied.

       While in prison, Bronson participated in a variety of rehabilitation programs at the



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recommendation of the District Court. He participated in drug education, Alcoholics

Anonymous, and wellness programs. He became a UNICOR employee and completed other

vocational training. At his re-sentencing hearing on February 3, 2006, Bronson was

sentenced to 135 months, the minimum guidelines sentence for his offense level and criminal

history. Bronson filed an untimely appeal to this Court on March 23, 2006. The District

Court, however, granted Bronson’s motion to excuse the untimely filing of the notice of

appeal.

II. Jurisdiction and Standard of Review

       The District Court had jurisdiction over this case pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We

have jurisdiction over the appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742. We

will review Bronson’s sentence for reasonableness. See United States v. Cooper, 437 F.3d

324, 327 (3d Cir. 2006).

III. Analysis

       To determine if a court acted reasonably in imposing a sentence, we must determine

whether it exercised its discretion by considering the relevant factors found in 18 U.S.C. §

3553(a). Id. at 329. The record must show that the court gave meaningful consideration to

these factors. Id. Second, we must determine whether those § 3553(a) factors were

reasonably applied to the circumstances of the case, giving deference to the trial court, as it

is in the best position to determine the best sentence in light of the particular circumstances

of the case. Id. at 330. In this appeal, Bronson does not contend that the District Court did



                                              3
not consider the relevant factors found in § 3553(a). Instead, he alleges that these factors

were not reasonably applied to the circumstances of his case. In particular, Bronson argues

that the District Court should have taken into greater consideration his post-conviction

rehabilitation and imposed a sentence closer to the statutory minimum of 120 months.

         We disagree with Bronson’s contention that the § 3553(a) factors were not reasonably

applied, especially with regard to his post-conviction rehabilitation. The fourth factor under

§ 3553(a) requires the District Court to consider the kinds of sentences and sentencing range

found in the guidelines. The guidelines recommended a sentence of 135 to 168 months for

Bronson. In considering the guidelines sentence, the District Court clearly stated that it was

reducing Bronson’s sentence to 135 months in large part because of his post-conviction

rehabilitation efforts, but that reducing his sentence below the guidelines minimum would

not be appropriate, given Bronson’s criminal history and the seriousness of his offense.

Bronson fails to provide any support for his contention that the fourth factor was

unreasonably applied to his circumstances, merely re-stating the specifics of his post-

conviction rehabilitation.

         The burden falls on Bronson to prove the unreasonableness of his sentence of 135

months. See id. at 332. Although Bronson contends that the § 3553(a) factors were

unreasonably applied, it is clear from the record that the factors under § 3553(a) were

considered and reasonably applied by the District Court. Bronson has not met his burden of

proof.



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IV. Conclusion

      For the reasons set forth above, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment of

sentence.




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