United States v. Christopher Halbert

MEMORANDUM

Christopher Wayne Halbert appeals from the 120-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Halbert first contends that the district court procedurally erred by failing to appreciate its discretion to vary from the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range on policy grounds, and by failing to explain why it rejected his policy arguments. The record belies these contentions. The court considered Halbert’s arguments and explained the sentence sufficiently to permit meaningful appellate review. See United States v. Carty, 520 F.3d 984, 992 (9th Cir.2008) (en banc); United States v. Henderson, 649 F.3d 955, 964 (9th Cir. 2011) (“[District courts are not obligated to vary from the child pornography Guidelines on policy grounds if they do not have, in fact, a policy disagreement with them.”).

Halbert next contends that the district court erred by imposing a vulnerable victim adjustment under U.S.S.G. § 3Al.l(b)(l), because the adjustment should not apply in a possession of child pornography case. His contention is…