United States v. Brian Downs

MEMORANDUM

Brian Lee Downs challenges the district court’s denial of his motion for a new trial and the imposition of a 32-month sentence of imprisonment. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm the district court’s rulings.

The district court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Downs’s motion for a new trial. Downs failed to explain why the filing of a criminal complaint against Hugo Terry served to identify Terry as the third party that allegedly deceived Downs into transporting marijuana. Without explaining this link, Downs failed to establish the existence of newly discovered evidence that is material. See United States v. Hinkson, 585 F.3d 1247, 1264 (9th Cir.2009) (en banc) (citing United States v. Harrington, 410 F.3d 598, 601 (9th Cir.2005)) (discussing the factors to be considered by the district court).

Nor did the district court abuse its discretion when it sentenced Downs. The district court imposed a sentence below the recommended guideline range, and carefully articulated legitimate reasons for not imposing an even lower sentence. The sentence was substantively reasonable. See United States v. Ressam, 679 F.3d 1069, 1089 (9th Cir.2012) (en…