United States v. Charles Tucker

MEMORANDUM

Charles Lawsom Tucker appeals from the 108-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for two counts of distribution and receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Tucker contends that the district court procedurally erred by failing adequately to explain why it rejected his arguments in support of a shorter sentence. We review for plain error, see United States v. Valencia-Barragan, 608 F.3d 1103, 1108 (9th Cir.2010), and we find none. The record reflects that the district court listened to Tucker’s arguments and understood its discretion to vary from the child pornography Guidelines on policy grounds, but found the circumstances insufficient to warrant more than a two-level downward variance. The court did not procedurally err. See Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 358-59 , 127 S.Ct. 2456 , 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007).

Tucker also contends that his sentence is substantively unreasonable because it is greater than necessary to accomplish the goals of sentencing. Tucker’s below-Guidelines sentence is substantively reasonable in light of the totality of the…