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United States v. Guerra

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
May 4, 2017
856 F.3d 368 (5th Cir. 2017)

Summary

affirming as modified the imposition of a mental health condition of supervised release, noting the defendant's history of mental health issues and the fact that, "[a]t sentencing, [the defendant's] counsel likewise pointed out his 'mental health issues.'"

Summary of this case from United States v. Rocha

Opinion

No. 16-41030

05-04-2017

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff–Appellee v. Christopher GUERRA, Defendant–Appellant

Jimmy Eric Pardue, Carmen Castillo Mitchell, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for Plaintiff–Appellee. Marjorie A. Meyers, Federal Public Defender, Kathryn Shephard, H. Michael Sokolow, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Federal Public Defender's Office, Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for Defendant–Appellant.


Jimmy Eric Pardue, Carmen Castillo Mitchell, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for Plaintiff–Appellee.

Marjorie A. Meyers, Federal Public Defender, Kathryn Shephard, H. Michael Sokolow, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Federal Public Defender's Office, Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for Defendant–Appellant.

Before JONES, WIENER, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

EDITH H. JONES, Circuit Judge:

Defendant-Appellant Christopher Guerra pled guilty to illegally transporting an undocumented alien within the United States and was sentenced, within the guidelines, to 41 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. As a special condition of his supervised release, the district court ordered Guerra to participate in mental health and drug treatment programs "as deemed necessary and approved by the probation officer." On appeal, Guerra contends that such language impermissibly delegated to the probation officer the court's responsibility to determine whether he must participate in mental health and drug treatment. Because Guerra did not object to the challenged release conditions, we review them for plain error. See Puckett v. United States , 556 U.S. 129, 135, 129 S.Ct. 1423, 173 L.Ed.2d 266 (2009).

The imposition of supervised release conditions and terms "is a core judicial function that may not be delegated." United States v. Franklin , 838 F.3d 564, 567-68 (5th Cir. 2016) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). However, providing appropriate treatment for prisoners with known mental problems is also a core duty of judges. The PSR reflects that Guerra reported a history of mental health treatment for "depression, anxiety, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" as well as his past use of alcohol, marijuana, and crack cocaine. The PSR also revealed past diagnoses of PTSD and Antisocial Personality Disorder. Id . At sentencing, Guerra's counsel likewise pointed out his "mental health issues." Adopting the PSR, the district court imposed two relevant special conditions on Guerra's supervised release. First, the court "order[ed] that [Guerra] participate in a drug and[/]or alcohol treatment program as deemed necessary and approved by the probation officer." Id . Second, the court "impose[d] a mental health condition, which requires [Guerra] to participate in a mental health program as deemed necessary and approved by the probation officer."

Clearly, based on this history and defense counsel's representations to the court, the judge intended that treatment be mandatory and left only the details to the probation officer. Lest there be any doubt, we AFFIRM the sentence as MODIFIED—mental health treatment including substance abuse is imposed, details of treatment to be supervised by the probation office.

AFFIRMED as Modified.


Summaries of

United States v. Guerra

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
May 4, 2017
856 F.3d 368 (5th Cir. 2017)

affirming as modified the imposition of a mental health condition of supervised release, noting the defendant's history of mental health issues and the fact that, "[a]t sentencing, [the defendant's] counsel likewise pointed out his 'mental health issues.'"

Summary of this case from United States v. Rocha

using the same approach on plain error review—affirmed as modified—to resolve doubt over how to interpret a special condition providing for mental health and drug treatment

Summary of this case from United States v. Boshears

discerning the district court's intentions as to the details of the mental health and drug treatment programs imposed as a special condition of defendant-appellant's supervised release by reviewing the PSR and defense counsel's representations to the court

Summary of this case from United States v. Allen

modifying facially ambiguous delegation and affirming as modified because the district court's intention was clear in light of defense counsel's representations to the court and in light of defendant's extensive history of mental health issues and issues with drugs

Summary of this case from United States v. Barber
Case details for

United States v. Guerra

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. CHRISTOPHER GUERRA…

Court:UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

Date published: May 4, 2017

Citations

856 F.3d 368 (5th Cir. 2017)

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