Larry Jordan was convicted and sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment and ten years’ supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. On appeal Jordan argues principally that the condition of his supervised release requiring his participation in a drug or alcohol abuse treatment program is not adequately justified because he does not use drugs or alcohol. We affirm.
I. Background
Jordan’s presentence report (“PSR”) recommended an imprisonment range of 262 to 327 months, after the probation officer calculated a base offense level of 38 (for an offense involving more than 1.5 kilograms of crack cocaine), a two-level increase for possessing a dangerous weapon during the commission of the offense, and a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility. This yielded a total offense level of 37. Jordan’s prior record placed him in criminal history category III.
Jordan objected to the PSR, arguing that adopting the probation officer’s findings and recommendations violated
Blakely v. Washington,
II. Discussion
Jordan acknowledges that because his sentence of 262 months is within a properly calculated guidelines range, it is presumed reasonable under
United States v. Mykytiuk,
Jordan also challenges his sentence on the ground that the district court refused to account for the disparity between guidelines ranges for crack offenses and powder cocaine offenses. Jordan did not raise this issue in the district court and acknowledges that he cannot currently meet the test for plain error in this circuit; we have consistently rejected post-Booker
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llenges of this sort to the 100:1 sentencing ratio between crack and powder cocaine.
See, e.g., United States v. Miller,
Jordan next argues that the district court improperly based his sentence on a prior conviction that was neither contained in the indictment, proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt, nor admitted to by him. Jordan admits
Almendarez-Torres v. United States,
Finally, Jordan challenges the condition of his supervised release requiring him to participate in a drug or alcohol abuse treatment program and abstain completely from alcohol during the program. He argues that this condition is a greater deprivation of liberty than is reasonably necessary for sentencing purposes because the only evidence in the record about his drug or alcohol use is his statement to the probation officer that he does not use either. Again, Jordan failed to object to the imposition of the special condition during his sentencing hearing; we review this claim only for plain error.
United States v. McKissic,
The district court has discretion to require participation in substance abuse treatment as a condition of supervised release if such a condition is reasonably related to the nature and circumstances of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need for adequate deterrence, protection of the public, and effective treatment.
See
U.S.S.G. § 5D1.3(b);
McKissic,
Given the nature of Jordan’s present offense and criminal history, we cannot say that the district court plainly erred by
However, the fact that the district judge gave no explanation whatsoever for imposing this condition of supervised release is cause for concern and comment. We remind district courts that drug or alcohol treatment conditions of supervised release should not be imposed simply by rote in all drug cases — or in any case, for that matter. Instead, the record should reflect an exercise of discretion based on the evidence and the applicable legal standard.
See generally United States v. Loy,
AFFIRMED.
