Opinion
21-30003
08-26-2021
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOSHUA LEE HELM, Defendant-Appellant.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Montana No. 1:15-cr-00057-SPW-1 Susan P. Watters, District Judge, Presiding
Before: SILVERMAN, CHRISTEN, and LEE, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
Joshua Lee Helm appeals pro se from the district court's order denying his motion for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for an abuse of discretion, see United States v. Aruda, 993 F.3d 797, 799 (9th Cir. 2021), and we affirm.
Helm contends that he is entitled to compassionate release because his medical conditions subject him to a greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19, he is receiving inadequate medical care, and he does not pose a danger to the community. The district court agreed with Helm that his medical issues constituted extraordinary and compelling reasons supporting his release but denied relief under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Given the record before the court, it did not abuse its discretion in concluding that Helm's history and characteristics, as well as the substantial time remaining on his sentence, did not support release. See United States v. Robertson, 895 F.3d 1206, 1213 (9th Cir. 2018) (district court abuses its discretion only if its decision is illogical, implausible, or without support in the record); see also United States v. Keller, 2 F.4th 1278, 1284 (9th Cir. 2021) (court may deny compassionate release based on its § 3553(a) analysis alone).
We do not reach Helm's remaining arguments, many of which concern issues beyond the scope of a compassionate release motion, because they were not raised before the district court. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009). To the extent Helm argues that the district court relied on clearly erroneous facts regarding his offense conduct and criminal history, the record does not support his argument.
Helm's motions for "reconsideration for compassionate release" are denied.
AFFIRMED.