the charges brought against a defendant. The Supreme Court in Koon v. United States, — U.S. -, -, 116 S.Ct. 2035, 2046-47, 135 L.Ed.2d 392 (1996), however, recognized that judicial discretion plays a role in sentencing and that sentences resulting from guideline departures are appropriate in certain circumstances. Koon sends a signal to appellate courts to extend a greater measure of deference to district courts’ discretion in sentencing. In this case, Judge Melloy, an experienced jurist, made a fair and reasonable decision supported by adequate grounds for departing. We should affirm. II. DISCUSSION In Koon, the Supreme Court instructed appellate courts to accord sentencing courts greater discretion in their decisions to depart from the guidelines. Koon, — U.S. at -, 116 S.Ct. at 2043 (<HOLDING>); see also United States v. McNeil, 90 F.3d
recognizing that the standard of review for issues of statutory interpretation and construction is de novo holding that review of the denial of a motion to compel arbitration is under the de novo standard recognizing abuse of discretion rather than de novo standard of review holding that the appropriate standard of review is abuse of discretion holding that the appellate standard of review of ineffectiveness claim is de novo