What factors must a court consider in determining the appropriate sentence for a man convicted of a sexual assault under section 3553(a)(2) of the Criminal Code?

In addition, the court must consider the "need for the sentence imposed ... (A) to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; (B) to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct; (C) to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant; and (D) to provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training, medical care, or other correctional treatment in the most effective manner." Id . 3553(a)(2). A district court has an obligation to weigh the factors listed in section 3553(a). United States v. Fernandez , 443 F.3d 19, 28 (2d Cir. 2006) ; see also United States v. Corsey , 723 F.3d 366, 375 (2d Cir. 2013) (per curiam).

After consideration of the section 3553(a) factors, the district court must impose a sentence that is sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to fulfill the purposes of sentencing. In doing so, if the court determines that a lower sentence will be just as effective as a higher sentence, it must choose the lower sentence. See United States v. Ministro-Tapia , 470 F.3d 137, 142 (2d Cir. 2006) ("[I]f a district court were explicitly to conclude that two sentences equally served the statutory purposes of [ section] 3553, it could not, consistent with the parsimony clause, impose the higher.").