Government of the Canal Zone v. Manuel Castillo

590 F.2d 114, 1979 U.S. App. LEXIS 16769

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: February 21, 1979
• Docket: 78-5500
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Castillo was convicted on May 17,1977, of bringing stolen property into the Canal Zone. On July 3, 1978, Castillo filed a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion alleging that his counsel had been ineffective because he had not explained to him his right to appeal or that an attorney would be appointed to represent him on appeal, nor had counsel determined if petitioner wished to perfect an appeal. 1

Upon filing of the § 2255 petition the district judge entered an order granting petitioner an out-of-time appeal, and that appeal is the matter now before us. The district court’s power to extend the time for filing an appeal is that provided by FRAP Rule 4(b). Filing a § 2255 petition does not extend the time to appeal. Thus the conversion of the § 2255 motion into an out-of-time appeal was error.

The appeal is DISMISSED and the case is REMANDED to the district court for consideration of Castillo’s § 2255 motion.

1 . In the interim, immediately after being sentenced on the foregoing offense, Castillo escaped, was recaptured, pleaded guilty to escape and sentence was imposed. He escaped a second time, was caught and again was sentenced. A direct appeal is pending in this court from one or both of the escape cases. Those cases are not involved in this proceeding.