Shepherd v. United States

467 F. Supp. 71, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13695
CourtDistrict Court, D. Colorado
DecidedMarch 16, 1979
DocketCiv. A. No. 78-C-182
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 467 F. Supp. 71 (Shepherd v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shepherd v. United States, 467 F. Supp. 71, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13695 (D. Colo. 1979).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

CHILSON, District Judge.

James George Shepherd, (Shepherd) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 has moved to vacate sentences imposed upon him in two cases in this court, 70-CR-31 and 70-CR— 195.

After an evidentiary hearing, the matter is now before the Court for decision.

FACTS

On April 9, an indictment was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, charging Shepherd with a violation of the Dyer Act. In August 1970, the Nebraska action was transferred to this court pursuant to Rule 20 for disposition and is identified in this court as 70-CR-195.

In the meantime, on February 6, 1970, an indictment was filed in this court charging Shepherd with unlawful transportation in interstate commerce of stolen property and' is identified as 70-CR-31.

On August 7, 1970, arraignment was had in 70-CR-31 and a plea of guilty was tendered and received.

[72]*72On September 23, 1970, arraignment was had in the Dyer Act case, 70-CR-195 and a plea of guilty was entered and received.

On September 23, 1970, with the consent of Shepherd and his counsel, sentence was imposed in both cases: 10 years imprisonment in 70-CR-31 and 5 years imprisonment in 70-CR-195 pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4208(a)(2), the sentences to run consecutively.

On October 13, 1970, Shepherd’s counsel filed a motion for a modification of the sentences and on October 20, 1970, the Court modified the sentences to run concurrently instead of consecutively.

On February 21,1978, Shepherd filed this Section 2255 motion to vacate his sentences on the ground that the Court in the arraignment and sentencing of Shepherd in the two criminal actions failed to comply with Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. At the time of the arraignments and impositions of sentences, Rule 11 provided:

“A defendant may plead not guilty, guilty or, with the consent of the court, nolo contendere. The Court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty, and shall not accept such plea or a plea of nolo contendere without first addressing the defendant personally and determining that the plea is made voluntarily with understanding of the nature of the charge and the consequences of the plea. If a defendant refuses to plead or if the court refuses to accept a plea of guilty or if a defendant corporation fails to appear, the court shall enter a plea of not guilty. The court shall not enter a judgment upon a plea of guilty unless it is satisfied that there is a factual basis for the plea.”

Shepherd contends that since the Court did not comply with Rule 11, his pleas of guilty should be set aside and he should be permitted to plead anew. He cites McCarthy v. United States, 394 U.S. 459, 89 S.Ct. 1166, 22 L.Ed.2d 418 (1969), which requires strict compliance with Rule 11, and further provides that if there is not strict compliance sentence should be set aside and the defendant be entitled to plead anew.

The Court has carefully reviewed the arraignment and sentencing proceedings and from such review finds that the Court did not comply with that portion of the Rule which requires the Court to address the defendant personally to determine that the plea “is made voluntarily.” The Court did advise the defendant of the nature of the charges and the consequences of a guilty plea to them. That the Court had ample grounds to satisfy itself that there was a factual basis for the plea is clearly evident from the defendant’s detailed statement contained in the pre-sentence investigation report (Exhibit 1) in which he freely admitted the commission of the offenses and gave a detailed account of the facts and circumstances surrounding their commission.

It is essential to note, however, that unlike the McCarthy decision (which was a direct appeal of a conviction) the instant case is a collateral attack upon the convictions brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. In such proceedings, the Rule of strict compliance adopted in the McCarthy decision does not apply.

In Davis v. United States, 417 U.S. 333, 94 S.Ct. 2298, 41 L.Ed.2d 109 (1974) the Court stated, citing Hill v. United States, 368 U.S. 424, 429, 82 S.Ct. 468, 7 L.Ed.2d 417 (1962):

“ ‘[Cjoliateral relief is not available when all that is shown is a failure to comply with the formal requirements' of a rule of criminal procedure in the absence of any indication that the defendant was prejudiced by the asserted technical error. We suggested [in Hill} that the appropriate inquiry was whether the claimed error of law was ‘a fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice,’ and whether ‘[i]t . . ’ . presents] exceptional circumstances where the need for the remedy afforded by the writ of habeas corpus is apparent.’ ” 417 U.S. at 346, 94 S.Ct. at 2305.

To apply the foregoing rule to this case, we examine the record, including the evidence received at the evidentiary hearing.

[73]*73We first point out that in his motion, Shepherd states in part:

“I did not steal the airplane that I was given ten years for. _ _ _ I only had knowledge that he (Norman Howard) was going to do it.”

Shepherd was not charged with stealing an airplane. In 70-CR-31, he was charged with unlawful transportation of stolen property,

“To wit, aircraft radios and aircraft equipment.” (See indictment 70-CR-31)

Shepherd has never denied this charge or the Dyer Act charge (70-CR — 195) but as we have previously mentioned, Shepherd, in his interview with Mr. Carroll (who prepared the pre-sentence investigation report) (Exhibit 1) stated in considerable detail the facts and circumstances surrounding the commission of both the Dyer Act offense and his participation in stealing and interstate transportation of stolen aircraft radios and equipment.

The principal basis of Shepherd’s motion is (a) that his sentences were unduly severe and (b) that he pleaded guilty because he was told by two persons (Silvola and McCord):

“That they had talked to the Judge and United States Attorney and agreed that if I pleaded guilty I would get either probation or at most, a sentence under the Federal Youth Act.”

As to the severity of the sentences imposed, they were within the limits prescribed by law and within the limits which the Court advised Shepherd could be imposed if he pleaded guilty. This is not a ground for which relief may be granted in this proceeding.

The second ground requires findings of fact from the records and files and the evidence received at the evidentiary hearing.

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Related

United States v. James George Shepherd
618 F.2d 702 (Tenth Circuit, 1980)

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467 F. Supp. 71, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13695, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shepherd-v-united-states-cod-1979.