United States v. Dailey

42 F. App'x 665

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: August 23, 2002
• Docket: 01-4901
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

OPINION

PER CURIAM:

Desmond Dailey appeals from the 120-month sentence imposed following his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, 21 U.S.C.A. §§ 841(a)(1), 846 (West 1999 & Supp.2002). Dailey claims that the Government breached an oral plea agreement by failing to administer a polygraph test to confirm his limited role in the conspiracy.

Because he did not object below, Dai-ley’s claim is reviewed for plain error only. United States v. McQueen, 108 F.3d 64, 65-66 (4th Cir.1997). Although not favored, oral plea agreements are enforceable. United States v. Iaquinta, 719 F.2d 83, 84 n. 2 (4th Cir.1983). A government promise that is part of the inducement for a guilty plea must be fulfilled. Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 262, 92 S.Ct. 495, 30 L.Ed.2d 427 (1971). The government’s breach of such a promise violates due process. United States v. Martin, 25 F.3d 211, 217 (4th Cir.1994). The interpretation of a plea agreement is “guided by contract law, and parties to the agreement should receive the benefit of their bargain.” McQueen, 108 F.3d at 66. In McQueen, the transcript of the guilty plea hearing established that the government had made an oral promise to recommend that the defendant receive a sentence of no more than 63 months and to recommend that he receive a two-level adjustment for acceptance of responsibility. At sentencing, the government failed to mention the terms of the oral plea agreement. We found that the government’s breach constituted plain error requiring that McQueen’s sentence be vacated and the case remanded for specific performance of the agreement. Id. at 65.

Here, by contrast, we find no evidence in the record to support Dailey’s claim that his guilty plea was induced by the Government’s promise to administer a polygraph. Although a polygraph examination was mentioned at Dailey’s sentencing hearing, it was not in the context of an agreement or promise to induce his guilty plea. Accordingly, we conclude that Dailey cannot show a breach of any plea agreement and therefore affirm his sentence. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.