United States v. Darryl L. Herrington

350 F. App'x 363
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
DecidedOctober 23, 2009
Docket09-11276
StatusUnpublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 350 F. App'x 363 (United States v. Darryl L. Herrington) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Darryl L. Herrington, 350 F. App'x 363 (11th Cir. 2009).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Darry L. Herrington appeals his convictions and sentences for armed bank rob *364 bery and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a bank robbery. Herring-ton argues that the district court (1) abused its discretion by denying his motion to withdraw his guilty plea based on his belief that he was not eligible for a career-offender enhancement, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1, (2) erred in finding that his prior offenses were proper predicate offenses for purposes of the § 4B1.1 enhancement, and (3) abused its discretion by imposing a substantively unreasonable sentence. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

I.

Herrington was charged in a superseding indictment with two counts of armed bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2113(a) and (d), (“Counts 1 and 3”); and two counts of brandishing a firearm during the commission of a bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), (“Counts 2 and 4”). Herrington pled guilty to Counts 3 and 4.

At the plea hearing, the court noted that Herrington’s jury trial was scheduled to begin the next morning. Herrington was placed under oath and stated that he did not suffer from any mental illness or emotional distress, was not taking medication, and was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Herrington acknowledged that he had a right to a speedy and public jury trial, that the government carried the burden of proving his guilt, and that he had the right to be represented by counsel at trial. Herrington understood that entering a guilty plea would waive these rights. Herrington also acknowledged that, by pleading guilty, he would waive his right to be present at his trial, confront the government’s witnesses, call witnesses on his own behalf, remain silent at trial, and testify in his own behalf. The court explained that, by pleading guilty, Herrington would “give up any defenses [he] may have had, and in all likelihood, [he would] forever lose [his] right to complain on appeal about anything that may have happened in [his] case.” Herrington initially stated that he did not understand this, but after conferring with counsel, stated that he did understand.

Herrington stated that he had met with counsel approximately 16 times and was satisfied with counsel. The court explained what the government would have to prove to convict Herrington of Counts 3 and 4. The court then explained that “[t]he maximum sentence by statute that the Court could impose for a violation of Count Three would be imprisonment for not more than twenty-five years ... and five years supervised release.” The court noted that

the maximum sentence by statute that the Court could impose for Count Four would be a sentence of imprisonment not less than seven years in addition to that imposed as to Count Three. However, if this is your second or a subsequent conviction under § 924(c), then the term would be not less than twenty-five years imprisonment pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(C), and a supervised release term of five years.

The court stated that it would consider the sentencing guidelines and the 18 U.S.C. § 3553 sentencing factors in determining Herrington’s sentence. The court again pointed out that

there is a mandatory minimum in connection with the 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) charge, that is, a mandatory minimum of seven years for a conviction of Count Four in addition to whatever the sentence imposed is for Count Three. Additionally, if this is a second or subsequent 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) conviction for you, then the mandatory minimum is twenty-five years for a conviction of *365 Count Four in addition to whatever you receive for Count Three.

It noted, “[a]ny guideline estimates that may have [been] made by your lawyer or the prosecution or the probation officer are just that. They are estimates, their best understanding of what your guideline range might be. But neither themselves nor the Court is bound by any estimate.” Herrington stated that he was pleading guilty because he was, in fact, guilty of Counts 3 and 4 of the superseding indictment.

The court found that Herrington was not under the influence of medication, alcohol or drugs, understood the substance and meaning of the charges against him, and understood the consequences of entering a guilty plea. It determined that Herrington had been assisted by a competent attorney who met with him on 16 occasions and with whom he had discussed the plea agreement and sentencing guidelines. Herrington affirmed that he was entering a guilty plea freely and voluntarily, and the court found that Herrington had not been coerced or influenced into pleading guilty.

William Kirkconnell, a special agent with the FBI stationed in Savannah, Georgia, testified as to the factual basis for the plea. Agent Kirkconnell stated that, on May 21, 2008, a man later identified as Herrington entered the Bank of America branch on St. Simons Island and handed to a teller a note demanding 100 and 50 dollar bills. The teller gave Herrington $2,350, and Herrington took the note and left the bank. Video surveillance from the bank depicted Herrington holding a silver handgun in his right hand while robbing the bank. Agent Kirkconnell stated that Herrington confessed to committing the robbery after waiving his Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), rights. Herrington also admitted to robbing an Atlantic National Bank branch on April 10th, during which he brandished a silver firearm and stole $17,460.

Herrington told the court that he did not disagree with any of Agent Kirkeonnell’s statements and stated that he did, in fact, rob the Bank of America on St. Simons Island, while brandishing a handgun. The court determined that there was a strong factual basis for the plea and approved the plea agreement. Accordingly, it found Herrington guilty of Counts 3 and 4 of the superseding indictment.

According to the presentence investigation report (“PSI”), on April 10, 2008, Herrington entered the Atlantic National Bank in Brunswick, Georgia, approached a teller, pulled a semiautomatic handgun from his pants, and placed it on the counter. Herrington told the teller “Give me your 100s, don’t move, don’t hit the alarm, I will blow your head off bitch.” The teller gave Herrington the money, which Herrington placed in a bank bag before exiting the building. An internal audit conducted by Atlantic National Bank revealed that Herrington had stolen $17,460. On April 23, 2008, an arrest warrant was issued for Herrington.

At approximately 1:00 p.m. on May 21, 2008, Herrington approached a teller at the Bank of America on St.

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Bluebook (online)
350 F. App'x 363, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-darryl-l-herrington-ca11-2009.