United States v. Donald Bratton, Jr.

Eighth Circuit

United States v. Donald Bratton, Jr.

387 F. App'x 656

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

DecidedJuly 20, 2010

Docket10-1605

StatusUnpublished

This text of 387 F. App'x 656 (United States v. Donald Bratton, Jr.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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United States v. Donald Bratton, Jr., 387 F. App'x 656 (8th Cir. 2010).

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Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Donald Bratton, Jr., appeals the sentence that the district court 1 imposed after he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Counsel has moved to withdraw and has filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), arguing that the sentence is substantively unreasonable because the court did not properly weigh the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. In a pro se supplemental brief Bratton argues that the government breached its agreement to move for a reduced sentence, and counsel was ineffective.

We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by imposing a substantively unreasonable sentence. See United States v. Struzik, 572 F.3d 484, 487 (8th Cir.2009) (standard of review). Brat-ton’s within-Guidelines-range sentence is presumed reasonable on appeal, and we find no indication that the court failed to consider any relevant section 3553(a) factor, gave significant weight to an improper or irrelevant factor, or committed a clear error of judgment in weighing the factors. Id. at 487-88 (sentence within Guidelines range is accorded appellate presumption of reasonableness; listing circumstances where court abuses its discretion, resulting in substantively unreasonable sentence). As to the pro se arguments, we decline to consider Bratton’s newly raised contention that the government breached the plea agreement, see Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914 (8th Cir.2004) (declining to consider claims first raised on appeal), and Brat-ton’s ineffective-assistance claim is not properly raised in this direct criminal appeal, see United States v. Cain, 134 F.3d 1345, 1352 (8th Cir.1998).

Finally, having reviewed the record independently under Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988), we have found no nonfrivolous issue for appeal. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s judgment, and we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.

1

. The Honorable Brian S. Miller, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

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PER CURIAM.

Donald Bratton, Jr., appeals the sentence that the district court 1 imposed after he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Counsel has moved to withdraw and has filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), arguing that the sentence is substantively unreasonable because the court did not properly weigh the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. In a pro se supplemental brief Bratton argues that the government breached its agreement to move for a reduced sentence, and counsel was ineffective.

We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by imposing a substantively unreasonable sentence. See United States v. Struzik, 572 F.3d 484, 487 (8th Cir.2009) (standard of review). Brat-ton’s within-Guidelines-range sentence is presumed reasonable on appeal, and we find no indication that the court failed to consider any relevant section 3553(a) factor, gave significant weight to an improper or irrelevant factor, or committed a clear error of judgment in weighing the factors. Id. at 487-88 (sentence within Guidelines range is accorded appellate presumption of reasonableness; listing circumstances where court abuses its discretion, resulting in substantively unreasonable sentence). As to the pro se arguments, we decline to consider Bratton’s newly raised contention that the government breached the plea agreement, see Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914 (8th Cir.2004) (declining to consider claims first raised on appeal), and Brat-ton’s ineffective-assistance claim is not properly raised in this direct criminal appeal, see United States v. Cain, 134 F.3d 1345, 1352 (8th Cir.1998).

Finally, having reviewed the record independently under Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988), we have found no nonfrivolous issue for appeal. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s judgment, and we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.

1

. The Honorable Brian S. Miller, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

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