United States v. Frank Martin

714 F.3d 1081, 2013 WL 1943035, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 9640
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedMay 13, 2013
Docket12-3316
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 714 F.3d 1081 (United States v. Frank Martin) 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.

Bluebook
United States v. Frank Martin, 714 F.3d 1081, 2013 WL 1943035, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 9640 (8th Cir. 2013).

Opinion

BRIGHT, Circuit Judge.

Frank Martin pleaded guilty to all five counts of a federal indictment charging him with distributing crack cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. At his change of plea hearing, the district court 1 advised Martin that he could face up to 10 years on count four for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In fact, Martin’s three prior convictions for violent felony offenses triggered the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), thereby mandating a 15-year minimum sentence on count four. The district court sentenced Martin to 180 months (15 years) on each of counts one through four and a consecutive term of 60 months (5 years) on count five, for a total of 240 months (20 years). We affirm.

BACKGROUND

Between July 9 and July 21, 2009, an undercover Kansas City police officer and a confidential informant completed three drug transactions with Martin. After the *1083 third transaction, officers conducted a search of Martin’s car, which revealed a handgun, electronic scale, marijuana, and a cellular phone used in the controlled purchases. Because one of the drug transactions occurred at Martin’s residence, officers also executed a search warrant at Martin’s residence and found another handgun and electronic scale. After his arrest, Martin admitted he was a felon and was in possession of a firearm and drugs at the time of his arrest.

A federal grand jury charged Martin with: knowingly distributing crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) (counts I—III); being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) 2 (count IV); and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)© (count V). Specific to count IV, the indictment did not make any reference to section 924(e), 3 which mandates a minimum sentence of 15 years for a person who has three prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense. 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1).

Martin entered a plea of not guilty to all counts of the indictment, but later requested a change of plea. At his change of plea hearing, the district court informed Martin that the range of punishment for being a felon in possession of a firearm, count IV, included imprisonment of up to 10 years, but made no mention of the 15-year statutory minimum pursuant to section 924(e). Martin pled guilty to all counts.

The Presentence Report (PSR) noted that Martin had at least three prior violent felony convictions. The' PSR concluded that Martin must be sentenced to: (1) no more than 30 years on counts I—III, (2) no less than 15 years and no more than life on count IV and (3) no less than 5 years on count V. The PSR also concluded that Martin’s sentence on count V must run consecutive to counts I-IV and recommended a guidelines range of 262-327 months (21.83-27.25 years). Martin did not object to the PSR.

In his sentencing memorandum, Martin’s counsel requested a total sentence of 15 .years. At sentencing, Martin’s counsel did not object to Martin’s, career offender status given his prior violent felony convictions and acknowledged that she incorrectly thought the 5-year term on count V could run concurrent to the term on count IV. Martin’s counsel then requested a sentence of 10 years as to counts I—III, 15 years as to count IV and a consecutive 5 years as to count V, for a total of 20 years. The district court sentenced Martin to 15 years on each of counts I-IV to be served concurrently and 5 years on count V to be served consecutively, for a total of 20 years.

On appeal, Martin contends the district court’s failure to inform him of the 15-year statutory minimum on count IV at his *1084 change of plea hearing amounted to a violation of due process and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. Martin requests that this court vacate his 20-year sentence and impose a 15-year sentence or remand for a re-sentencing with instruction that the district court impose a sentence of 10 years as to Count IV. Alternatively, Martin requests that this court vacate his guilty plea as to Count IV, a remedy he raises for the first time in his reply brief.

DISCUSSION

Because Martin failed to raise these issues before the district court, we review for plain error. United States v. Gray, 581 F.3d 749, 752 (8th Cir.2009). “Under plain error review, the defendant must show: (1) an error; (2) that is plain; and (3) that affects substantial rights.” Id. (quotation and citation omitted). An error is plain when it is “clear or obvious, rather than subject to reasonable dispute.” Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135, 129 S.Ct. 1423, 173 L.Ed.2d 266 (2009) (citation omitted). Affecting substantial rights ordinarily means the error “affected the outcome of the district court proceedings.” Id. (quotation and citation omitted).

The government concedes the district court committed error by failing to notify Martin of the 15-year statutory minimum on count IV. But even assuming the error is plain, such error did not affect Martin’s substantial rights. The district court sentenced Martin to a total of 20 years, a term below the recommended guidelines range and one which Martin’s counsel requested at sentencing, after acknowledging the earlier misunderstanding about whether count V had to run concurrent to count IV. See United States v. McCully, 407 F.3d 931, 934 (8th Cir.2005) (where defendant received a sentence at the low end of the guidelines range as requested, she cannot challenge the sentence on appeal). Further, the district court sentenced Martin to 15 years on each of counts I-IV to be served concurrently and a consecutive term of 5 years on count V. As such, Martin’s sentence would remain the same at 20 years even without the 15-year term on count IV.

Although Martin did not raise the Rule 11 issue before the district court, this issue may be raised for the first time on appeal. United States v. Young, 927 F.2d 1060

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
714 F.3d 1081, 2013 WL 1943035, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 9640, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-frank-martin-ca8-2013.