United States v. Hicks

228 F. App'x 314
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
DecidedApril 30, 2007
Docket06-4718
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 228 F. App'x 314 (United States v. Hicks) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fourth 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. Hicks, 228 F. App'x 314 (4th Cir. 2007).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Vance Hicks appeals his conviction and the 384-month sentence imposed after he pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 25,000 phis or more of ecstasy, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (2000). Hicks’ counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), raising numerous issues challenging Hicks’ conviction and sentence but stating that, in his view, there are no meritorious issues for appeal. Hicks has filed a pro se supplemental brief. * Finding no reversible error, we affirm.

Counsel first questions whether the district court impermissibly participated in plea negotiations by providing a copy of Hicks’ co-defendant’s presentence report to Hicks when he objected to the amount of drugs proffered by the Government to establish a factual basis for the plea during the hearing conducted pursuant to Fed. R.Crim.P. 11. Because Hicks moved to withdraw his plea on the ground that the court participated in plea negotiations, our review is for harmless error. See United States v. Bradley, 455 F.3d 453, 461 (4th Cir.2006) (stating standard of review).

Rule 11 (c)(1) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure “governs guilty pleas and clearly prohibits a court from participating in plea negotiations.” Id. at 460. Hicks and the Government had reached a plea agreement five days before the hearing at which the district court gave counsel a copy of the co-defendant’s presentence report, and Hicks admitted that he already had the information contained in the report. Our review of the record in this case leads us to conclude that the district court’s actions did not violate Rule 11. See United States v. Cannady, 283 F.3d 641, 644 (4th Cir.2002) (holding that district court did not violate Rule 11(c)(1) where court’s comments were made after “the parties had reached a definite agreement that had been reduced to writing and exe *316 cuted by [the defendant] and the government, all without any direct involvement by the district judge”).

Next, counsel raises as a potential issue the adequacy of the plea colloquy in light of the district court’s failure to explain explicitly that Hicks could persist in his plea of not guilty, as required by Fed. R.Crim.P. 11(b)(1)(B). Because Hicks did not move in the district court to withdraw his guilty plea on this ground, any error in the Rule 11 hearing is reviewed for plain error. United, States v. Martinez, 277 F.3d 517, 525 (4th Cir.2002) (discussing standard of review). We have carefully reviewed the record and conclude that the district court’s omission did not affect Hicks’ substantial rights. See United States v. Goins, 51 F.3d 400, 402-03 (4th Cir.1995) (discussing factors courts should consider in determining whether substantial rights affected in decision to plead guilty).

Counsel also challenges the district court’s denial of Hicks’ motion to withdraw the plea. Withdrawal of a guilty plea is not a matter of right. United States v. Ubakanma, 215 F.3d 421, 424 (4th Cir.2000). The defendant bears the burden of showing a “fair and just reason” for the withdrawal of his guilty plea. Fed. R.Crim.P. 11(d)(2)(B). “[A] ‘fair and just’ reason ... is one that essentially challenges ... the fairness of the Rule 11 proceeding.... ” United States v. Lambey, 974 F.2d 1389, 1394 (4th Cir.1992) (en banc). Here, the district court applied the factors set forth in Ubakanma, and we find no abuse of discretion in the district court’s decision to deny Hicks’ motion to withdraw. See 215 F.3d at 424 (stating standard of review).

Turning to the district court’s denial of Hicks’ motion to recuse the district court, counsel asserts that the district court should have recused itself because it provided a copy of Hicks’ co-defendant’s presentence report to the defense during the plea colloquy. We find, however, that a “reasonable, well-informed observer who assesses all the facts and circumstances” would not find that the district court was biased. See United States v. DeTemple, 162 F.3d 279, 286 (4th Cir.1998) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Thus, we find no abuse of discretion in the district court’s denial of relief. See United States v. Cherry, 330 F.3d 658, 665 (4th Cir.2003) (stating standard of review).

Finally, counsel questions whether the district court erred by enhancing Hicks’ offense level for possession of a weapon under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2D1.1(b)(1) (2004), and by refusing to adjust the offense level for acceptance of responsibility under USSG § 3E1.1. After United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), a district court is no longer bound by the range prescribed by the sentencing guidelines. United States v. Hughes, 401 F.3d 540, 546 (4th Cir.2005). However, in imposing a sentence post- Booker, courts still must calculate the applicable guideline range after making the appropriate findings of fact and consider the range in conjunction with other relevant factors under the guidelines and 18 U.S.C.A. § 3553(a) (West 2000 & Supp. 2006). United States v. Moreland, 437 F.3d 424, 432 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 2054, 164 L.Ed.2d 804 (2006). This court -will affirm a post-Boo/b- er sentence if it “is within the statutorily prescribed range and is reasonable.” Id. at 433 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “[A] sentence within the proper advisory Guidelines range is presumptively reasonable.” United States v. Johnson,

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Bluebook (online)
228 F. App'x 314, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-hicks-ca4-2007.