United States v. Minnis

218 F. App'x 113
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit
DecidedMarch 1, 2007
DocketNo. 05-4455
StatusPublished

This text of 218 F. App'x 113 (United States v. Minnis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Third 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. Minnis, 218 F. App'x 113 (3d Cir. 2007).

Opinion

OPINION

RESTANI, Judge.

Defendant Kevin A. Minnis appeals his sentence for possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking felony, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Minnis’ counsel has filed a motion to withdraw and has submitted a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), asserting that the issues raised in the appeal are wholly frivolous. For the reasons stated below, we will affirm the sentencing order and grant counsel’s request to withdraw.

I. Factual and Procedural History

This case arises from a high-speed car chase and resulting arrests on September 28, 2001. Minnis and co-defendants Regi-nal Scott and Kevin Davis were tried together before a jury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Each defendant was charged with possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and carrying firearms during and in relation to the underlying drug felony, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), and Min-nis faced an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Each of the defendants were convicted on all counts.

The defendants were sentenced separately. Davis was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment on the possession charge, a consecutive term of seven years on the firearms count, five years of supervised release and a special assessment of $200. Scott received 63 months of imprisonment on the first charge, followed by a consecutive sentence of 120 months imprisonment on the second charge, five years supervised release and a special assessment of $200. Minnis was sentenced to 262 months for the first two charges, plus a consecutive sentence of 60 months on his additional charge, resulting in a total sentence of 322 months of imprisonment. He also received a supervised release term of five years and special assessment of $300. All three defendants filed timely notices of appeal.

[115]*115On February 11, 2005, we affirmed the appellants’ judgments of conviction, but remanded the cases for resentencing pursuant to United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). United States v. Davis, 397 F.3d 173 (3d Cir.2005). We denied the government’s request for rehearing in United States v. Davis, 407 F.3d 162 (3d Cir.2005) (en banc), setting forth the general rule that plain error would be presumed where the District Court applied the sentencing guidelines as mandatory prior to Booker and the case remained on direct appeal when Booker was decided. Id. at 165. Accordingly, the cases returned to the District Court for resentencing.

On August 1, 2005, the District Court again sentenced Minnis to a total of 322 months imprisonment, plus five years supervised release and a special assessment of $300. Pursuant to Booker, the District Court also issued a written Order setting forth its reasons for imposing the sentence. Minnis filed timely appeal.1

On September 29, 2006, Minnis’ counsel filed an Anders brief, seeking to withdraw on the grounds that Minnis’ appeal raises no meritorious issues.

II. Jurisdiction and Standard of Review

The District Court had jurisdiction over the federal criminal charges pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have jurisdiction to review a final judgment of the District Court under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

Our review of the constitutionality of sentencing procedures is plenary. United States v. Barbosa, 271 F.3d 438, 452 (3d Cir.2001). We review sentences for reasonableness. Booker, 543 U.S. at 261, 125 S.Ct. 738.

III. Discussion

Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule 109.2(a) states that “[w]here, upon review of the district court record, trial counsel is persuaded that the appeal presents no issue of even arguable merit, trial counsel may file a motion to withdraw and supporting brief pursuant to Anders.” 3d Cir. R. 109.2(a). Counsel’s brief must refer “to anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal,” including applicable legal authorities, and a copy of the brief must be provided to the appellant with an opportunity to respond. Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396. Our inquiry under this rule is twofold: 1) “whether counsel adequately fulfilled the rule’s requirements,” and 2) “whether an independent review of the record presents any nonfriv-olous issues.” United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir.2001). Where counsel files an adequate Anders brief, “we confine our scrutiny to those portions of the record identified by [the Anders brief] ... [and] those issues raised in Appellant’s pro se brief.” Id. at 301.

Here, counsel identifies one possible basis for appeal: the jury did not determine whether Minnis had been previously convicted of the three prior serious offenses required for the judge to impose a minimum sentence of fifteen years under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). Counsel points to applicable law to indicate that this claim is unsupported. Under Almendarez-Torres, prior convictions not submitted to the jury may be used in sentencing to increase the applicable penalty. Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 244, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). Although the scope of Almendarez-Torres has been called into question following Booker and [116]*116Apprendi, Apprendi declined to overturn Almendarez-Torres with respect to prior convictions. Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 489-90, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). This court has also upheld a District Court’s use of prior convictions for the purposes of sentencing enhancement. United States v. Jones, 332 F.3d 688, 694-95 (3d Cir.2003). In addition, counsel’s brief notes that even if there was legal support for this argument, Minnis stipulated at trial to the existence of the three prior convictions.

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Bluebook (online)
218 F. App'x 113, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-minnis-ca3-2007.