United States v. Nelson Olmeda

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• Decided: March 29, 2018
• Docket: 17-2464
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

United States Court of Appeals For the Eighth Circuit ___________________________

No. 17-2464 ___________________________

United States of America

lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee

v.

Nelson Olmeda, also known as Diego

lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant ____________

Appeal from United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri - Springfield ____________

Submitted: March 15, 2018 Filed: March 29, 2018 [Unpublished] ____________

Before BENTON, MURPHY, and KELLY, Circuit Judges. ____________

PER CURIAM.

Nelson Olmeda directly appeals the sentence imposed by the district court1 following his guilty plea to drug charges. His counsel has moved to withdraw and

1 The Honorable M. Douglas Harpool, United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri. has submitted a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), discussing whether the sentence was impermissibly enhanced under 21 U.S.C. § 851.

We conclude that, absent any allegation that the decision was based on an improper factor, it was within the government’s discretion to subject Olmeda to the enhanced sentence, see United States v. LaBonte, 520 U.S. 751, 761-62 (1997); and that his prior felony drug conviction was a permissible basis for the enhancement, see Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.121(b)(3) (possession of more than 4 ounces of marijuana is “state jail felony”); Texas Penal Code Ann. § 12.35 (state jail felony is punishable by confinement for up to 2 years); United States v. Jones, 559 F.3d 831, 837 (8th Cir. 2009) (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A) and 851 permit use of simple felony drug possession conviction for enhancement).

Having independently reviewed the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75 (1988), we find no nonfrivolous issues for appeal. Accordingly, we grant counsel leave to withdraw, and we affirm. ______________________________

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