United States v. Sanchez

41 F. App'x 588

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Decided: July 30, 2002
• Docket: 01-3770
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

OPINION

AMBRO, Circuit Judge.

Appellant Enrique Sanchez appeals his sentence entered after a plea of guilty for conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. Sanchez concedes that he waived his right to appeal as part of his plea bargain. However, he contends that the plea bargain should be invalidated for the following reasons: 1) the District Court erred by accepting his guilty plea of conspiracy to distribute cocaine without determining whether there was a factual basis for the plea; 2) the court interpreter assigned to his guilty plea hearing was unqualified; 3) his defense counsel was constitutionally ineffective; and 4) he did not enter his plea knowingly and voluntarily. Even though Sanchez frames all of the issues within his ineffective counsel claim, we will examine them separately. Sanchez’ counsel addressed the claims that the plea bargain was not knowing and voluntary, and that Sanchez was sentenced incorrectly (which we discuss infra at footnote 2), in a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), and found no non-frivolous claims. After an independent review of Sanchez’ claims, we affirm his conviction.

I. Adequacy of Counsel’s Anders Brief

According to Anders, “if counsel finds his [client’s] case to be wholly frivolous, after a conscientious examination of it, he should so advise the court and request permission to withdraw.” 386 U.S. at 744. Counsel is required to file a brief “referring to anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal,” and the prisoner must receive a copy of the brief to review. Id. “[T]he court — not counsel— then proceeds, after a full examination of all the proceedings, to decide whether the case is wholly frivolous.” Id.

In order to determine the adequacy of an Anders brief, this Court carries out a two-part inquiry: “(1) whether counsel adequately fulfilled [Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule 109.2(a)’s] requirements; 1 and (2) whether an independent review of the record presents any nonfrivolous issues.” United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir.2001). Youla further holds that the Court will reject briefs where it is not satisfied “that counsel adequately attempted to uncover the best arguments for his or her client,” unless the frivolousness of the defendant’s arguments is “patent.” Id.

Sanchez’ counsel submitted a brief discussing the measures taken to ensure that the plea hearing was fair and that Sanchez entered a knowing and voluntary plea. The brief also explains how the sentence was determined and how the District Court considered counsel’s arguments against classifying Sanchez as a career criminal. The brief is short and superficial, and we would generally prefer more detail. However, since Sanchez’ claims are patently frivolous, it meets the first prong of the Youla test. Id.

The remainder of this opinion will consider the second prong: whether our review of the record reveals any nonfrivolous issues for appeal. We conclude that it does not.

II. Factual Basis Supporting Guilty Plea

Sanchez’ claim that there was not a sufficient factual basis for his conspiracy plea is unpersuasive. During the plea hearing, the prosecutor described the conspiracy charge and the elements necessary to establish it. When asked by the District Judge, Sanchez said he understood the charge and agreed with it. The facts presented in the plea agreement and in the plea hearing also support the charge. The Due Process Clause “does not require an on-the-record development of the factual basis supporting a guilty plea before entry of the plea. Rather, due process requires only that the plea be voluntary and intelligent.” Meyers v. Gillis, 93 F.3d 1147, 1148 (3d Cir.1996). We are satisfied that these bases were touched in Sanchez’ case.

III. Adequacy of Court Interpreter

Sanchez’ claim that the court interpreter was unqualified has no support. Sanchez does not point to anything that suggests the interpreter was inaccurate. The fact that the interpreter had to pause a few times and look up a phrase does not suggest that she was unqualified. Also, Sanchez admitted to speaking some English, and during the plea agreement he never made any objection to the interpreter or suggested that he did not understand what was going on. This indicates to us that his attack on the adequacy of the court interpreter lacks merit. See Valladares v. United States, 871 F.2d 1564, 1566 (11th Cir.1989).

IV. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Sanchez also claims that his guilty plea was involuntary and unknowing due to ineffective assistance of counsel. However, this Court generally does not decide ineffective assistance of counsel claims on direct appeal. See United States v. Haywood, 155 F.3d 674, 678 (3d Cir.1998) (citing United States v. Theodoropoulos, 866 F.2d 587, 598 (3d Cir.1989)). Instead, “the proper avenue for pursuing such claims is through a collateral proceeding in which the factual basis for the claim may be developed.” Id. (quoting Theodoropoulos, 866 F.2d at 598). An exception exists where “the record is sufficient to allow a determination of ineffective assistance of counsel,” in which case an evidentiary hearing is not needed to develop the facts. Id. (quoting United States v. Headley, 923 F.2d 1079, 1083 (3d Cir.1991)). We find no reason to deviate from our general rule. 2

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For these reasons, we affirm the judgment of the District Court and separately will grant counsel’s motion for leave to withdraw under Anders.

1 . That rule states:

(a) Where, upon review of the district court, 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 v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), which shall be served upon the appellant on the United States. The United States shall file a brief in response. Appellant may also file a brief in response pro se. After all briefs have been filed, the clerk will refer the case to a merits panel. If the panel agrees that the appeal is without merit, it will grant trial counsel’s Anders motion, and dispose of the appeal without appointing new counsel. If the panel finds arguable merit to the appeal, it will discharge current counsel, appoint substitute counsel, restore the case to the calendar, and order supplemental briefing.

3rd Cir. LAR 109.2(a).

2 . Sanchez also claims that his plea should be invalidated because his counsel misinformed him about his eligibility to be sentenced on one of the offenses that was used to classify him as a career offender. However, Sanchez does not support this claim. Moreover, to the extent that this claim is merely one aspect of his ineffective assistance of counsel claim, it is inappropriate for our Court to determine on direct appeal.