United States v. Steven McCracken

682 F. App'x 580

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: March 16, 2017
• Docket: 15-30394
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Steven Allen McCracken appeals pro se from the district court’s orders denying his motions for recusal and a new trial. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

McCracken contends that then-Chief Judge Pechman erred by affirming Judge Leighton’s denial of McCracken’s recusal motion. McCracken argues that Judge Leighton’s remarks concerning methamphetamine reflected a deep-seated antagonism toward him and his case. We conclude that there was no abuse of discretion. See United States v. McTiernan, 695 F.3d 882, 891 (9th Cir. 2012). The nature of the drug involved in McCracken’s offense was an appropriate sentencing consideration, see 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), and the record does not otherwise reflect that Judge Leighton harbored antagonism towards McCracken or was biased against him. See McTiernan, 695 F.3d at 891-92.

McCracken also argues that the court should have granted his new trial motion under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 33(b)(1). To warrant a new trial, the mov-ant must satisfy a five-part test. See United States v. Kulczyk, 931 F.2d 542, 548 (9th Cir. 1991). The district court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that McCracken did not meet that test. See id. The evidence concerning McCracken’s relationship with his business partner was cumulative of evidence that was presented • at trial, the lab report was not new evidence and McCracken was not diligent in obtaining it, and neither piece of evidence indicated that “a new trial would probably result in acquittal,” Id.

McCracken’s motion for an extension of time to file his reply brief is denied as moot. McCracken’s reply brief was filed on September 1,2016, and considered.

AFFIRMED.

** This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3,