Filed: Jul. 31, 2006
Latest Update: Feb. 12, 2020
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 05-4558 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, versus WALTER CASSADINE BATTLES, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, at Charleston. David A. Faber, Chief District Judge. (CR-04-99) Submitted: July 25, 2006 Decided: July 31, 2006 Before WILLIAMS, MOTZ, and TRAXLER, Circuit Judges. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Troy N. Giatras, GIAT
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 05-4558 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, versus WALTER CASSADINE BATTLES, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, at Charleston. David A. Faber, Chief District Judge. (CR-04-99) Submitted: July 25, 2006 Decided: July 31, 2006 Before WILLIAMS, MOTZ, and TRAXLER, Circuit Judges. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Troy N. Giatras, GIATR..
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UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 05-4558
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
versus
WALTER CASSADINE BATTLES,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern
District of West Virginia, at Charleston. David A. Faber, Chief
District Judge. (CR-04-99)
Submitted: July 25, 2006 Decided: July 31, 2006
Before WILLIAMS, MOTZ, and TRAXLER, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Troy N. Giatras, GIATRAS & WEBB, Charleston, West Virginia, for
Appellant. Charles T. Miller, Acting United States Attorney,
Steven Ian Loew, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Charleston,
West Virginia, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
See Local Rule 36(c).
PER CURIAM:
Walter C. Battles pled guilty, pursuant to a written plea
agreement, to one count of robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951
(2000). Battles was sentenced following the Supreme Court’s
decision in United States v. Booker,
543 U.S. 220 (2005). The
district court applied the holding of Booker and sentenced Battles
to 97 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised
release. Counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.
California,
386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting that there are no
meritorious grounds for appeal but addressing whether Battles’
sentence was reasonable, given his limited role in the offense, his
age at the time of the offense, and his cooperation by pleading
guilty. Although informed of his right to file a supplemental pro
se brief, Battles has not done so. Finding no error, we affirm.
After the Supreme Court’s decision in Booker, a
sentencing court is no longer bound by the range prescribed by the
sentencing guidelines. See United States v. Hughes,
401 F.3d 540
(4th Cir. 2005). However, in determining a sentence post-Booker,
sentencing courts are still required to calculate and consider the
applicable guideline range as well as the factors set forth in 18
U.S.C.A. § 3553(a) (West 2000 & Supp. 2006).
Id. If the sentence
imposed is within the properly calculated guideline range, it is
presumptively reasonable. United States v. Green,
436 F.3d 449,
456 (4th Cir.), cert. denied,
126 S. Ct. 2309 (2006).
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Battles’ sentence was both within the guideline range of
97-121 months and within the statutory maximum of twenty years
imprisonment. See 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). Because the district court
appropriately treated the guidelines as advisory, and properly
calculated and considered the guideline range and the relevant
§ 3553(a) factors, including those enumerated by counsel, we find
the sentence reasonable. Accordingly, we affirm.
In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the entire
record in this case and have found no meritorious issues for
appeal. This court requires that counsel inform his client, in
writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court of the United
States for further review. If the client requests that a petition
be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be
frivolous, then counsel may move this court for leave to withdraw
from representation. Counsel’s motion must state that a copy
thereof was served on the client. We dispense with oral argument
because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in
the materials before the court and argument would not aid the
decisional process.
AFFIRMED
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