Filed: Jun. 17, 2009
Latest Update: Feb. 12, 2020
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 08-4894 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. THOMAS EDWIN FOREBUSH, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, at Charlotte. Frank D. Whitney, District Judge. (3:07-cr-00098-FDW-3) Submitted: May 14, 2009 Decided: June 17, 2009 Before WILKINSON, GREGORY, and SHEDD, Circuit Judges. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Randolph M. Lee, Char
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 08-4894 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. THOMAS EDWIN FOREBUSH, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, at Charlotte. Frank D. Whitney, District Judge. (3:07-cr-00098-FDW-3) Submitted: May 14, 2009 Decided: June 17, 2009 Before WILKINSON, GREGORY, and SHEDD, Circuit Judges. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Randolph M. Lee, Charl..
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UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 08-4894
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
THOMAS EDWIN FOREBUSH,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the
Western District of North Carolina, at Charlotte. Frank D.
Whitney, District Judge. (3:07-cr-00098-FDW-3)
Submitted: May 14, 2009 Decided: June 17, 2009
Before WILKINSON, GREGORY, and SHEDD, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Randolph M. Lee, Charlotte, North Carolina, for Appellant. Amy
Elizabeth Ray, Assistant United States Attorney, Asheville,
North Carolina, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Thomas Edwin Forebush timely appeals from the twelve
month and one day sentence imposed following his guilty plea to
one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, 18 U.S.C.
§ 371 (2006), by violating the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§
1317, 1319(c)(2) (2006). Forebush’s appellate counsel filed a
brief pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738 (1967),
asserting that there are no meritorious grounds for appeal, but
questioning whether there is conclusive evidence that Forebush
received ineffective assistance of counsel below and asking this
court to review the record for any other meritorious issues.
Forebush has not filed a pro se brief, though he was informed of
his right to do so. Finding no error, we affirm.
A defendant may raise a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel “on direct appeal if and only if it
conclusively appears from the record that his counsel did not
provide effective assistance.” United States v. Martinez,
136
F.3d 972, 979 (4th Cir. 1998). To prove ineffective assistance
the defendant must show two things: (1) “that counsel’s
representation fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness” and (2) “that there is a reasonable probability
that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different.” Strickland v.
Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 688, 694 (1984). In the context of a
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guilty plea, “the defendant must show that there is a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s errors, he would not have
pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.” Hill
v. Lockhart,
474 U.S. 52, 59 (1985). Our review of the record
reveals no conclusive evidence that Forebush’s counsel did not
provide effective assistance. Therefore, we decline to review
Forebush’s claim on direct appeal.
In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the record
in this case and have found no meritorious issues for appeal.
We therefore affirm Forebush’s conviction and sentence. This
court requires that counsel inform Forebush, in writing, of his
right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for
further review. If Forebush requests that a petition be filed,
but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous,
counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from
representation. Counsel’s motion must state that a copy thereof
was served on Forebush. We dispense with oral argument because
the facts and legal conclusions are adequately presented in the
materials before the court and argument would not aid the
decisional process.
AFFIRMED
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