Filed: Jul. 02, 2009
Latest Update: Mar. 28, 2017
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 08-5061 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. ABRAHAM F. MARSETT, a/k/a Abe, a/k/a A, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, at Martinsburg. John Preston Bailey, Chief District Judge. (3:07-cr-00098-JPB-DJJ-3) Submitted: May 29, 2009 Decided: July 2, 2009 Before NIEMEYER, MOTZ, and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges. Affirmed in part; dismissed in part b
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 08-5061 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. ABRAHAM F. MARSETT, a/k/a Abe, a/k/a A, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, at Martinsburg. John Preston Bailey, Chief District Judge. (3:07-cr-00098-JPB-DJJ-3) Submitted: May 29, 2009 Decided: July 2, 2009 Before NIEMEYER, MOTZ, and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges. Affirmed in part; dismissed in part by..
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UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 08-5061
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
ABRAHAM F. MARSETT, a/k/a Abe, a/k/a A,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern
District of West Virginia, at Martinsburg. John Preston Bailey,
Chief District Judge. (3:07-cr-00098-JPB-DJJ-3)
Submitted: May 29, 2009 Decided: July 2, 2009
Before NIEMEYER, MOTZ, and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed in part; dismissed in part by unpublished per curiam
opinion.
James T. Kratovil, Aaron C. Amore, KRATOVIL & KRATOVIL, PLLC,
Charles Town, West Virginia, for Appellant. Thomas Oliver
Mucklow, Assistant United States Attorney, Martinsburg, West
Virginia, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Abraham F. Marsett timely appeals from the 120-month
sentence imposed following his guilty plea, pursuant to a
written plea agreement, to one count of distribution of cocaine
base, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (2006). Marsett’s
counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S.
738 (1967), asserting that there are no meritorious grounds for
appeal, but noting Marsett’s argument that the sentence is too
harsh and that the Guidelines “failed to recognize the
insignificance of his prior record.” Marsett has not filed a
pro se brief, though he was informed of his right to do so. The
Government filed a motion to dismiss the appeal on the basis of
Marsett’s waiver of appellate rights in the plea agreement.
Marsett’s counsel responded, stating that he “can find no
grounds to advance in opposition of the Motion to Dismiss the
Appeal.”
We review a defendant’s waiver of appellate rights de
novo. United States v. Blick,
408 F.3d 162, 168 (4th Cir.
2005). “A defendant may waive his right to appeal if that
waiver is the result of a knowing and intelligent decision to
forgo the right to appeal.” United States v. Amaya-Portillo,
423 F.3d 427, 430 (4th Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks and
citation omitted). To determine whether the waiver is knowing
and intelligent, we look to “the totality of the circumstances,
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including the experience and conduct of the accused, as well as
the accused’s educational background and familiarity with the
terms of the plea agreement.” United States v. General,
278
F.3d 389, 400 (4th Cir. 2002) (internal quotation marks and
citation omitted). Generally, if the district court fully
questions the defendant about the waiver during the Rule 11
colloquy, the waiver is valid and enforceable. United States v.
Johnson,
410 F.3d 137, 151 (4th Cir. 2005). We will enforce a
valid waiver so long as “the issue being appealed is within the
scope of the waiver.” Blick, 408 F.3d at 168.
Marsett does not challenge the validity of his waiver
of appellate rights; he simply argues his sentence is too harsh
given his criminal background. The waiver provision is clearly
set forth in the plea agreement. Both Marsett and his counsel
signed each page of the agreement, including the pages
containing the waiver provision. Moreover, during the Rule 11
colloquy, the magistrate judge specifically asked Marsett if he
understood he was waiving his rights to appeal his sentence.
Marsett responded affirmatively and his counsel also affirmed
that he thought Marsett fully understood his waiver of appellate
rights. The magistrate judge also found that Marsett was
competent to plead guilty and made the plea knowingly and
voluntarily, with full knowledge and understanding of the
consequences. We therefore conclude that Marsett’s waiver of
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appellate rights is valid. Additionally, because Marsett’s
valid waiver clearly forecloses review of the sentencing issue
raised on appeal, we grant the Government’s motion to dismiss in
part and dismiss this portion of the appeal.
The waiver provision, however, waives only Marsett’s
right to appeal his sentence. Although neither Marsett nor his
counsel assert any errors related to Marsett’s guilty plea or
conviction, such review is required by Anders and is not
foreclosed by the appellate waiver. In accordance with Anders,
we have reviewed the record and have found no such potentially
meritorious issues for appeal. The magistrate judge fully
complied with Rule 11 in accepting Marsett’s guilty plea and
ensured it was knowing, voluntary, and supported by an
independent factual basis. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)-(3).
Therefore, we deny the Government’s motion to dismiss in part
and affirm Marsett’s conviction.
Accordingly, the Government’s motion to dismiss is
granted in part and denied in part, Marsett’s appeal of his
sentence is dismissed, and his conviction is affirmed. This
court requires that counsel inform Marsett, in writing, of his
right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for
further review. If Marsett 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
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representation. Counsel’s motion must state that a copy thereof
was served on Marsett. 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 IN PART;
DISMISSED IN PART
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