Filed: Jun. 20, 2002
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 01-40926 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus DONNELL YOUNG, JR., Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 9:00-CR-61-ALL - June 19, 2002 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Donnell Young, Jr., appeals following his guilty-plea conviction and sentence for possession of more than five gra
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 01-40926 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus DONNELL YOUNG, JR., Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 9:00-CR-61-ALL - June 19, 2002 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Donnell Young, Jr., appeals following his guilty-plea conviction and sentence for possession of more than five gram..
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 01-40926
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
DONNELL YOUNG, JR.,
Defendant-Appellant.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Texas
USDC No. 9:00-CR-61-ALL
--------------------
June 19, 2002
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Donnell Young, Jr., appeals following his guilty-plea
conviction and sentence for possession of more than five grams of
cocaine base with intent to distribute. Young argues that the
district court erred in denying his motion to withdraw his guilty
plea based on the Government’s breach of his plea agreement.
Young’s primary contention is that the Government breached the
plea agreement by failing either to move for a downward departure
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
No. 01-40926
-2-
under U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 or to make a motion for reduction of
sentence pursuant to FED. R. CRIM. P. 35(b). Because under the
terms of the plea agreement the Government retained the sole
discretion to file such motions, “its refusal to file is
reviewable only for unconstitutional motives such as the race or
religion of the accused.” United States v. Aderholt,
87 F.3d
740, 742 (5th Cir. 1996). Young has made no argument that the
Government’s exercise of its discretion was rooted in an
unconstitutional motive.
Young also argues that the Government breached the plea
agreement by failing to recommend a sentence of imprisonment at
the lower end of the range determined by the sentencing
guidelines. Because Young did not object to the Government’s
sentencing recommendation in the district court, our review is
for plain error. See United States v. Branam,
231 F.3d 931, 933
(5th Cir. 2000). The record shows that, irrespective of the
Government’s recommendation, Young’s sentence of imprisonment was
at the lower end of the guideline range. Young has not shown
that the Government’s failure to recommend a sentence of
imprisonment at the lower end of the range determined by the
sentencing guidelines affected his substantial rights. He has
therefore not shown plain error. See
id.
AFFIRMED.