United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                  _____________

                                  No. 96-3122SD
                                  _____________

United States of America,               *
                                        *
                   Appellee,            * Appeal from the United States
                                        * District Court for the District of
      v.                                * South Dakota.
                                        *
Mike Vallee,                            *      [UNPUBLISHED]
                                        *
                   Appellant.           *
                                  _____________

                            Submitted: June 6, 1997
                                Filed: June 24, 1997
                                 _____________

Before McMILLIAN, FAGG, and LOKEN, Circuit Judges.
                           _____________

PER CURIAM.

       Mike Vallee appeals the district court's denial of Vallee's request to withdraw
his guilty plea to sexual abuse of a minor. We review the district court's ruling for
abuse of discretion. See United States v. Nichols, 

, 1201 (8th Cir.
1993). Having considered the record before us, we conclude Vallee failed to establish
a fair and just reason for the withdrawal of his plea. 

to consider
Vallee's ineffective assistance of counsel claims. These claims are best pursued on
motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. See United States v. Jennings, 

, 840 (8th
Cir. 1994). We thus affirm. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.
A true copy.

      Attest:

               CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.




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