Filed: Jul. 01, 1999
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS JUL 1 1999 TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, No. 98-3291 v. (District of Kansas) (D.C. No. 96-CR-40082-SAC) THOMAS W. HARRIS, Defendant-Appellant. ORDER AND JUDGMENT * Before TACHA, McKAY, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges. After examining the briefs and appellate record, this court has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determinatio
Summary: F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS JUL 1 1999 TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, No. 98-3291 v. (District of Kansas) (D.C. No. 96-CR-40082-SAC) THOMAS W. HARRIS, Defendant-Appellant. ORDER AND JUDGMENT * Before TACHA, McKAY, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges. After examining the briefs and appellate record, this court has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination..
More
F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
JUL 1 1999
TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
No. 98-3291
v. (District of Kansas)
(D.C. No. 96-CR-40082-SAC)
THOMAS W. HARRIS,
Defendant-Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before TACHA, McKAY, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this court has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Defendant, Thomas W. Harris, and a co-defendant were named in a six
count indictment filed on November 20, 1996 in the United States District Court
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
for the District of Kansas. Pursuant to a plea agreement entered into between
Harris and the government, Harris pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery in
violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951, and two counts of possession of a firearm during
a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c). In exchange for Harris’
guilty plea, the government agreed to dismiss the sixth count contained in the
indictment. The government also agreed to file a motion for downward departure
pursuant to § 5K1.1 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines if it determined
that Harris provided substantial assistance to the government in its investigation
and prosecution of Harris’ co-defendant. Harris agreed not to request a sentence
of less than thirty years. The plea agreement was accepted by the district court.
Prior to sentencing, the government filed a motion in which it requested
the district court to depart downward from 121-151 months to sixty months on
three of the counts to which Harris pleaded guilty. The district court granted the
motion and sentenced Harris to thirty years imprisonment. Harris appeals the
length of his sentence alleging that it is too long.
Harris’ counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California ,
386 U.S.
738 (1967), wherein counsel advises this court that Harris’ appeal is wholly
frivolous. Accordingly, counsel has also filed a motion to withdraw. Harris has
been given notice of the Anders brief and counsel’s motion to withdraw. Harris
has failed to respond to this notice.
-2-
We construe the issue on appeal to be whether the district court abused its
discretion by not departing downward beyond the sentence recommended by the
government in its § 5K1.1 motion for downward departure. Harris does not
argue that he did not enter into the plea agreement knowingly and willingly.
Harris may appeal the sentence he received if it was imposed in violation
of the law, as a result of an incorrect application of the United States Sentencing
Guidelines, or was greater than that specified in the applicable guideline. See §
18 U.S.C. § 3742(a). However, this court lacks jurisdiction to review an appeal
involving the extent of a downward departure. See United States v. McHenry ,
968 F.2d 1047, 1049 (10th Cir.1992). Harris raises no other issues on appeal.
Accordingly, this court lacks jurisdiction to review Harris’ sentence. The
appeal is wholly frivolous.
Counsel’s motion to withdraw is granted . The appeal is dismissed for
lack of jurisdiction.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT:
Michael R. Murphy
Circuit Judge
-3-