Filed: Oct. 31, 2011
Latest Update: Feb. 22, 2020
Summary: NOT PRECEDENTIAL UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT _ No. 11-1699 _ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. TARIK McNISH, Appellant _ APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA (D.C. Crim. Action No. 05-10) District Judge: Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie _ Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) October 28, 2011 _ Before: SLOVITER, GREENAWAY, JR., and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges. (Opinion Filed: October 31, 2011) _ OPINION _ GREENAWAY, JR., Circuit Jud
Summary: NOT PRECEDENTIAL UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT _ No. 11-1699 _ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. TARIK McNISH, Appellant _ APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA (D.C. Crim. Action No. 05-10) District Judge: Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie _ Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) October 28, 2011 _ Before: SLOVITER, GREENAWAY, JR., and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges. (Opinion Filed: October 31, 2011) _ OPINION _ GREENAWAY, JR., Circuit Judg..
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NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
_____________
No. 11-1699
_____________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
TARIK McNISH,
Appellant
______________
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
(D.C. Crim. Action No. 05-10)
District Judge: Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie
______________
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
October 28, 2011
______________
Before: SLOVITER, GREENAWAY, JR., and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges.
(Opinion Filed: October 31, 2011)
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OPINION
______________
GREENAWAY, JR., Circuit Judge.
Appellant, Tarik McNish (“McNish”), violated the conditions of his supervised
release. The District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania sentenced him to
twelve months of incarceration, followed by two years of supervised release. McNish’s
counsel (“Counsel”) petitions this Court for permission to withdraw from representing
McNish on appeal, pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738 (1967). For the
reasons set forth below, we will grant Counsel’s petition and affirm the conviction and
sentence imposed by the District Court.
I. Background
We write primarily for the benefit of the parties and recount only the essential
facts.
On December 22, 2010, two months into his four-year term of supervised release,
McNish was arrested and charged in state court with escape, criminal conspiracy,
disorderly conduct, and possession of drug paraphernalia. McNish pled guilty to
possession of drug paraphernalia. The other charges were dismissed.
The District Court held a revocation of supervised release hearing based on the
conviction,1 as well as McNish’s failure to report to his Probation Officer at the
appointed times and failure to notify the Probation Officer of his change of address. At
the revocation hearing, McNish admitted to the violations.
At sentencing, McNish sought a term of incarceration within the advisory
Guidelines range. McNish presented mitigating circumstances and urged the court not to
impose any period of supervised release. The District Court considered the factors set
1
As a condition of his supervised release, McNish was not to commit another federal,
state, or local crime.
2
forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and sentenced McNish to twelve months of incarceration
and two years of supervised release.
II. Jurisdiction
The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 3231, 3583(e). We
have jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
III. Standard of Review
“In Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738 (1967), the Supreme Court explained the
general duties of a lawyer representing an indigent criminal defendant on appeal when
the lawyer seeks leave to withdraw from continued representation on the grounds that
there are no nonfrivolous issues to appeal.” United States v. Marvin,
211 F.3d 778, 779
(3d Cir. 2000). Under Anders, counsel seeking to withdraw from representation must
“satisfy the court that he or she has thoroughly scoured the record in search of appealable
issues,” and “explain why the issues are frivolous.”
Id. at 780. “The Court’s inquiry
when counsel submits an Anders brief is thus twofold: (1) whether counsel adequately
fulfilled [Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule 109.2’s] requirements;[2] and (2) whether an
2
Local Appellate Rule 109.2 provides, in pertinent part:
Where, upon review of the district court record, counsel is persuaded that the
appeal presents no issue of even arguable merit, counsel may file a motion to
withdraw and supporting brief pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738
(1967), which must be served upon the appellant and the United States. The
United States must file a brief in response. Appellant may also file a brief in
response pro se. . . . If [the court] finds arguable merit to the appeal, or that the
Anders brief is inadequate to assist the court in its review, it will appoint
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independent review of the record presents any nonfrivolous issues.” United States v.
Youla,
241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir. 2001). Where frivolousness is patent, however, “we
will not appoint new counsel even if an Anders brief is insufficient to discharge current
counsel’s obligations to his or her client and this court.” United States v. Coleman,
575
F.3d 316, 321 (3d Cir. 2009).
A District Court’s decision to revoke supervised release is reviewed for abuse of
discretion. See United States v. Maloney,
513 F.3d 350, 354 (3d Cir. 2008). Factual
findings are reviewed for clear error, and legal issues are reviewed de novo. See
id.
IV. Analysis
Counsel has satisfied his obligation to thoroughly search the record for any
appealable issues, and has identified all potentially appealable issues, none of which is
nonfrivolous. Only three issues could potentially form the basis of an appeal: (1) the
District Court did not have jurisdiction to revoke the term of supervised release being
served by McNish; (2) the District Court was required to find by a preponderance of the
evidence that McNish violated the conditions of supervised release, which was not
proven, see 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e); and (3) the District Court committed an abuse of
discretion by not giving meaningful consideration to the factors listed in 18 U.S.C. §
3553(a). McNish did not file a brief. The Government agrees with defense counsel that
no nonfrivolous issues exist on appeal.
substitute counsel, order supplemental briefing and restore the case to the
calendar.
4
The District Court had jurisdiction, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3583, which grants
jurisdiction to the District Court over the imposition and revocation of McNish’s
supervised release. The underlying conviction and the violations of the conditions of
supervised release all occurred in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Appeal of the
District Court’s decision on this basis would be frivolous.
The second argument, that insufficient evidence existed to demonstrate the
violation occurred, is also without merit. District courts have the authority to revoke a
term of supervised release if they “find[] by a preponderance of the evidence that the
defendant violated a condition of supervised release.” 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3). We have
emphasized that in order “to revoke probation it is not necessary that the probationer be
adjudged guilty of a crime, but only that the court be reasonably satisfied that he has
violated one of the conditions.” United States v. Poellnitz,
372 F.3d 562, 566 (3d Cir.
2004) (citing United States v. Manuszak,
532 F.2d 311, 317 (3d Cir. 1976)) (internal
quotations omitted). McNish pled to the state court charge and admitted to the technical
violations of his conditions of supervised release. Sufficient evidence existed to support
the District Court’s decision to revoke the supervised release.
The third issue to address is whether the District Court gave sufficient weight to
the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). This issue also lacks merit. At the
revocation hearing, McNish raised several arguments seeking mitigation of his sentence.
The District Court considered the arguments, and concluded that the negative factors,
such as the short period of time McNish had been on supervision before the crime
5
occurred, and McNish’s criminal history, particularly regarding drug related offenses,
warranted the sentence the District Court imposed. Further, the transcript of the
sentencing hearing amply demonstrates the District Court’s meaningful consideration of
the 18 U.C.S. § 3553(a) factors. There is no basis for appeal on this issue.
V. Conclusion
We find that no nonfrivolous issues exist for consideration on appeal. We will
grant Counsel’s motion to withdraw, pursuant to Anders, and affirm the judgment and
conviction of the District Court. Counsel is also relieved of any obligation to file a
petition for writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 109.2(b) (2011).
6