Case ID: f-appx_31/html/0091-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jeffrey A. PLEASANT, a/k/a Jeffrey A. Pleasants, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 01-4418.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
    Submitted Jan. 22, 2002.
    Decided Feb. 19, 2002.
    
      Charles M. Allen, Jr., Goodman, West & Filetti, P.L.L.C., Glen Allen, Virginia, for Appellant. Paul J. McNulty, United States Attorney, Stephen W. Miller, Assistant United States Attorney, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellee.
    Before LUTTIG and KING, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Jeffrey A. Pleasant was convicted by a jury of two counts of interfering with commerce by threats or violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 1951 (West 2000); two counts of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 924(c) (West 2000); and one count of possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment in excess of one year, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(g) (West 2000). The district court determined that Pleasant qualified as an armed career criminal under 18 U.S.C.A. § 924(e) (West 2000), and sentenced him to a total of 622 months imprisonment. He appeals his convictions and sentence.

Pleasant first asserts that the determination of whether prior convictions are predicate convictions under § 924(e) is a factual matter that must be submitted to the jury for determination beyond a reasonable doubt. Because the fact of prior convictions was not decided by a jury, Pleasant claims the enhanced offense level used to calculate his sentence violates the rule announced in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). We conclude, however, that Apprendi does not apply to Pleasant’s enhanced sentence because the § 924(e) enhancement is based on his prior convictions, a factor that was specifically excluded from the holding of Apprendi. Contrary to Pleasant’s assertions, Apprendi expressly upheld the holding of Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), that prior felony convictions are merely sentencing enhancements, rather than elements of the offense. Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 488-90; see also United States v. Skidmore, 254 F.3d 635, 642 (7th Cir. 2001) (holding that Apprendi does not affect enhanced sentence under § 924(e)); United States v. Thomas, 242 F.3d 1028, 1035 (11th Cir.) (same), cert. denied, 533 U.S. 960, 121 S.Ct. 2616, 150 L.Ed.2d 770 (2001); United States v. Dorris, 236 F.3d 582, 586-88 (10th Cir.2000) (same), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 986, 121 S.Ct. 1635, 149 L.Ed.2d 495 (2001); United States v. Mack, 229 F.3d 226, 235 n. 12 (3d Cir.2000) (same), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 1045, 121 S.Ct. 2015, 149 L.Ed.2d 1016 (2001).

Pleasant next asserts that the district court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry into the predicate burglary convictions to properly determine that these convictions qualified as crimes of violence under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Our review of the record demonstrates that Pleasant abandoned this issue at sentencing; therefore, we review only for plain error. See United States v. Ford, 88 F.3d 1350, 1355 (4th Cir.1996). Our review of the record convinces us that the district court did not err in concluding that Pleasant’s prior burglary convictions were crimes of violence under the ACCA.

Pleasant’s final argument on appeal is that the district court erred in excluding testimony Pleasant proffered as impeachment of a government witness. We review a district court’s evidentiary rulings for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Hassouneh, 199 F.3d 175, 183 (4th Cir. 2000). Our review of the proffered testimony, which the district court received outside the presence of the jury, convinces us that the district court correctly determined that the testimony lacked a foundation sufficient to make it relevant as impeachment evidence. We find no abuse of discretion in the district court’s ruling.

Accordingly, we affirm Pleasant’s convictions and sentence. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.