Case ID: f-appx_23/html/0105-01.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. Joseph BASHAM, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 01-4360.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
    Submitted Sept. 25, 2001.
    Decided Oct. 15, 2001.
    Mary Lou Newberger, Acting Federal Public Defender, Brian J. Kornbrath, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Charleston, WV, for appellant. Charles T. Miller, United States Attorney, Samuel D. Marsh, Assistant United States Attorney, Charleston, WV, for appellee.
    Before NIEMEYER, LUTTIG, and TRAXLER, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

The district court revoked Joseph Basham’s term of supervised release and sentenced him to serve fifteen months in prison. Basham’s attorney has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), in which he represents that there are no arguable issues of merit in this appeal. Nevertheless, in his brief, counsel addressed the possibility that the district court’s sentence was unduly harsh. Basham filed a pro se supplemental brief in which he appears to challenge whether he violated the terms of his supervised release. He also makes a vague allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel. Finding no error, we affirm.

Basham was convicted in 1996 of possession of stolen goods, and he was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment and three years of supervised release. In January 2000, the probation officer filed a petition alleging that Basham violated the terms of his supervised release.

Because Basham did not object to his sentence at the revocation hearing, we review his claims for plain error and find none. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-33, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993). The record shows that Basham violated the terms of his supervised release by failing to notify his probation officer of changes in his address and employment, remaining out of contact for approximately one year, and by failing to make required restitution payments. Basham admitted these violations. As a result, the district court did not err in finding that Basham violated the terms of his supervised release.

We likewise find no plain error in the sentence imposed by the district court. Basham’s sentence is well within the statutory maximum. Moreover, even though the policy statements found in Chapter 7 of the Sentencing Guidelines are merely advisory, the district court expressly considered them and found them to be inadequate under the circumstances.

Finally, to the extent Basham alleges that counsel rendered ineffective assistance, this claim should be raised in the district court in a habeas corpus proceeding rather than in this court by direct appeal, unless the ineffectiveness “conclusively appears” on the record. United States v. Smith, 62 F.3d 641, 651 (4th Cir.1995). We find no such glaring deficiencies here.

We have examined the entire record in this case in accordance with the requirements of Anders and find no meritorious issues for appeal. The court requires that counsel inform his client, in writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If the client requests that a petition be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel’s motion must state that a copy thereof was served on the client.

We therefore affirm the district court’s order revoking Basham’s term of supervised release and sentencing him to fifteen months imprisonment. 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. 
      
      . Basham’s whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested on state charges.
     
      
      . Basham was originally ordered to pay $107,352 in restitution. At the time of the hearing, he had made payments of only $756, despite a payment schedule requiring a far greater amount.
     
      
      . United States v. Davis, 53 F.3d 638, 642 (4th Cir.1995).