Case ID: f-appx_54/html/0394-01.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. Timothy Gerald BIDDIX, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 00-4162.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
    Submitted Dec. 18, 2002.
    Decided Jan. 14, 2003.
    Sandra B. Jelovsek, Johnson City, Tennessee, for Appellant. Robert J. Conrad, Jr., United States Attorney, Thomas R. Ascik, Assistant United States Attorney, Asheville, North Carolina, for Appellee.
    Before WILKINS, LUTTIG, and MOTZ, Circuit Judges.
    Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Timothy Biddix appeals his jury conviction and resulting sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846 (2000). Finding no error, we affirm.

On appeal, Biddix contends the district court gave the jury a coercive Allen v. United States, 164 U.S. 492, 17 S.Ct. 154, 41 L.Ed. 528 (1896), charge. Because Biddix failed to object at trial, we review for plain error. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993). Because we conclude from the materials before us that the Allen charge was not coercive, we find no plain error.

Biddix also challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. Construing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, we find a reasonable trier of fact could have found Biddix guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. See Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942). Uncorroborated testimony of accomplices may be sufficient to sustain a conviction, United States v. Wilson, 115 F.3d 1185, 1190 (4th Cir.1997), and we do not assess the credibility of witnesses on appeal. See Glasser, 315 U.S. at 80.

Finally, Biddix contends his 126-month sentence is unconstitutional under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Biddix contends all drug quantities or other sentencing enhancement factors must be charged in the indictment. Because Biddix’s sentence is below the 240-month statutory maximum, this argument is foreclosed by United States v. Kinter, 235 F.3d 192, 201 (4th Cir.2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 937, 121 S.Ct. 1393, 149 L.Ed.2d 316 (2001).

Accordingly, we affirm Biddix’s conviction 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.