Case ID: f-appx_282/html/0963-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "AMBRO, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America v. Jarrod A. ROSS, Appellant.
    No. 06-4148.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) June 9, 2008.
    Opinion filed June 23, 2008.
    Robert L. Eberhardt, Office of United States Attorney, Pittsburgh, PA, for United States of America.
    Bruce G. Sandmeyer, Erie, PA, for Jarrod A. Ross.
    Before: AMBRO, CHAGARES and GREENBERG, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

AMBRO, Circuit Judge.

Jarrod Ross pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States under 18 U.S.C. § 371. He received a sentence of 21 months’ imprisonment plus a three-year term of supervised release. On appeal, he raises the sole claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. His counsel asserts that this and all other potential grounds for appeal are frivolous, seeking to withdraw under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.

“It has long been the practice of this court to defer the issue of ineffectiveness of trial counsel to a collateral attack. Nonetheless, we have held that we may address the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on direct appeal when the record is sufficient to allow determination of the issue.” United States v. Thornton, 327 F.3d 268, 271 (3d Cir.2003) (citations omitted). In our case, Ross has provided no specifics as to how his trial counsel was ineffective. We have no record “developed precisely for the object of litigating or preserving the claim.” Massaro v. United States, 538 U.S. 500, 505, 123 S.Ct. 1690, 155 L.Ed.2d 714 (2003). Thus, the exception mentioned in Thornton does not apply here.

The Government contends that Ross knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal as part of his plea agreement. Ross points to no evidence in the record to the contrary. Yet because he alleges ineffective assistance of counsel, which might have detracted from the knowingness or voluntariness of his waiver, the waiver issue is best addressed on collateral review as well.

In this context, a habeas corpus petition is a more appropriate procedure for Ross to challenge his conviction and sentence. We thus affirm the judgment of the District Court. In this regard, we also grant Ross’s counsel leave to withdraw.