Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-91-01092/USCOURTS-ca10-91-01092-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 

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, FILED 

United States Co~ ~f Ap;lca.b 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit 

United States of America, 

Plaintiff-Appellee, 

v. 

Ronald Charles Black, 

Defendant-Appellant. 

TENTH CIRCUIT 

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ORDER AND JUDGMENT* 

SEP O G 1991 

ROBERT L. HOECKER 

Clerk 

No. 91-1092 

(D.C. Nos. 88-CR-208 

& 91-M-16) 

(D. Colo.) 

Before ANDERSON, TACHA, and BRORBY, Circuit Judges. 

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel 

has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially 

assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 

34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore ordered 

submitted without oral argument. 

Defendant-appellant Ronald Black appeals from the district 

court order denying his motion to vacate brought pursuant to 28 

u.s.c. § 2255. On appeal Black raises three issues. First, he 

contends that his sentence should be vacated because he was exempt 

from prosecution. Second, he argues that his conviction violated 

federal law. Finally, Black asserts that he was the subject of 

* This order and judgment has no precedential value and shall 

not be cited, or used by any court within the Tenth Circuit, 

except for purposes of establishing the doctrines of the law of 

the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. 10th Cir. R. 

36.3. 

Appellate Case: 91-1092 Document: 010110089396 Date Filed: 09/06/1991 Page: 1 
vindictive and selective prosecution. We exercise jurisdiction 

under 28 u.s.c. § 1291 and affirm. 

All of Black's claims -- exemption from prosecution, 

prosection in violation of federal law, and vindictive or 

selective prosecution -- relate to whether he knowingly and 

voluntarily entered a plea of guilty. Because a knowing and 

voluntary plea "waives all nonjurisdictional defects and defenses 

occurring prior thereto," Barker~ United States, 579 F.2d 1219, 

1225 (10th Cir. 1978), we need only address whether Black's plea 

was knowing and voluntary and whether it was supported by a 

sufficient factual basis. We review de novo whether a defendant's 

plea was entered into knowingly and voluntarily. 

New Mexico, 880 F.2d 1184, 1186 (10th Cir. 1989). 

See Laycock~ 

The district 

court's determination of whether there was a factual basis for the 

plea will not be overturned absent an abuse of discretion. See 

United States~ Keiswetter, 860 F.2d 992, 996 (10th Cir. 1988). 

In the instant case, the record conclusively demonstrates 

that Black entered his plea of guilty knowingly and voluntarily. 

When questioned by the district court, Black related that he 

understood the terms of the plea agreement and that his plea was 

not the result of coercion. Further, Black stated positively that 

"I have pled guilty because I am guilty of the crime." Thus, 

Black's responses demonstrate a clear understanding of the 

proceedings and a complete willingness to plead guilty. 

The record also establishes that the district judge 

ascertained a clear factual basis for the guilty plea. At the 

hearing, Black admitted that the Prosecutor's Statement accurately 

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Appellate Case: 91-1092 Document: 010110089396 Date Filed: 09/06/1991 Page: 2 
described his conduct and that he was guilty of the crimes 

charged. Black also agreed that his actions amounted to fraud. 

The Prosecutor's Statement, combined with Black's admissions, 

support the district court's finding of a factual basis for 

Black's plea. Accordingly, we cannot say that the district court 

abused its discretion. 

Because the record demonstrates that Black's guilty plea was 

entered into knowingly and voluntarily and also was supported by a 

sufficient factual basis, we AFFIRM. The mandate shall issue 

forthwith. 

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ENTERED FOR THE COURT 

Deanell Reece Tacha 

Circuit Judge 

Appellate Case: 91-1092 Document: 010110089396 Date Filed: 09/06/1991 Page: 3