Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca4-23-04694/USCOURTS-ca4-23-04694-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
United States of America
Appellee
Jesse James Wilson
Appellant

Document Text:

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 23-4694

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff - Appellee,

v.

JESSE JAMES WILSON,

Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, at 

Clarksburg. Thomas S. Kleeh, Chief District Judge. (1:22-cr-00009-TSK-MJA-1)

Submitted: September 26, 2024 Decided: December 31, 2024

Before NIEMEYER, AGEE, and BENJAMIN, Circuit Judges.

Dismissed in part and affirmed in part by unpublished per curiam opinion.

ON BRIEF: Belinda A. Haynie, Morgantown, West Virginia, for Appellant. Andrew R. 

Cogar, Assistant United States Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES 

ATTORNEY, Clarksburg, West Virginia, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

USCA4 Appeal: 23-4694 Doc: 25 Filed: 12/31/2024 Pg: 1 of 3
2

PER CURIAM:

Jesse James Wilson appeals his convictions and the 248-month sentence imposed 

following his guilty plea, pursuant to his plea agreement, to possession with intent to 

distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 

(b)(1)(A)(viii), and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking 

crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Wilson’s counsel has filed a brief 

pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting that there are no 

meritorious grounds for appeal but questioning whether the district court erred in denying 

Wilson’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea to the firearm offense. Wilson did not file a 

pro se supplemental brief after being notified of his right to do so. The Government has 

moved to dismiss the appeal as barred by the appeal waiver included in the plea agreement.

Where, as here, the Government seeks to enforce an appeal waiver and the defendant 

has not alleged a breach of the plea agreement, we will enforce the waiver if it is valid and 

the issues raised on appeal fall within its scope. United States v. Boutcher, 998 F.3d 603, 

608 (4th Cir. 2021). Our review of the plea hearing leads us to conclude that Wilson’s 

guilty plea is valid, that he knowingly and intelligently waived his right to appeal, and that 

the waiver is valid and enforceable.

Wilson’s claim that he could withdraw his guilty plea for no reason pursuant to 

Rule 11(d)(1) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, is without merit. See United 

States v. Battle, 499 F.3d 315, 321-22 (4th Cir. 2007). Because this particular claim may 

fall outside the scope of a valid appeal waiver, we affirm. We conclude that Wilson’s claim 

that the district court erred in finding no fair and just reason for withdrawing his guilty plea 

USCA4 Appeal: 23-4694 Doc: 25 Filed: 12/31/2024 Pg: 2 of 3
3

pursuant to Rule 11(d)(2) is within the scope of the valid and enforceable appeal waiver. 

See United States v. Attar, 38 F.3d 727, 733 n.2 (4th Cir. 1994).

Finally, we have reviewed the record in accordance with Anders and have identified 

no other potentially meritorious issues that fall outside the scope of the waiver. 

Accordingly, we grant the Government’s motion to dismiss Wilson’s appeal as to all issues 

within the waiver’s scope. We affirm the remainder of the criminal judgment.

This court requires that counsel inform Wilson, in writing, of the right to petition 

the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If Wilson 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 Wilson. We dispense with oral argument because the 

facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and 

argument would not aid the decisional process.

DISMISSED IN PART,

AFFIRMED IN PART

USCA4 Appeal: 23-4694 Doc: 25 Filed: 12/31/2024 Pg: 3 of 3