# United States Court of Appeals

f or the Fifth Circuit

No. 20

- 30181 Summary Calendar

United States of America,

Plaintiff

— Appellee ,

versus

Derrick Curry,

Defendant

— Appellant

.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana USDC No. 3:19

- CR

- 70

- 1

Before Wiener, Southwick, and Duncan, Circuit Judges

. Per Curiam : *
Derrick Curry pleaded guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to possessing a firearm after felony conviction and was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment. Prior to sentencing, months after Curry initially pleaded guilty and signed his plea agreem ent, the district court retook the plea

* Pursuant to 5th Cir cuit R ule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir cuit R ule 47.5.4. United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit 

### FILED December 9, 2020
Ly le W. Cayce Clerk Case: 20-30181 Document: 00515667844 Page: 1 Date Filed: 12/09/2020No. 20

- 30181

2 because Curry expressed concerns that the initial plea was entered in a witness room, not a courtroom. Prior to admonishing Curry at the second hearing , the district court explained that it had received the presentence investigation report ( PSR ) and that it intended to sentence Curry in accordance with what it told the prosecutor and defense counsel in chambers. On this basis, Curry contends that the district court violated Federal Rule of
Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1), which prohibits district courts from participating in plea negotiations, when it advised Curry and his counsel of its intended sentence before the second plea hearing. He argues that it is reasonably probable that, but for the “highly coercive atmosphere” created by these statements, he would have gone to trial.
As the parties agree, we review Curry’s claim for plain error because
he did not object on this basis to the district court. United States v. Draper, 882 F.3d 210, 215 (5th Cir. 2018)

. To establish plain error, Curry must show (1) a n error, (2) that was “clear or obvious, rather than subject to reasonable dispute,” and (3) that affected his substantial rights. See Puckett v. United

States , 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009). “‘[A] defendant who seeks reversal of his conviction after a guilty plea, on the ground that the district court committed plain error under Rule 11, must show a reasonable probability that, but for the error, he would not have entered the plea.’” United S tates v. Davila , 569 U.S. 597, 608 (2013) (quoting United States v. Dominguez Benitez , 542 U.S. 74, 83, (2004)). If these conditions are met, we have the discretion to correct the error and should do so if it (4) “seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Rosales

- Mireles v. United States , 138 S. Ct. 1897, 1905 (2018) ( cleaned up ).

Here, even assuming that the district court committed an error that is
clea r or obvious , Curry fails to show that it affected hi s substantial rights. We consider the question “in light of the full record.” Davila , 569 U.S. at 612.
C urry signed a plea agreement and entered a guilty plea months before the Case: 20-30181 Document: 00515667844 Page: 2 Date Filed: 12/09/2020No. 20

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3 challenged statements . A s Curry himself explains , the second plea hearing

wa s held “out of an abundance of caution .” Finally, nothing in the record
suggests t he district court pressured o r incentivize d Curry by convey ing a belief that a plea would be in his best interest . Given these facts, C urry fails to show a reasonable probability that he would have proceeded to trial but for
the district court’s comments. See id. , 569 U.S. at 608

.
AFFIRMED

. Case: 20-30181 Document: 00515667844 Page: 3 Date Filed: 12/09/2020