# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

No. 1 6- 32 31

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

Ja y m ar St an to n Ad am s,

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Peti ti on er

- App el la nt

,

v.

Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca,

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Resp on de nt - App el le e

.

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Dis tri ct of S ou th Dako ta - Sio ux Fal ls

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Marc h 1 0, 2 01 7
Fil ed : Au gu st 25 , 20 17

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re WOL LMAN, COLLOTON , and SHEPHERD, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

__ __ __ __ __ __

COLLOTON, Ci rcu it Ju dg e.

Ja y m ar St an to n Ada m s pl ead ed gu il ty in 20 13 to a ch arg e th at he co ns pi red to

di st rib ut e 10 0 ki lo gr am s or m or e of m ari juan a in So ut h Dak ot a an d el se whe re. The

di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced hi m to 60 m on th s’ im pr is on m en t. Ada m s la te r mo v ed 1

The Hon or ab le Karen E. Sch rei er, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e Dis tri ct 1

of So ut h Dak ot a.un su cces sf

ul ly t o va cat e hi s se nt en ce un de r 28 U.S.C. § 22 55 ba se d on in effe ct iv e

as si st an ce o f co un se l, an d t hi s ap pe al co nc ern s t ha t m ot io n.

A d a ms own ed a m ed ic in al m ari juan a farm in Cal ifo rn ia

. In Ja nu ary 20 13

, a

gr an d jury in So ut h Dak ot a ch arg ed hi m wit h co ns pi rin g to di st rib ut e 10 0 ki lo gr am s

or m o re of m ari

juan a in So ut h Dak ot a an d el se whe re fro m 20 08 un ti l 20 12

. Ran do lp h Da a r , a n at to rn ey ba se d in Cal ifo rn ia

, rep res en te d Ada m s, an d Daar

arra ng ed fo r Nich ol e Carp er to se rv e as Ada m s’s lo cal co un se l in So ut h Dak ot a. Daar

se nt Ada m s a pl ea ag reem en t an d a su pp or ti ng st at em en t wit h a fact ua l ba si s fo r th e pl ea. The fact ua l ba si s st at em en t sa id th at Ada m s ha d kn owi ng ly joi ne d an ag reem en t

“ to il le ga ll y di st rib ut e m or e th an 10 0 ki lo gr am s of m ari juan a in So ut h Dak ot a an d

el se whe re,” an d th at Ada m s ha d “d i s t rib ut ed

. . . m ari juan a, or cau se d it to be

di st rib ut ed in So ut h Dak ot a an d el se whe re.” Ada m s si gn ed bo th do cu m en ts an d th en pl ead ed gu il ty. The di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced Ada m s to 60 m on th s’ im pr is on m en t an d

or de red a fo rfei tu re o f $5 0,0 00 cas h.

Ada m s la te r m ov ed to va cat e hi s se nt en ce un de r 28 U.S.C. § 22 55

, arg ui ng th at

hi s c o u n s e l p e r fo rm ed in effe ct iv el y by ad vi si ng Ada m s to en te r in to a gu il ty pl ea
wit ho ut a su ffi ci en t fact ua l ba si s. Ada m s, Daar, an d Carp er each su bm it te d affi da vi ts

on th e is su e. The di st ric t co ur t d e n i e d A d a m s’s m ot io n wit ho ut an ev id en ti ary
he ari ng

. The co ur t co nc lu de d th a t al th ou gh Ada m s an d hi s co un se l te ch ni cal ly

pr es en te d di ffer en t fact s in th ei r affi da vi ts

, Ada m s’s affi da vi t co ul d no t be acce pt ed

as tru e, be cau se it was co nt rad ic te d by hi s own st at em en ts at th e ch an ge -o f-p le a an d

se nt en ci ng he ari ng s.

Ada m s arg ue s on ap pe al th at hi s co un se l was in effe ct iv e in reco m m en di ng th e

gu il ty ple a an d th at th e di st ric t co ur t er red by rejecti ng hi s cl ai m wit ho ut a he ari ng

. W e rev ie w fo r ab us e of di sc ret io n th e di st ric t co ur t’s de ni al of Ada m s’s § 22 55

m ot io n wit ho ut a n ev id en ti ary he ari ng , an d we rev ie w de no vo th e m eri ts of hi s

-2

-i n e ffec ti ve -as si st an ce-o f-co un se l cl ai m

. Pay ne v. Uni te d St at es , 78 F.3 d 34 3, 3 4 7

(8 th Cir . 19 96 ).

F e d e r a l Ru le of Cri m in al Pro ced ur e 11 (b )(3 ) pr ov id es th at th e di st ric t co ur t

m u s t d e t e r mi ne th at th ere is a fact ua l ba si s fo r a gu il ty pl ea. A fact ua l ba si s is

ad eq ua te if th e co ur t can reas on a b l y d et erm in e th at th e de fen da nt li ke ly co m m it te d

th e of fen se

. Uni te d St at es v. Sc ha rb er , 7 7 2 F

. 3 d 1 14 7, 11 50 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ). The

co ur t m ay co ns id er th e pl ea ag reem en t, st ip ul at ed fact s, and a co ll oq uy be twee n th e
de fen da nt an d t he co ur t, am on g o th er t hi ng s, i n m ak in g t he de te rm in at io n. Id

.

To co nv ic t Ada m s of th e ch arg ed of fen s e , t he go ve rn m en t was req ui red to

es ta bl is h (1 ) th at th ere was a c o n s p i r a c y , i.e.

, an ag reem en t to di st rib ut e 10 0

ki lo gr am s or m or e of m ari juan a in So ut h Dak ot a an d el se whe re; (2 ) th at Ada m s kn ew

of th e co ns pi racy; an d (3 ) th at Ada m s in te nt io na ll y joi ne d th e co ns pi racy. Se e Uni te d

St at es v. Ji min ez , 48 7 F.3 d 11 40

, 11 46 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ). The di st ric t co ur t ha d a so li d

ba si s to acce pt th e pl ea: Ada m s ad m it te d in hi s si gn ed pl ea ag reem en t, si gn ed fact ua l

ba si s st at em en t, an d co ll oq uy wit h th e di st ric t co ur t th at he ha d ag reed wit h ot he rs to

il le ga ll y di st rib u t e 1 0 0 ki lo gr am s or m or e of m ari juan a in So ut h Dak ot a an d

el se whe re. He t o l d t h e c ou rt th at he ha d read th e pl ea do cu m en ts

, di sc us se d th em
wit h h is co un se l, an d u nd ers to od th em . He als o a tt es te d t o t he ir a ccu racy.

Afte r jud gm en t was en te red

, ho wev er, Ada m s at te m pt ed to reca nt

. He al le ge d

th at he ha d no t act ua ll y co ns pi red to di st rib ut e m ari juan a in So ut h Dak ot a. He

cl ai m ed th at he di d no t un de rs ta nd th e pl ea pr oc eed in g, an d bl am ed at to rn ey Daar fo r

ur gi ng hi m to pl ead gu il ty bl in dl y

. Ada m s as se rts th at he di d no t un de rs ta nd th e pl ea

ag reem en t or factu al ba si s st at em en t, and th at Daar ne ve r ex pl ai ne d th e do cu m en ts

. Ada m s sa y s th at he si gn ed th em on ly be cau se Daar in st ru ct ed hi m to do so

. Ada m s

al so di so wns hi s te st im on y at th e ch an ge -o f-p le a he ari ng

. He cl ai m s th at Daar

in st ru ct ed hi m si m

pl y to an swe r “ y es ” to ev ery qu es ti on

. Ada m s in si st s th at al th ou gh

he ha d gr own ov er 10 0 ki lo gr a ms o f mar i juan a at hi s farm in Cal ifo rn ia

, he ne ve r

-3

-c o n s p i r e d to di st rib ut e m ari juan a in So ut h Dak ot a. He as se rts th at he th ou gh t h i s
ad m is si on s in co ur t pe rta in ed on ly to act iv it ie s in Cal ifo rn ia

. Daar an d Carp er di sp ut e
Ada m s’s acco un t; bo th co nc lu de d th at th ere was an am pl e fact ua l ba si s fo r th e pl ea,

an d Daar av ers th at he in st ru c t e d Ada m s to an swe r al l of th e co ur t’s qu es ti on s

tru th fu ll y

.

A co ur t m ay res ol ve a § 22 55 m ot io n wit ho ut a he ari ng if “ th e fil es an d reco rd s

of th e cas e c o n cl us iv el y sh ow th at th e pr is on er is en ti tl ed to no rel ie f.” 28

U.S.C

. § 22 55 (b ). The di st ric t co ur t reco gn iz ed th at it co ul d no t ch oo se be twee n

co m pe ti ng ve rs io ns of fact s wit ho ut an ev id en ti ary he ari ng , bu t co nc lu de d th at th ere

was no ge nu in e di sp ut e th at req ui red li ve te st im on y

. Th e co ur t co nc lu de d th at

Ada m s’s al le ga ti on s co ul d no t be acce pt ed as tru e be cau se th ey were co nt rad ic te d by

th e rec or d a nd were i nh eren tl y in cred ib le

.

An in m at e is no t au to m at ic al ly en ti tl ed to a tri p ba ck to th e di st ric t co ur t fo r an

ev id en ti ary he ari ng si m

pl y be cau se he fil es an affi da vi t th at co nf li ct s on it s face wit h

th e swo rn st at em en ts of hi s at to rn ey . The co ur t m ay de ny an ev id en ti ary he ari ng if

th e m ov an t’s al le ga ti on s “ can no t be a c cep te d as tru e be cau se th ey are co nt rad ic te d
by th e reco rd

, in he ren tl y in cred ib le

, or co nc lu si on s rat he r th an st at em en ts of fact .”

Th oma s v. Uni te d St at es , 73 7 F.3 d 12 02

, 12 06 -0 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 13 ) (in te rn al qu ot at io n

om it te d)

.

W e se e n o a bu se of d is cret io n i n t he di st ric t co ur t’s co nc lu si on th at Adam s’s

m ot io n co ul d be de ni ed wit ho ut a he ari ng

. Ada m s’s co nt en ti on th at Daar in st ru ct ed

hi m to an swe r “ y es ” to ev ery qu es ti on at th e ch an ge -o f-p le a he ari ng is refu te d by th e

fact th at he an swe red “ no ” to m ul ti pl e qu es ti on s. The de bu nk in g of Ada m s’s “ al ly es ” th eo ry al so un de rm in es hi s co nt en ti on th at he si gn ed th e pl ea do cu m en ts at

Daar’s be he st wit ho ut un de rs ta nd in g th em

. Giv en th at Ada m s ch os e be twee n “ y es ”

an d “ no ” whe n a n s w eri ng th e co ur t’s qu es ti on s, th e co ur t was pe rm it te d to ho ld

Ada m s to hi s swo rn “ y es ” st at em e n t s a t t h e pl ea he ari ng th at th e pl ea-r el at ed

-4

-do cu m en ts were accu rat e, an d th at he read th e do cu m en ts

, di sc us se d th em wit h hi s

co un se l, an d un de rs to od th em

. A “ de fen da nt ’s rep res en ta ti on s du rin g th e pl ea-t ak in g

carr y a st ro ng pr es um

pt io n of ve rit y an d po se a fo rm id ab le ba rri er in an y su bs eq ue nt

co ll at eral pr oc eed in gs .” Ng uy en v. Uni te d St at es , 11 4 F.3 d 69 9, 70 3 (8 th Ci r. 19 97 )
(in te rn al qu ot at io ns om it te d)

.

Ada m s al so co nt en ds th at th ere was no fact ua l ba si s fo r th e pl ea be cau se whe n

th e co ur t as ke d whe th er th e q u a nt it y in vo lv ed in th e co ns pi racy am ou nt ed to m or e

th an 10 0 ki lo gr am s of m ari juan a, he ad m it te d on ly th at he was in vo lv ed in gr owi ng

th at qu an ti ty of m ari

juan a in Cal ifo rn ia

. The co ur t, ho wev er, di d no t as k m erel y
ab ou t gr owi ng m ari

juan a. The co ur t reci te d Ada m s’s writ te n ad m is si on th at he

“ pe rs on al ly gr ew, ha rv es te d, an d ob ta in ed m ari juan a, il le ga ll y di st rib ut ed m ari juan a,

cau se d m ari

juan a to be il le ga ll y de li ve red an d di st rib ut ed

, pa id ot he rs fo r m ari juan a,

. . . rece iv ed pa y m en ts fo r m ari juan a, an d

. . . co m

bi ne d sh ip m en ts of m ari

juan a wit h

ot he r co -co ns pi rat or s.” Ada m s ad m it te d th at th e act iv it y jus t de sc rib ed in vo lv ed 10 0

ki lo gr am s or m or e of m ari juan a. Tha t Ada m s gr ew th e m ari juan a in Cal ifo rn ia do es

no t un de rm in e th e fact ua l ba si s fo r hi s pl ea to co ns pi rin g to di st rib ut e 10 0 ki lo gr am s

or m or e of m ari

juan a in So ut h Dak ot a an d el se whe re. The co ns pi racy ch arg e di d no t

req ui re p ro of

th at 10 0 k il og ram s o r m or e of m ari juan a was gr own in So ut h Dako ta

,

or ev en tra ffi ck ed in So ut h Dak ot a. Ada m s ad m it te d th at th e co ns pi rat or ia l act iv it ie s

as a who le in vo lv ed 10 0 ki lo gr am s or m or e of m ari juan a, an d th at th e c o n s p ira cy

oc cu r r e d in So ut h Dak ot a an d el se whe re. Tha t was su ffi ci en t to es ta bl is h a fact ua l

ba si s.

The di st ric t co ur t di d no t ab us e it s di sc ret io n in de nyin g Ada m s’s m ot io n
wit ho ut an ev id en ti ary he ari ng , be cau se th e reco rd sh owe d co nc lu si ve ly th at co un se l

di d no t ren de r in effe ct iv e as si st an ce an d th at Ada m s was no t p r e ju d ic ed by th e

pe rfo rm an ce o f co un se l. The jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t i s af fir m ed

.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

-5

-