*

The Honorable R. Leon Jordan, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of

Tennessee, sitting by designation. 

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION

File Name: 06a0471n.06

Filed: July 6, 2006

Nos. 04-5811, 04-5812

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

United States of America,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.

Robert A. Dellheim, 

Brianna Dellheim

Defendants-Appellants.

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ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED

STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY

Before: SILER and ROGERS, Circuit Judges; and JORDAN, District Judge.*

ROGERS, Circuit Judge. This is an appeal from a sentence imposed pursuant to the

Dellheims’ plea to a large drug conspiracy. Both Robert and Brianna Dellheim agreed to plea

bargains with appeal waivers. With respect to Robert’s claim, the first issue is whether an appeal

waiver that waives the right to appeal any “lawful sentence” prohibits the court from considering

the merits of an appeal. It does not, and we consider the merits of the appeal to determine that

Robert’s sentence was lawful. We also consider the merits of Brianna’s appeal because all parties

agreed during the plea colloquy that Brianna had the right to appeal an unlawful sentence. On the

merits, we affirm the district court because substantial evidence supports the enhancement for use

of a weapon.
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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I. BACKGROUND

Robert and Brianna Dellheim pled guilty to a conspiracy to distribute about 6000 pounds of

marijuana. They each pled guilty in plea agreements signed in September 2004. In his plea

agreement, Robert waived the “right to appeal and the right to attack collaterally . . . any lawful

sentence.” JA 56. Brianna Dellheim waived the “right to appeal and the right to attack collaterally

the . . . sentence.” JA 62. During the plea colloquy, the United States Attorney explicity agreed that

Brianna could appeal an “unlawful” sentence. JA 71.

Robert and Brianna admitted to a conspiracy to distribute 6000 pounds of marijuana between

1995 and April 2, 2003. After the arrest and cooperation of a drug courier associated with Robert,

the DEA obtained an arrest warrant for Robert. On September 9, 2003, agents entered the

Dellheim’s home to arrest him. Robert was not home, but his wife Brianna was home. Brianna did

not consent to a search, but the officers observed what they believed to be marijuana seeds and a

note from a suspected co-conspirator on the refrigerator. The plain view observations formed the

basis for a search warrant. 

When the agents returned with a search warrant, the suspected marijuana seeds were missing.

Brianna admitted to flushing them down the toilet. The officers searched Brianna’s purse and

discovered four bank checks made out to Brianna Dellheim, dated September 9, 2003. Those checks

totaled over one million dollars. The agents also searched the house and discovered guns.
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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Agents testified that they discovered about 45 firearms on the Dellheims’ property. On

September 11, 2003, the agents returned to open a safe located in the barn. The safe contained

weapons. According to the agents, in addition to containing weapons, the barn was also the area

where Robert distributed marijuana. A co-conspirator, Mr. Lopez, testified that he delivered

marijuana to the barn in 1999 and 2000. Among other guns, the officers found a loaded .44 or .45

caliber revolver, a shotgun, a shotgun with a pistol grip, an “SKS” military-type rifle used by

“Communist block nations,” a rifle of unknown type, a Ruger mini 14, and an AR-15 “military-type”

rifle. Additionally, the officers found a “drawer full” of hunting and survival-type knives in a spare

bedroom. 

The DEA did not look up the serial numbers on the guns to determine when they were

purchased. The DEA only determined that the guns were not stolen. The DEA agent also admitted

that no guns were found in the particular part of the barn where the marijuana was allegedly

processed. Lastly, the DEA agent admitted that he did not know that the guns were in the house or

barn when marijuana was processed at the Dellheims’ property. 

One of the co-conspirators, Mr. Lopez, testified that he saw “four or five boxes of long

bullets” that were a “gold color” when delivering marijuana to the barn between 1999 and 2000. 

The district court made the “logical” finding that the Dellheims did not go out and collect

all the weapons between April (the last date of the charged conspiracy) and September (when the

guns were found). JA 140-41. Additionally, the district court relied on circumstantial evidence
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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when finding that guns were present on the Dellheims’ property during the conspiracy. The district

court enhanced both Robert and Brianna’s offense level under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) (2003) for

possession of a dangerous weapon. Robert was sentenced to 135 months (lowest under the guideline

range). Brianna was sentenced to 60 months. 

The Dellheims filed timely notices of appeal. The only issue argued on appeal concerns the

enhancement for possession of a firearm. 

II. Appeal Waiver

The Sixth Circuit reviews de novo the question of whether a defendant waived his right to

appeal his sentence. United States v. Murdock, 398 F.3d 491, 496 (6th Cir. 2005). Waiver is “the

intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725,

733 (1993). The threshold dispute is whether the language in the plea agreement is an effective

“intentional relinquishment” of the right to appeal. If the appeal waivers contained in the Dellheims’

plea agreements prevent them from challenging how their sentencing was conducted, then we may

not address the appeal. United States v. McGilvery, 403 F.3d 361, 363 (6th Cir.2005). Because the

appeal waivers do not actually function to bar an appeal, we reach the merits. 

A. Robert Dellheim’s waiver 

Robert waived the “right to appeal and the right to attack collaterally . . . any lawful

sentence.” The material difference between Brianna and Robert’s waiver is the adjective “lawful.”
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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Because Robert’s waiver is effectively nugatory, we consider the merits of Robert’s appeal to

determine if his sentence was “lawful.” See United States v. Johnson, 979 F.2d 396, 399 (6th

Cir.1992) (stating that “ambiguity [in a plea agreement] must be construed against the government”).

We interpret the word “lawful” to mean that Robert can challenge the calculation of his sentence.

The term “lawful sentence” describes a sentence that conforms with statute and accurately

reflects how a judge would adjudicate it. That is, the waiver of a right to appeal any “lawful

sentence” requires this court to determine if the sentence complies with law and, therefore, does not

really function as an appeal waiver. 

The government argues that we should apply United States v. Rice, 145 Fed. App. 155, 157-

58 (6th Cir. Aug. 27, 2005), and hold that a waiver of the right to appeal any “lawful sentence” is

the same as a waiver of the right to appeal “any sentence.” Rice is not applicable to the instant

situation because Rice conceded that he waived the right to appeal. Id. at 157 (stating that,

“Defendant argues that ‘although [his] plea agreement contained a waiver of his right to appeal, that

waiver is not enforceable’”). Robert does not argue that the plea agreement is unenforceable.

Unlike Rice, Robert does not concede that a waiver of the right to appeal any “lawful sentence”

actually functions as an appeal waiver. Robert argues, instead, that the terms of the appeal waiver

do not function as a waiver of the right to appeal. Thus, Rice does not apply to Robert’s case. 

We recognize that the Tenth Circuit, in an unpublished decision, has defined waiver of “the

right to appeal any legal sentence imposed by the Court,” in a way that is consistent with the
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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government’s view in this case. United States v. Antillon-Gutierrez, 77 F. App’x 480, 481 (10th Cir.

Oct. 9, 2003). Antillon noted: 

It is well settled that a defendant’s knowing and voluntary waiver of his statutory

right to appeal a legal sentence will generally be enforced. United States v. Black,

201 F.3d 1296, 1300 (10th Cir. 2000). . . . see also United States v. Neary, 183 F.3d

1196, 1198 (10th Cir.1999) (defining facially illegal sentences as those sentences

based on race, gender, or other considerations contravening clearly established public

policy). We have further defined an “illegal sentence” as one which is “‘ambiguous

with respect to the time and manner in which it is to be served, is internally

contradictory, omits a term required to be imposed by statute, is uncertain as to the

substance of the sentence, or is a sentence which the judgment of conviction did not

authorize.’” United States v. Dougherty, 106 F.3d 1514, 1515 (10th Cir. 1997)

(quoting United States v. Wainwright, 938 F.2d 1096, 1098 (10th Cir. 1991)).

Antillon-Gutierrez, 77 F. App’x at 482. The Tenth Circuit, therefore, narrowly construed the term

“legal sentence.” Instead of interpreting “legal sentence” according to its commonly understood

meaning, Antillion defined “illegal sentence” as a term of art. Antillon’s formulation is

unconvincing because by the plain language of the waiver in this case “lawful” was not defined

narrowly to mean “facially unlawful.” 

The government also argues that interpreting “lawful sentence” to mean a sentence that was

adjudicated in accordance with the law effectively renders the appeal waiver nugatory. While this

is true, the mere fact that poor drafting on the part of the United States Attorney rendered the appeal

waiver meaningless does not compel a reading that the words do not bear. 

Therefore, we consider Robert’s arguments on the merits. 
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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B. Brianna Dellheim’s waiver

Brianna Dellheim waived the “right to appeal and the right to attack collaterally the . . .

sentence.” But during the plea colloquy the district court and the United States Attorney explicitly

told Brianna that she could appeal an unlawful sentence. On its face, the waiver in this case is

similar to other waivers that have been upheld. See, e.g., United States v. Bradley, 400 F.3d 459,

461 (6th Cir. 2005); see also United States v. Yoon, 398 F.3d 802, 808 (6th Cir. 2005) (right to

appeal any sentence within the maximum provided in the offense level). The key distinction is that

both the district court and the United States Attorney interpreted the appeal waiver to apply only to

“lawful” sentences. It cannot be said that Brianna knowingly waived the right to appeal her

sentence.

Brianna argues that the district court essentially rewrote her plea agreement to state that

Brianna also has the right to appeal any “unlawful” sentence. During the plea colloquy, the district

court said to both Brianna and Robert:

Now, there’s waiver language contained in the plea agreements, and I want

to make sure you understand it. In some circumstances—in most circumstances,

actually—the parties have a right to appeal to the United States Court of Appeals, but

in your case, in each of your cases, you have got some waiver language. 

And it is not unusual to have waiver language in a plea agreement. It’s

similar for each of you, in that you waive the right to appeal, the right to collaterally

attack the guilty pleas, the conviction, and any lawful sentence, including an order

of restitution. Do each of you understand that?
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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Brianna answered, “Yes, your Honor.” The district court further commented on Brianna’s waiver

by stating:

I believe the language is a little bit different in Mrs. Dellheim’s plea agreement. I

think the reference to “lawful sentence” was excluded, just reading “the right to

appeal any sentence.” But of course it’s implied that it would be a lawful sentence;

if it was an unlawful sentence, then of course there would be a right to appeal.

The district court asked the United States Attorney, Mr. Smith, if he agreed with the district court’s

characterization. Mr. Smith said, “Yes, your honor.” Thus, the district court and the drafting party,

the United States Attorney, interpreted the language in Brianna’s plea agreement to permit the right

to appeal “unlawful” sentences. 

The instant case is distinguishable from United States v. Fleming, 239 F.3d 761, 764-76 (6th

Cir. 2001). Fleming explicitly agreed to waive his right to “appeal any sentence within the

maximum provided in the statutes of conviction.” Id. at 762. At sentencing, after the plea was

accepted, the judge did not remind the defendant of the waiver component of his plea agreement.

Instead, the district judge recited the boilerplate notice regarding a defendant’s right to appeal as

required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(c)(5) stating:

Mr. Fleming, you do have the right to appeal this matter to the United States Court

of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. If you wish, that Court will determine if there’s been

any error made in this matter.

Id. at 763. The Fleming court upheld Mr. Fleming’s waiver. Id. at 765. The judge’s statement in

Fleming is distinguishable from district court’s statements in the instant case. In this case, the
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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characterization of the plea agreement occurred during the plea colloquy. The district court and the

United States Attorney interpreted the appeal waiver as permitting an appeal of an unlawful

sentence. Thus, applying the analysis above relating to Robert’s waiver of the right to appeal any

“lawful” sentence, we determine that the sentence is appealable and reach the merits of Brianna’s

appeal. 

III. The merits of the Dellheims’ appeal

The district court’s factual findings that the Dellheims possessed a firearm during the drug

crime are upheld unless clearly erroneous. United States v. Solorio, 337 F.3d 580, 599 (6th Cir.

2003). Because there is sufficient evidence to support the district court’s factual conclusion that the

Dellheims possessed a gun during the conspiracy at issue, we affirm.

Many guns were found in the Dellheims’ home and barn at the time of the arrest in

September, 2003, and the record supports a finding that those guns were also present during the

conspiracy. The enhancement for possession of a dangerous weapon under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1)

states “If a dangerous weapon (including a firearm) was possessed, increase by 2 levels.” Sufficient

evidence supports the conclusion that the guns were present during the conspiracy. 

Circumstantial evidence supports the district court’s conclusion that the Dellheims possessed

weapons during the conspiracy that ended in April 2003. The district court noted that there is no

direct evidence that the guns were present during the time of the conspiracy charged. The district

court then made the “logical” finding that the Dellheims did not collect all the weapons between
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

1

The government argues that we do not need to limit our consideration of the time period to

the dates of the charged conspiracy. Instead, the government argues that acts “committed,

counseled, commanded or caused” by Robert occurred on or after September 9, 2003. See U.S.S.G.

§ 1B1.3(a). Without discounting the force of the government’s argument, even limiting our

consideration to the time period of the charged conspiracy we find that the enhancement was proper.

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April and September. Additionally, the district court relied on circumstantial evidence that guns

were present on the Dellheims’ property during the conspiracy. For example, Mr. Lopez testified

that he saw “four or five boxes of long bullets” that were a “gold color” when delivering marijuana

to the barn during the course of the conspiracy. Additionally, the district court considered the type

of guns and concluded that the guns possessed (loaded large caliber handguns, military-type assault

rifles, and short barrel shotguns) were consistent with use in the drug trade. The district court

concluded that the Dellheims possessed firearms during the drug conspiracy charged.1

 Because the

evidence supports that conclusion, the district court was not clearly erroneous.

Lastly, the Dellheims do not show that it was “clearly improbable” that the weapons

possessed during the course of the conspiracy were used in connection with the offense. See

Solorio, 337 F.3d at 599. Thus, the Dellheims’s offense level enhancement for gun possession is

lawful and properly calculated under the sentencing guidelines. 

AFFIRMED
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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SILER, Circuit Judge, concurring. I concur with the result in this case, that is, that the

district court did not commit error in the sentencing of both defendants. However, I respectfully

disagree with the majority opinion on the effect of the alleged waivers in the plea agreements.

In the plea agreement by Brianna Dellheim, she waived any rights she had to the appeal and

the right to collaterally attack the sentence. We have previously upheld a waiver of the right to

appeal in United States v. McGilvery, 403 F.3d 361, 363 (6th Cir. 2005), so it is not legally

impossible. Nevertheless, based on the colloquy among the court, Brianna, and counsel for both

sides, as related in the majority opinion, it appears that the plea agreement was orally modified, so

Brianna could appeal an “unlawful sentence.” Therefore, I believe that Brianna had the same rights

to appeal as did Robert Dellheim under his plea agreement where he gave up the right to appeal and

to collaterally attack “any lawful sentence.”

It is at this point where I depart from the majority opinion, for I believe that this language

means that Robert and Brianna gave up most of their rights to appeal. The waiver to appeal or

collaterally attack a “lawful sentence” means that if the court sentenced the defendant within the

parameters of the statutory penalty, the appeal is waived. Thus, if the court were to sentence either

defendant for a term of more years than is allowed under the penalty provisions for the offense

charged, that defendant could appeal. Neither of the defendants in this case claims that the sentence

rendered was greater than the statutory penalty provided in Count 1 (10 years to life), Count 2 (5-40

years), or Count 3 (up to 10 years). I would follow the general guidance from United States v.

Antillon-Gutierrez, 77 F. App’x 480, 481 (10th Cir. 2003)(unpublished), although I do not think it
Nos. 04-5811 & 04-5812

USA v. Dellheim

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is necessary for this court to analyze all of the limits under the definition of “illegal sentence” or

“unlawful sentence.” It is sufficient if we find that an unlawful sentence does not include an

enhancement for possession of a dangerous weapon under the Sentencing Guidelines, where the

final sentence did not exceed the statutory limit. 

Therefore, I would dismiss the appeals of both defendants under the decision in McGilvery.