Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Woody Alexander CARTER, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2002-12-17
Citations: 53 F. App'x 683
Docket Number: No. 02-4469
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Woody Alexander CARTER, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 53
Pages: 683–684

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Woody Alexander CARTER, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 02-4469.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted Nov. 26, 2002.
Decided Dec. 17, 2002.
Andrew B. Banzhoff, Asheville, North Carolina, for Appellant. Thomas Richard Ascik, Asheville, North Carolina, for Appellee.
Before NIEMEYER and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Woody Alexander Carter appeals his convictions and sentence of consecutive terms of thirty-three and eighty-four months' imprisonment for assault with a firearm during a bank robbery, aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2, 2113(d) (2000), and brandishing a firearm during a bank robbery, aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2, 924(c)(1) (2000). Carter's attorney has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), arguing that Carter may have received ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct, but stating that, in his view, there are no meritorious grounds for appeal. Advised of his right to file a pro se supplemental brief, Carter has not done so. Finding no reversible error, we affirm.
Carter argues his counsel was ineffective. Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are generally not cognizable on direct appeal unless the trial record conclusively establishes ineffective assistance of counsel. See United States v. King, 119 F.3d 290, 295 (4th Cir.1997). To allow for adequate development of the record, ineffective assistance of counsel claims generally should be pursued in a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2000) proceeding. See United States v. Hoyle, 33 F.3d 415, 418 (4th Cir.1994). Because review of the record in this appeal does not conclusively establish ineffective assistance of counsel, we conclude Carter's claim should be brought, if at all, in a § 2255 proceeding, not on direct appeal. Carter makes no specific allegation of prosecutorial misconduct, and none is apparent in the record on appeal.
As required by Anders, we have examined the entire record and find no meritorious issues for appeal. Accordingly, we affirm Carter's convictions and sentence. This court requires that counsel inform his client, in writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If the client 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 the client.
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED.