Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Latayo Raymond CLARK, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2003-08-14
Citations: 71 F. App'x 610
Docket Number: No. 02-4130
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Latayo Raymond CLARK, Appellant.
Judges: Before BOWMAN, BYE, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 71
Pages: 610–611

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Latayo Raymond CLARK, Appellant.
No. 02-4130.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Submitted Aug. 7, 2003.
Decided Aug. 14, 2003.
Before BOWMAN, BYE, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
In this direct criminal appeal, Clark challenges the sentence the district court imposed after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of a substance containing cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1), 846. The district court sentenced Clark to 120 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release. On appeal, Clark's counsel has moved to withdraw under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), arguing that the district court erred in denying Clark's motion for a downward departure.
The district court's decision not to grant the downward departure was clearly discretionary; thus, the decision is unreviewable. See United States v. VanHouten, 307 F.3d 693, 696 (8th Cir.2002) (discretionary decision not to depart from Guidelines is unreviewable on appeal absent unconstitutional motive, unless district court erroneously concluded it lacked authority to depart).
Following careful review of the record, we find no other nonfrivolous issues. See Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988). Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed. We also deny Clark's pending motion and grant counsel's motion to -withdraw.
A true copy.
. The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska.