Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, v. Wade HAMPTON, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2002-07-19
Citations: 40 F. App'x 683
Docket Number: No. 01-3662
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, v. Wade HAMPTON, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 40
Pages: 683–685

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, v. Wade HAMPTON, Appellant.
No. 01-3662.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted June 10, 2002.
Decided July 19, 2002.
Before SLOVITER, ROTH, and MCKEE, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
ROTH, Circuit Judge.
Wade Hampton appeals his sentence for two separate armed bank robberies. Counsel for Hampton submitted an Anders brief concluding that there were no non-frivolous issues for appeal in this matter. Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Counsel moved to withdraw and we will grant the motion. Hampton has also filed a pro se brief, challenging the five-level increase in his sentence pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(2)(C) and alleging ineffective assistance of counsel.
The first robbery, for which Hampton was convicted, occurred on December 30, 1998, and the second robbery occurred on May 13, 1999. In the District Court, the two robberies were included in one indictment charging Hampton with one count of conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, two counts of armed bank robbery, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Hampton pled guilty to all counts. The District Court accepted Hampton's plea and sentenced him to 192 months of confinement. Both the plea and the sentence had been negotiated with the government.
Hampton claims on appeal that the District Court engaged in "double counting" when it charged Hampton with one bank robbery under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and then imposed a five-level increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(2)(C) in connection with the other bank robbery. A District Court's application of Sentencing Guidelines is subject to plenary review. United States v. Mobley, 956 F.2d 450, 451 (3d Cir.1992).
Hampton argues that where a § 924(c) offense has been charged, the application of specific offense characteristics, such as possession, brandishing, use or discharge of an explosive or firearm, is prohibited. Accordingly, Hampton asserts that the five-level increase of his sentence under § 2B3.1(b)(2)(C) is prohibited because he was charged under § 924(c). Hampton accuses the District Court of "double-counting" his sentence in violation of Application Note 2 of U.S.S.G. § 2K2.4.
Hampton's claim lacks merit. While correctly citing to Application Note 2, Hampton failed to review Application Note 2 in its entirety. The Note specifically provides that "if a defendant is convicted on two armed bank robberies, but is convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) in connection with one of the robberies, a weapon enhancement would apply to the bank robbery which was not the basis for the 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) conviction." These are precisely the circumstances in this case. Hampton was charged under § 924(c) for only the May 13, 1999, robbery. Therefore, § 2B3.1(b)(2)(C) is applicable to the sentence imposed for the December 30, 1998, robbery. The District Court did not "double-count" Hampton's sentence.
Next, Hampton alleges that his counsel was ineffective. However, we decline to entertain ineffective assistance claims on direct appeal, preferring to develop a fuller factual record through 28 U.S.C. § 2255 proceedings. United States v. Gambino, 788 F.2d 938, 950 (3d Cir.1986). Hampton presents no reason to depart from such procedure.
We will, therefore, affirm the judgment of sentence of the District Court.