Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Josh Randall FREEMAN, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2001-04-27
Citations: 11 F. App'x 192
Docket Number: No. 00-4158
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Josh Randall FREEMAN, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before LUTTIG, WILLIAMS, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 11
Pages: 192–193

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Josh Randall FREEMAN, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 00-4158.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted April 17, 2001.
Decided April 27, 2001.
Phillip J. Roth, Jr., Asheville, NC, for appellant. Thomas Richard Ascik, Office of the United States Attorney, Asheville, NC, for appellee.
Before LUTTIG, WILLIAMS, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Josh Randall Freeman was convicted by a jury of possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(g)(1) (West 2000). He was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment. Freeman'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). Counsel states that there are no meritorious grounds for appeal but addresses the following issues: (1) whether 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(g) is unconstitutional; (2) whether trial counsel was ineffective; and (3) whether the district court erred in denying Freeman's motion to substitute counsel prior to sentencing. We affirm.
With respect to Freeman's challenge to the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(g), we reject his argument as this court has held that the statute is constitutional. United States v. Bostic, 168 F.3d 718, 723 (4th Cir.), cert, denied, 527 U.S. 1029, 119 S.Ct. 2383, 144 L.Ed.2d 785 (1999); United States v. Wells, 98 F.3d 808, 811 (4th Cir.1996). Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are generally not cognizable on direct appeal. United States v. King, 119 F.3d 290, 295 (4th Cir.1997). To allow for adequate development of the record, the presumptive rule is that ineffective assistance of counsel claims must be pursued in a 28 U.S.C.A. § 2255 (West Supp.2000) motion. United States v. Hoyle, 33 F.3d 415, 418 (4th Cir.1994). An exception exists when the record conclusively establishes ineffective assistance of counsel. King, 119 F.3d at 295. We find that the record does not conclusively establish ineffective assistance of counsel. We also find no abuse of discretion in the district court's denial of Freeman's motion to substitute counsel. See United States v. Gallop, 838 F.2d 105, 108 (4th Cir.1988) (setting out standard of review).
Accordingly, we affirm Freeman's conviction and sentence. Although we grant Freeman's "Motion for Leave to File a Supplemental Brief to Attorney's Brief," we find that Freeman's claims in the supplemental brief are without merit. We further deny Freeman's motion for discovery. We have examined the entire record in this case in accordance with the requirements of Anders, and find no meritorious issues for appeal. 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.