Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Fahed T. TAWALBEH, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2003-05-30
Citations: 65 F. App'x 465
Docket Number: No. 02-6835
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Fahed T. TAWALBEH, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before NIEMEYER and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 65
Pages: 465–467

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Fahed T. TAWALBEH, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 02-6835.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted April 15, 2003.
Decided May 30, 2003.
Robert F. Rider, Robert F. Rider, P.L.C., Roanoke, Virginia, for Appellant. Thomas Jack Bondurant, Jr., Assistant' United States Attorney, Roanoke, Virginia, for Appellee.
Before NIEMEYER and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Rehearing granted, rehearing en banc denied, and appeal dismissed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Fahed Tawalbeh was convicted of: (1) conspiracy to damage and destroy by means of fire a competitor's store, The Corner Store, which was used in interstate commerce or in an activity affecting interstate commerce, 18 U.S.C. § 844(i) (2000), and conspiracy to use an incendiary destructive device, a Molotov cocktail, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (2000), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (2000); (2) maliciously damaging and destroying the competitor's store involved in interstate commerce by means of fire, 18 U.S.C. § 844(i); and (3) using an incendiary destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Tawalbeh received a sentence of 431 months. Tawalbeh and his co-conspirators appealed their convictions, which were affirmed by this court. United States v. Abed, No. 98-4637(L), 2000 WL 14190 (4th Cir. Jan.10, 2000) (unpublished).
In November 2000, Tawalbeh moved to vacate his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2000). After an evidentiary hearing on one issue of ineffective assistance of counsel, the district court denied this motion. In his appeal of that denial, Tawalbeh asserted the same claims raised in the district court: (1) sufficiency of evidence relating to arson of the store; (2) sufficiency of the evidence relating to the use of a Molotov cocktail; (3) whether convictions under both 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and 18 U.S.C. § 844(i) violated the Double Jeopardy Clause; (4) the jury was subject to outside influences; (5) his sentence violated Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000); (6) the Government used perjured testimony; and, (7) twelve claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.
In an opinion issued on January 8, 2003, we considered the merits of Tawalbeh's claims. We determined that those claims did not warrant relief and accordingly denied a certificate of appealability and dismissed Tawalbeh's appeal. Tawalbeh petitioned for panel and en banc rehearing, asserting that we incorrectly analyzed the underlying merits of his claims before first determining whether he was entitled to the requested certificate of appealability, as required by Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 123 S.Ct. 1029, 154 L.Ed.2d 931 (2003). Upon consideration of his petition, we grant panel rehearing. As no active member of the court has voted to grant en banc rehearing, it is denied.
To be entitled to a certificate of appealability, Tawalbeh must make "a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2) (2000). "Where a district court has rejected the constitutional claims on the merits, the showing required to satisfy § 2253(c) is straightforward: The petitioner must demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find the district court's assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong." Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484, 120 S.Ct. 1595, 146 L.Ed.2d 542 (2000).
Upon examination of Tawalbeh's appeal, we conclude that Tawalbeh has failed to demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find the district court's assessment of his constitutional claims debatable or wrong. Accordingly, we deny a certificate of appealability and dismiss the appeal. 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.
PETITION FOR PANEL REHEARING GRANTED, PETITION FOR EN BANC REHEARING DENIED, APPEAL DISMISSED.