Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, v. Terian TOOMER, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2003-12-10
Citations: 83 F. App'x 436
Docket Number: No. 02-2835
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, v. Terian TOOMER, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 83
Pages: 436–437

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, v. Terian TOOMER, Appellant.
No. 02-2835.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) Nov. 19, 2003.
Decided Dec. 10, 2003.
Virgil B. Walker, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellee.
Hope C. Lefeber, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellant.
Before: RENDELL, BARRY, and CHERTOFF, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
BARRY, Circuit Judge.
On September 19, 2001, in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Terian Toomer ("Toomer") with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), a notice of prior convictions was included. On April 12, 2002, Toomer appeared before the Honorable Harvey Bartle, III, and, pursuant to a written plea agreement, pled guilty to the indictment. At sentencing, Judge Bartle determined that Toomer was an armed career criminal given that his record included three adult convictions for violent offenses. As such, Section 4B1.1 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines applied. Toomer's offense level, after a reduction by three levels for acceptance of responsibility, was 31 and his criminal history category was VI. His guideline imprisonment was 188 to 235 months, and he was sentenced to the top of that range.
Counsel has submitted a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), asserting that Toomer has no non-frivolous basis for appeal. Toomer subsequently submit ted a pro se brief asserting that his appeal is meritorious. We have jurisdiction over the appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. After careful review, we will grant counsel's motion to withdraw and affirm the judgment and sentence of the District Court.
Because Toomer entered an unconditional guilty plea on the record in open court, his arguments on appeal are limited to challenging the jurisdiction of the District Court, the validity of the plea, and the legality of the sentence imposed. See United States v. Broce, 488 U.S. 563, 109 S.Ct. 757, 102 L.Ed.2d 927 (1989). The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231 for alleged offenses against the United States under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(3). Moreover, our review of the record indicates that Toomer's guilty plea was knowing and voluntary and that the District Court complied with the requirements of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure in accepting the plea. Toomer's sole complaint regards the legality of his sentence. He states that he wishes to challenge his prior convictions as constitutionally invalid and a "miscarriage of justice." In Custis v. United States, 511 U.S. 485, 114 S.Ct. 1732, 128 L.Ed.2d 517 (1994), the Supreme Court of the United States held that a defendant facing sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act may not challenge the predicate convictions unless he or she had not been represented by counsel. During none of Toomer's prior convictions was he without counsel.
Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court will be affirmed, and counsel's motion to withdraw will be granted.
. Under Anders, appointed counsel may request permission to withdraw from a case where, after a conscientious examination, he determines that the appeal is wholly frivolous. Anders, 386 U.S. at 744. Counsel must support his request with a brief, which demon strates that a thorough search has been conducted for appealable issues, makes reference to anything in the record that might arguably support an appeal, and explains why any potential issues would be frivolous. Id.; United States v. Marvin, 211 F.3d 778, 780-81 (3d Cir.2000). When counsel submits an Anders brief, our inquiry is twofold: "(1) whether counsel adequately fulfilled the rule's requirements; and (2) whether an independent review of the record presents any nonfrivolous issues." United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir.2001).