Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lucas R. BENJAMIN, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2002-03-19
Citations: 38 F. App'x 316
Docket Number: No. 01-4172
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lucas R. BENJAMIN, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 38
Pages: 316–318

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lucas R. BENJAMIN, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 01-4172.
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.
Submitted March 19, 2002.
Decided March 19, 2002.
Before WOOD, Jr., ROVNER, EVANS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
ORDER
While on probation following a two-count conviction under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act, 18 U.S.C. § 5031 et seq., Lucas Benjamin twice committed offenses that resulted in state convictions. Benjamin's probation officer then petitioned to revoke his probation, and after a revocation hearing, the district court sentenced him to eight months' imprisonment. Benjamin's counsel filed a notice of appeal, but because he could not discern a non-frivolous issue for appeal he now moves to withdraw in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Benjamin was notified of his counsel's motion, see Cir. R. 51(b), but did not respond. Counsel's supporting Anders brief is facially adequate, so we confine our review to the potential issues discussed in that submission. United States v. Tabb, 125 F.3d 583, 584 (7th Cir.1997). Because we agree that the potential issues counsel identifies are frivolous, we grant his motion to withdraw and dismiss the appeal.
Counsel first discusses whether Benjamin could argue on appeal that he did not commit the underlying state of fenses. During Ms revocation hearing, Benjamin admitted to committing, and pleadmg guilty to, the two state offenses: aggravated assault in April 2000 and battery in June 2001. Before accepting Benjamm's stipulation, the district court engaged in a colloquy with Benjamm similar to one required for a defendant pleading guilty, see Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(c), m order to ensure that Benjamin understood the rights he was giving up and that he was voluntarily stipulatmg to the state court convictions. Benjamin asserted that he understood and admitted to the convictions and underlying conduct. Cf. United States v. Standiford, 148 F.3d 864, 868 (7th Cir.1998) (defendant's statements at plea colloquy presumed truthful). Given these circumstances, we agree that an appeal on tMs issue would be frivolous.
Counsel next discusses whether Benjamm could argue that it was improper for the district court to use his state convictions to revoke probation because the state has already punished Mm for those convictions. We have rejected this argument, explaining that revocation is based on a breach of trust and that this sanction may be imposed "consecutive to any sentence imposed for the underlying conduct." United States v. Huusko, 275 F.3d 600, 603 (7th Cir.2001); see also U.S.S.G. § 7B1.3(f); United States v. Harvey, 232 F.3d 585, 588-89 (7th Cir.2000). Therefore, we agree that an appeal on tMs issue would be frivolous.
Counsel next discusses whether Benjamin could challenge the eight-month sentence imposed. Because Benjamin had a crimmal-history category of I and a grade C violation level, his suggested term of imprisonment under the guidelines was three to nine months. See U.S.S.G. § 7B1.4(a). Given that § 7B1.4 is a policy statement and not a formal guideline, we will reverse sentences imposed following revocation only if they are "plainly unreasonable." Huusko, 275 F.3d at 602. Because the district court sentenced Benjamin within the suggested range and specifically noted the violent nature of Ms state convictions, the sentence was not plainly unreasonable, see id. at 603, and a challenge to the sentence would be frivolous.
Finally, counsel discusses whether Benjamin could appeal based on alleged bias by his probation officer. Benjamm admitted committing the state offenses alleged m the probation officer's report, and based on those convictions the district court revoked Benjamin's probation. The probation officer recommended a sentence of twelve months, but the district court elected to impose a sentence within the three-to nine-month range. Moreover, the record does not indicate any bias by the probation officer. Therefore, we agree with counsel that an appeal on this issue would be frivolous.
Accordingly, we GRANT counsel's motion to withdraw and DISMISS the appeal.