Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Ricky P. HICKS, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-11-02
Citations: 436 F. App'x 723
Docket Number: No. 11-1886
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Ricky P. HICKS, Appellant.
Judges: Before MURPHY, ARNOLD, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 436
Pages: 723–723

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Ricky P. HICKS, Appellant.
No. 11-1886.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Submitted: Nov. 1, 2011.
Filed: Nov. 2, 2011.
Jennifer D. Akre, Akre Law, Springfield, MO, for appellant.
Ricky P. Hicks, Oklahoma City, OK, pro se.
Randall D. Eggert, Asst. U.S. Atty., Springfield, MO, for appellee.
Before MURPHY, ARNOLD, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Pursuant to a written plea agreement that contained an appeal waiver, Ricky P. Hicks pled guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine mixture, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846. The district court imposed a sentence of 84 months in prison, above the Guidelines range of 24-30 months, but below the 20-year statutory maximum, see 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C). Hicks's counsel seeks to withdraw and has filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), in which she questions whether this court should enforce the appeal waiver. Hicks has filed a pro se brief arguing, among other things, that his counsel was ineffective.
This court concludes that Hicks's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is not barred by the appeal waiver, but also is not appropriate for consideration on direct appeal. See United States v. McAdory, 501 F.3d 868, 872 (8th Cir.2007). This court further concludes that the appeal waiver should be enforced as to all other issues in this appeal. See United States v. Andis, 333 F.3d 886, 889-92 (8th Cir.2003) (en banc) (setting forth criteria for enforcing appeal waiver); see also United States v. Estrada-Bahena, 201 F.3d 1070, 1071 (8th Cir.2000) (per curiam) (enforcing appeal waiver in Anders case).
This court independently reviewed the record under Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988) and found no nonfrivolous issue not covered by the appeal waiver. Accordingly, this court declines to consider Hicks's ineffective-assistance claim on direct appeal; dismisses the appeal; and grants counsel leave to withdraw, subject to her informing Hicks about procedures for seeking rehearing or filing a petition for certiorari.
. The Honorable Greg Kays, United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.