Opinion ID: 3056610
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Post-Judgment Motion to Withdraw Plea

Text: On March 8, 2011, Felix filed a pro se “Notice to Change of Plea.” Without further explanation, Felix requested that the district court change his plea because he was ready to proceed to trial. Shortly thereafter, through counsel, Felix filed a notice of appeal of his judgment and sentence. Following the government’s response, the district court construed Felix’s “Notice to Change of Plea” as a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and denied it. The district court concluded that it had no authority to grant Felix relief because he had already been sentenced. Alternatively, the district court found that Felix’s motion was without merit. Later in March 2011, Felix sent the district court a pro se motion for 12 Case: 11-11173 Date Filed: 11/20/2012 Page: 13 of 22 substitute counsel in which he contended that his counsel “tricked” him into accepting the guilty plea. Felix maintained that he was innocent and “always wanted to go to trial.” Felix repeated his request for substitute counsel in two additional pleadings, filed with the district court in April and June 2011. In the June request, Felix alleged that his attorney induced him to plead guilty despite his innocence, that no child pornography was found on his computer, and that the phone number from which the text messages were sent did not belong to him.