Opinion ID: 687659
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: denial of withdrawal of plea

Text: 11 Newson first argues that the district court erred in denying his motion to withdraw his plea of guilty. It is well settled that a defendant does not have an absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea before sentencing. See, e.g., United States v. Capito, 992 F.2d 218, 219 (8th Cir.1993); United States v. Abdullah, 947 F.2d 306, 311 (8th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1969, 118 L.Ed.2d 569 (1992). Under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(d), a defendant must establish a fair and just reason for the withdrawal. Capito, 992 F.2d at 219. The determination of whether a defendant has met this burden of proof is within the sound discretion of the trial judge. United States v. Dixon, 784 F.2d 855, 856 (8th Cir.1986). Review of a district court's denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea is made under an abuse of discretion standard. Capito, 992 F.2d at 219. 12 The record here indicates that the district court conducted a proper Rule 11 hearing at which Newson entered his plea of guilty. Newson concedes that he indicated to the court that he made an intelligent waiver of his right to trial, that he was satisfied with his lawyer's representation, that he and counsel had discussed all available defenses, and that he understood the possible punishments. Newson further stated that he understood that any defenses he might have asserted at trial were now gone. As we have previously stated, Rule 11 proceedings are not an exercise of futility. The plea of guilty is a solemn act not to be disregarded because of belated misgivings about its wisdom. United States v. Morrison, 967 F.2d 264, 268 (8th Cir.1992). When a defendant has entered a knowing and voluntary plea of guilty at a hearing at which he acknowledged committing the crime, 'the occasion for setting aside a guilty plea should seldom arise.'  Id. (quoting United States v. Rawlins, 440 F.2d 1043, 1046 (8th Cir.1971)). 13 Newson submits that his motion to withdraw his guilty plea did present a fair and just reason for withdrawal and that the district court's findings to the contrary are in error. He asserts that, in pleading guilty, he based his decision on inaccurate information given him by his lawyer and that, after entering his plea, he got accurate information which convinced him that his plea had been ill-advised. He alleges that his appointed counsel was ineffective in researching the case and in preparing a defense. He contends that his counsel's ineffectiveness prevented him from making an intelligent, knowing waiver of his right to trial, thus establishing a fair and just reason for withdrawal of his guilty plea. 14 In support of this contention, Newson argues that appointed counsel failed to properly analyze the defense of entrapment, and improperly assessed its potential for success at trial. He asserts that the evidence reveals that his attorney was incorrect in his conclusion that entrapment was not a potentially successful defense. Newson further argues that counsel failed to adequately assess Newson's sentencing exposure if he were convicted at trial, thereby misleading Newson in weighing his options of trial versus a guilty plea. Specifically, Newson alleges that Mr. Poepsel advised him that he would subject himself to a possible ten-year mandatory minimum sentence if he were convicted at trial, because the government might prove more cocaine was involved in his drug transaction. 15 At the hearing on Newson's motion for withdrawal of his guilty plea, the district court found that the plea had been voluntarily made and had not been induced by fraud or mistake, imposition, misrepresentation, or misapprehension. Thus, the court denied the motion for withdrawal, finding that Newson failed to establish the required fair and just reason. 16 In addressing Newson's claim that counsel incorrectly assessed the strength of his entrapment defense, the district court, while not commenting on the merits of the defense, found that Newson was aware of the entrapment defense and voluntarily waived such defense at the change of plea hearing. The court's finding in this respect is supported by the record. 17 Newson submits that, although he knew of the possibility of asserting an entrapment defense, the vital issue is whether his attorney properly analyzed the defense and its potential for success. He maintains that he was misled by his attorney to believe that this defense would not fly for him because the evidence did not support his contention that he was not predisposed to commit the offense charged. He asserts that several important factors were not considered by his attorney in evaluating his defense. 18 We cannot say that the factors asserted necessarily improve the strength of Newson's entrapment defense. Furthermore, Newson's failure to assert any objections to his counsel's performance at the change-of-plea hearing, despite his knowledge then of the factors he now submits as relevant, refutes any claim of ineffective assistance of counsel as a basis for withdrawing his plea. United States v. Abdullah, 947 F.2d 306, 312 (8th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1969, 118 L.Ed.2d 569 (1992). 19 With regard to Newson's assertion that his counsel incorrectly gave him the impression that he would face a more severe sentence by going to trial, the district court first determined that proof with respect to the relevant amount of cocaine remained an open question. The quantity of drugs to be included as relevant conduct is a determination of fact for the district court. United States v. Lewis, 987 F.2d 1349, 1356 (8th Cir.1993). We will not second-guess the district court's finding that the relevant amount of drugs could have become an issue at trial. While the government stipulated to the relevant amount in the plea agreement, it might have attempted to prove additional amounts had the case gone to trial. It appears questionable, based on the record, whether the government could have produced any evidence that Newson had access to larger quantities of cocaine so that his sentencing range would have been increased. However, the district court was in the best position to judge the facts based on the evidence presented and its finding that the relevant amount of drugs was an issue is not clearly erroneous. 20 Moreover, the district judge discredited Newson's testimony that he believed he could face a ten-year minimum at trial. He credited Mr. Poepsel's testimony that, although he had been concerned over, and discussed with Newson, the possibility of a heavier sentence if Newson went to trial, he had advised Newson of the improbability of a heavier sentence and had informed him that he would most likely face a mandatory minimum of five years with either a trial or a plea. Again, the district court was in the best position to judge the witnesses' credibility, to resolve any inconsistencies in the testimony, and to determine the facts based on the evidence presented. We conclude that the court's findings that Newson was not misled by his counsel, and thus had presented no fair and just reason for withdrawal, are supported by the record and are not clearly erroneous. 21 Accordingly, we find that the court, in denying Newson's motion to withdraw his plea of guilty, did not abuse its discretion. 22