Opinion ID: 1364765
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Plea Negotiations

Text: In a supplemental brief filed pro se, Thornton next claims the district court violated Federal Criminal Rule 11(c)(1) by participating in plea negotiations. [2] However, because Thornton did not plead guilty and was convicted by a jury, he must show actual prejudice in order to be entitled to a new trial. See United States v. Elguezabal, 188 F.3d 509, 1999 WL 717978, at  1 (6th Cir.1999) (unpublished table case) (quoting United States v. Diaz, 138 F.3d 1359, 1362 (11th Cir.1998)) (noting that when a defendant chooses to go to trial, a Rule 11 violation does not raise the specter of an involuntary plea). Even if there was a Rule 11 violation, Thornton has not shown actual prejudice from such violation. Indeed, if Thornton had accepted the plea deal, his sentence would have been significantly shorter than the life sentence he is currently serving following his jury conviction.