Opinion ID: 3161987
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: March 2014 Plea

Text: But in March 2014, Steinger accepted a plea agreement for both cases. At the consolidated change-of-plea hearing, Steinger testified that he was taking Dilaudid for his back pain, which was stronger than morphine. He also took OxyContin and Ativan prior to the hearing. The district court asked him whether he could think clearly and understand what was happening, and Steinger replied that he could. Steinger then signed the plea agreement and stated that he understood the factual proffer, terms, conditions, maximum statutory sentence, the method in which his sentence would be calculated under the Sentencing Guidelines, and the rights that he was giving up by pleading guilty. No one had coerced him into 8 Case: 14-14081 Date Filed: 12/11/2015 Page: 9 of 16 entering the plea or made any promises. Steinger explained that he had talked with his attorney about his case and his decision to plead guilty. Finally, the district court discussed Steinger’s sentence appeal waiver and Steinger did not express any misunderstandings or concerns. The district court accepted Steinger’s guilty plea and determined that he was “fully competent and capable of entering an informed plea.” The court stated that, due to Steinger’s health issues, it had paid particular attention to his answers and “condition” in reaching this conclusion.