Court Opinion

ID: 725168
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-17 08:59:56+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:54:48.940583
License: Public Domain

94 F.3d 642
NOTICE: Fourth Circuit Local Rule 36(c) states that citation of unpublished dispositions is disfavored except for establishing res judicata, estoppel, or the law of the case and requires service of copies of cited unpublished dispositions of the Fourth Circuit.UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.Rickey Jack FLETCHER, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 95-5498.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Aug. 14, 1996.

John D.  (Jay) Elliott, Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellant.  Margaret B. Seymour, United States Attorney, Beth Caldwell, Assistant United States Attorney, Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellee.
Before LUTTIG and MOTZ, Circuit Judges, and PHILLIPS, Senior Circuit Judge.
OPINION
PER CURIAM:

1
Rickey Jack Fletcher pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(g) (West Supp.1996), and was sentenced to a term of 87 months imprisonment.  Fletcher's attorney has filed a brief in accordance with  Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), contending that the district court erred in refusing to depart on three grounds, but indicating that, in his view, there are no meritorious issues for appeal.  Williams was notified of his right to file a pro se supplemental brief, but has not done so.1

2
The district court decided not to depart downward on the grounds of diminished capacity, USSG § 5K2.13, p.s.,2 or victim's conduct, USSG § 5K2.10, p.s., or overstated criminal history, USSG § 4A1.3, p.s. The court's discretionary decision not to depart is not reviewable on appeal.   United States v. Bayerle, 898 F.2d 28, 31 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 819 (1990).

3
In accordance with Anders, we have examined the entire record in this case and find no meritorious issues for appeal.  We therefore affirm the conviction and sentence.  This court requires that counsel inform his client, in writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review.  If the client requests that a petition be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation.  Counsel's motion must state that a copy thereof was served on the client.

4
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the record and briefs, and oral argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

1
 Fletcher did write his attorney with the suggestion that the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Lopez, --- U.S. ----, 63 U.S.L.W. 4343 (U.S. Apr. 26, 1995) (No. 93-1260), might apply in his case.   Lopez does not assist Fletcher.  We find persuasive two circuits which have considered and rejected constitutional challenges to § 922(g) in light of  Lopez.  See United States v. Mosby, 60 F.3d 454, 456 (8th Cir.1995), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 64 U.S.L.W. 3558 (U.S. Feb. 20, 1996) (No. 95-7053);   United States v. Hanna, 55 F.3d 1456, 1462 n. 2 (9th Cir.1995)

2
 United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual (Nov.1994)