Court Opinion

ID: 1002761
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-04 18:15:45.355626+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:37:50.791167
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,              
                 Plaintiff-Appellee,
                 v.                                No. 99-4784
DARRELL LAMONT MCCOY,
             Defendant-Appellant.
                                       
           Appeal from the United States District Court
     for the Western District of North Carolina, at Statesville.
              Richard L. Voorhees, District Judge.
                          (CR-98-67-V)

                      Submitted: October 12, 2000

                      Decided: October 19, 2000

       Before WILLIAMS and MOTZ, Circuit Judges, and
              HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

                              COUNSEL

Christopher F. Cowan, COWAN, NORTH & LAFRATTA, L.L.P.,
Richmond, Virginia, for Appellant. Robert Jack Higdon, Jr., OFFICE
OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Charlotte, North Carolina,
for Appellee.
2                     UNITED STATES v. MCCOY

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
Local Rule 36(c).

                             OPINION

PER CURIAM:

   Darrell Lamont McCoy appeals from his conviction and the 120-
month sentence imposed by the district court following his guilty plea
to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine
base, in violation of 21 U.S.C.A. § 846 (West Supp. 2000). McCoy’s
counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S.
738 (1967), asserting that there are no meritorious issues for appeal.
Although advised of his right to do so, McCoy has not filed a pro se
supplemental brief. We dismiss.

   McCoy signed a written plea agreement in which he agreed to
waive his right to appeal his sentence or conviction, except for claims
of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct. A
defendant may waive the right to appeal if that waiver is knowing and
intelligent. See United States v. Attar, 38 F.3d 727, 731 (4th Cir.
1994). In determining whether a waiver is knowing and intelligent,
we examine the background, experience, and conduct of the defen-
dant. If the district court fully questions a defendant during the plea
colloquy pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Proce-
dure, regarding the waiver of his right to appeal, generally the waiver
is valid and enforceable. See United States v. Wessells, 936 F.2d 165,
167-68 (4th Cir. 1991).

   The transcript of McCoy’s’s Rule 11 hearing reveals that he under-
stood the full significance of the waiver provision of his plea agree-
ment. McCoy stated that he had reviewed the written plea agreement
with his attorney and that he was satisfied with counsel’s services.

   The Government summarized the plea agreement, including the
waiver provision. McCoy acknowledged that it was his signature on
the plea agreement. He stated that he understood and agreed with the
Government’s summary. When the magistrate judge specifically
                      UNITED STATES v. MCCOY                         3

asked McCoy about the waiver, he stated that he understood he was
waiving his right to appeal. On these facts, we find that McCoy’s
waiver was knowingly and intelligently given. Because the only
claims McCoy’s counsel raised are claims regarding the validity of
his guilty plea and the calculation of his sentence, they are precluded
by McCoy’s valid waiver of his appeal rights and we dismiss the
appeal on that basis.

   We have examined the entire record in this case in accordance with
the requirements of Anders, and find no meritorious issues for appeal.
We therefore dismiss the appeal of McCoy’s conviction and sentence.
The 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. Coun-
sel’s motion must state that a copy thereof was served on the client.
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal conten-
tions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and
argument would not aid the decisional process.

                                                          DISMISSED