Court Opinion

ID: 4509153
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-02-20 20:00:23.307146+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:53:05.320857
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                      No. 19-4512

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                    Plaintiff - Appellee,

             v.

GREGORY LAMAR LOGAN, JR.,

                    Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, at
Greensboro. Loretta C. Biggs, District Judge. (1:18-cr-00158-LCB-1)

Submitted: February 18, 2020                                 Decided: February 20, 2020

Before MOTZ, HARRIS, and QUATTLEBAUM, Circuit Judges.

Affirmed in part and dismissed in part by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Louis C. Allen, Federal Public Defender, John A. Duberstein, Assistant Federal Public
Defender, OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Greensboro, North
Carolina, for Appellant. Kyle David Pousson, Assistant United States Attorney, OFFICE
OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Greensboro, North Carolina, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:

       Gregory Lamar Logan, Jr., pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance

of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (2018), and was

sentenced to 60 months in prison, the statutory minimum term. Logan appeals, and his

counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), stating that

there are no meritorious grounds for appeal but questioning the reasonableness of his

sentence. Although notified of his right to do so, Logan has not filed a pro se supplemental

brief. The Government has moved to dismiss the appeal based on the appeal waiver

contained in Logan’s plea agreement. We affirm in part and dismiss in part.

       We review the validity of an appeal waiver de novo. United States v. Thornsbury,

670 F.3d 532, 537 (4th Cir. 2012). A defendant validly waives his appeal rights if he agrees

to the waiver knowingly and intelligently. United States v. Manigan, 592 F.3d 621, 627

(4th Cir. 2010). “To determine whether a waiver is knowing and intelligent, we examine

the totality of the circumstances, including the experience and conduct of the accused, as

well as the accused’s educational background and familiarity with the terms of the plea

agreement.” Thornsbury, 670 F.3d at 537 (internal quotation marks omitted). Generally,

if the district court fully questions a defendant regarding the waiver of his right to appeal

during the Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 colloquy, the waiver is both valid and enforceable. Id.

       Our review of the Rule 11 colloquy confirms that Logan knowingly and voluntarily

pleaded guilty and waived his right to appeal his conviction and sentence on any ground,

but for claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct, and any

sentence imposed above the statutory maximum or based on unconstitutional factors.

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Because none of those exceptions to the waiver applies here, we conclude that the appeal

waiver bars any challenge to the reasonableness of Logan’s sentence. Accordingly, we

grant the Government’s motion to dismiss in part and dismiss the appeal as to Logan’s

sentencing claim and any other issues within the scope of the waiver.

       In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the entire record in this case and have

found no meritorious grounds for appeal that fall outside the scope of Logan’s appeal

waiver. We therefore dismiss the appeal in part and affirm the district court’s judgment as

to any issues not barred by the appeal waiver. This court requires that counsel inform

Logan, in writing, of the right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further

review. If Logan 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 Logan.

       We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are

adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the

decisional process.

                                                                      AFFIRMED IN PART,
                                                                      DISMISSED IN PART

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