Court Opinion

ID: 997656
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-04 16:59:45.142122+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:12:15.189995
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.                                                                    No. 98-4484

CLARENCE EUGENE LAYTON,
Defendant-Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of South Carolina, at Spartanburg.
William B. Traxler, Jr., District Judge.
(CR-98-190)

Submitted: December 30, 1998

Decided: January 20, 1999

Before NIEMEYER, HAMILTON, and MICHAEL, Circuit Judges.

_________________________________________________________________

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

_________________________________________________________________

COUNSEL

David W. Plowden, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Greenville,
South Carolina, for Appellant. E. Jean Howard, OFFICE OF THE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Greenville, South Carolina, for
Appellee.

_________________________________________________________________

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.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

PER CURIAM:

Clarence Eugene Layton pleaded guilty to armed robbery of a
bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) (1994), and using or carry-
ing a weapon during a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A.
§ 924(c) (West 1994 & Supp. 1998). The court sentenced Layton to
ninety months' imprisonment followed by five years of supervised
release and a special assessment of $200, and Layton appeals his con-
viction and sentence. Layton's counsel filed a brief pursuant to
Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), raising two possible issues
for review, but indicating that there are no meritorious issues for
appeal. Layton was notified of his opportunity to file his own supple-
mental brief, but he has not done so.

Layton's attorney first raises the question of whether the district
court complied with requirements of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure when taking Layton's plea. A review of the
record discloses that the court conducted the plea hearing in accor-
dance with Rule 11. At the beginning of the hearing, the court
inquired as to Layton's competence and his understanding of the pro-
ceedings. The court then informed Layton of the charges against him,
the elements of the offense, and the maximum possible sentence. Lay-
ton stated that he understood the charges and that he was also satisfied
with his attorney's representation. We therefore find that the district
court complied with Rule 11.

Layton's attorney next raises the issue of whether the district court
erred in sentencing Layton. A review of the record discloses that Lay-
ton's sentence was properly calculated under the Sentencing Guide-
lines and does not exceed the maximum allowed by the Guidelines or
the applicable statutes. Further, this court cannot review a sentence
within a correctly calculated guidelines sentence range that is also
within the statutory maximum penalty. See United States v. Porter,
909 F.2d 789, 794 (4th Cir. 1990). Thus, this claim is without merit.

Accordingly, we affirm Layton's convictions and sentence. In
accordance with the requirements of Anders, we have examined the
entire record in this case and find no meritorious issues for appeal.

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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. 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.

AFFIRMED

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