Court Opinion

ID: 3028928
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:41:52.549896+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:38:03.344262
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                    No. 01-3557
                                    ___________

United States of America,                *
                                         *
                    Appellee,            * Appeal from the United States
                                         * District Court for the District
      v.                                 * of North Dakota.
                                         *
Joseph Eugene Haff,                      *      [UNPUBLISHED]
                                         *
                    Appellant.           *
                                    ___________

                              Submitted: June 11, 2002

                                   Filed: June 20, 2002
                                    ___________

Before BOWMAN, FAGG, and BYE, Circuit Judges.
                          ___________

PER CURIAM.

      Joseph Eugene Haff pleaded guilty to possession of more than 50 grams of
methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).
Haff raises three issues in his appeal from the sentence imposed by the district court.*

      *
       The Honorable Rodney S. Webb, Chief United States District Judge for the
District of North Dakota.
       First, Haff contends the sentencing scheme in 21 U.S.C. § 841(b) is
unconstitutional. We disagree. Haff’s argument is foreclosed by our decision in
United States v. Woods, 270 F.3d 728, 729-30 (8th Cir. 2001), cert. denied 122 S.Ct.
1342 (2002). Second, Haff claims the indictment was flawed because it did not plead
the earlier felony convictions which the district court used to enhance Haff’s
sentence. Again, we disagree. We do not require that earlier felony convictions be
pleaded and proved beyond a reasonable doubt for those convictions to be considered
at sentencing. United States v. Abernathy, 277 F.3d 1048, 1050 (8th Cir. 2002),
petition for cert. filed, (U.S. Apr. 19, 2002) (No. 01-9788). Finally, Haff contends the
sentence violates Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), because the
indictment did not allege the quantity and purity of the methamphetamine, yet the
district court considered these factors during sentencing. We find, however, that the
indictment alleged Haff “possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of
actual methamphetamine” and Haff stipulated to this level of quantity and purity
when he entered his guilty plea. Further, although Haff’s earlier convictions increase
the statutory maximum sentence, “the use of drug quantity at sentencing will not
conflict with Apprendi so long as it results in a sentence within the § 841(b)(1)(C)
maximum.” United States v. Sheppard, 219 F.3d 766, 768 (8th Cir. 2000). Haff’s
156 month (13 year) sentence is well within the statutory 30 year maximum.

      For the reasons stated above, we affirm the district court.

      A true copy.

             Attest:

                     CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

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