Court Opinion

ID: 9802391
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 14:00:43.954039+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:01:20.033549
License: Public Domain

USCA11 Case: 22-13112    Document: 39-1     Date Filed: 08/31/2023   Page: 1 of 3

                                                  [DO NOT PUBLISH]
                                   In the
                United States Court of Appeals
                        For the Eleventh Circuit

                          ____________________

                                No. 22-13112
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                          ____________________

       UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                      Plaintiﬀ-Appellee,
       versus
       FRANCILIO FEBE,

                                                  Defendant-Appellant.

                          ____________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Middle District of Florida
                  D.C. Docket No. 6:19-cr-00120-PGB-LHP-1
                           ____________________
USCA11 Case: 22-13112      Document: 39-1     Date Filed: 08/31/2023     Page: 2 of 3

       2                      Opinion of the Court                 22-13112

       Before WILSON, LUCK, and BRASHER, Circuit Judges.
       PER CURIAM:
              Andrew C. Searle, appointed counsel for Francisco Febe in
       this direct criminal appeal, has filed a motion to withdraw on ap-
       peal, supported by a brief prepared under Anders v. California,
       386 U.S. 738 (1967). However, Febe is a fugitive who failed to ap-
       pear at his sentencing hearing and has remained out of custody dur-
       ing his appeal.
               Under the fugitive disentitlement doctrine, an appellate
       court has discretion to dismiss the appeal of a defendant who is a
       fugitive from justice during the pendency of his appeal. Ortega-Ro-
       driguez v. United States, 507 U.S. 234, 239 (1993). A “fugitive from
       justice” is a person who flees or conceals himself within the juris-
       diction after having committed a crime therein. United States v. Bar-
       nette, 129 F.3d 1179, 1183 (11th Cir. 1997). Further, “intent to flee
       from prosecution or arrest may be inferred from a person’s failure
       to surrender to authorities.” Id. at 1184 (quotation marks and alter-
       ation omitted). A defendant’s fugitive status must have some con-
       nection “to the appellate process he seeks to utilize,” such as when
       the defendant’s fugitive status and appellate proceedings overlap.
       Id.; Ortega-Rodriguez, 507 U.S. at 249 (stating that such a connection
       exists “when a defendant is at large during ‘the ongoing appellate
       process’”). The rationale underlying the fugitive disentitlement
       doctrine is that a defendant who escapes from the restraints placed
       upon him pursuant to a criminal conviction has waived or
USCA11 Case: 22-13112     Document: 39-1      Date Filed: 08/31/2023    Page: 3 of 3

       22-13112               Opinion of the Court                        3

       abandoned his right to call upon the resources of the court. See Mo-
       linaro v. New Jersey, 396 U.S. 365, 366 (1970); Ortega-Rodriguez, 507
       U.S. at 240.
              Here, Febe’s appeal is subject to dismissal under the fugitive
       disentitlement doctrine because he failed to appear at his sentenc-
       ing hearing, and he has remained out of custody and has not ap-
       peared during the pendency of this appeal. Accordingly, we dismiss
       this appeal under the fugitive disentitlement doctrine and deny
       Searle’s motion to withdraw as moot.
             DISMISSED; MOTION DENIED AS MOOT.