Court Opinion

ID: 867660
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-05-13 15:07:29.209772+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:04:31.970164
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                              For the Eighth Circuit
                          ___________________________

                                  No. 12-3316
                          ___________________________

                              United States of America

                         lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee

                                            v.

                                    Frank T. Martin

                        lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant
                                        ____________

                      Appeal from United States District Court
                 for the Western District of Missouri - Kansas City
                                  ____________

                              Submitted: April 11, 2013
                                Filed: May 13, 2013
                                  ____________

Before RILEY, Chief Judge, BRIGHT and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
                              ____________

BRIGHT, Circuit Judge.

      Frank Martin pleaded guilty to all five counts of a federal indictment charging
him with distributing crack cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and
carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. At his change of
plea hearing, the district court1 advised Martin that he could face up to 10 years on
count four for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In fact, Martin’s three prior
convictions for violent felony offenses triggered the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18
U.S.C. § 924(e), thereby mandating a 15-year minimum sentence on count four. The
district court sentenced Martin to 180 months (15 years) on each of counts one
through four and a consecutive term of 60 months (5 years) on count five, for a total
of 240 months (20 years). We affirm.

                                 BACKGROUND
       Between July 9 and July 21, 2009, an undercover Kansas City police officer and
a confidential informant completed three drug transactions with Martin. After the
third transaction, officers conducted a search of Martin’s car, which revealed a
handgun, electronic scale, marijuana, and a cellular phone used in the controlled
purchases. Because one of the drug transactions occurred at Martin’s residence,
officers also executed a search warrant at Martin’s residence and found another
handgun and electronic scale. After his arrest, Martin admitted he was a felon and
was in possession of a firearm and drugs at the time of his arrest.

       A federal grand jury charged Martin with: knowingly distributing crack
cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) (counts I-III); being a
felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2)2
(count IV); and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (count V). Specific to count IV, the

       1
        The Honorable Gary A. Fenner, United States District Judge for the Western
District of Missouri.
       2
        Section 924(a)(2) reads, “Whoever knowingly violates subsection (a)(6), (d),
(g), (h), (i), (j), or (o) of section 922 shall be fined as provided in this title, imprisoned
not more than 10 years, or both.” 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2).

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indictment did not make any reference to section 924(e),3 which mandates a minimum
sentence of 15 years for a person who has three prior convictions for a violent felony
or serious drug offense. 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1).

       Martin entered a plea of not guilty to all counts of the indictment, but later
requested a change of plea. At his change of plea hearing, the district court informed
Martin that the range of punishment for being a felon in possession of a firearm, count
IV, included imprisonment of up to 10 years, but made no mention of the 15-year
statutory minimum pursuant to section 924(e). Martin pled guilty to all counts.

      The Presentence Report (PSR) noted that Martin had at least three prior violent
felony convictions. The PSR concluded that Martin must be sentenced to: (1) no
more than 30 years on counts I-III, (2) no less than 15 years and no more than life on
count IV and (3) no less than 5 years on count V. The PSR also concluded that
Martin’s sentence on count V must run consecutive to counts I-IV and recommended
a guidelines range of 262-327 months (21.83-27.25 years). Martin did not object to
the PSR.

      3
       Section 924(e)(1) states:

      In the case of a person who violates section 922(g) of this title and has
      three previous convictions by any court referred to in section 922(g)(1)
      of this title for a violent felony or a serious drug offense, or both,
      committed on occasions different from one another, such person shall be
      fined under this title and imprisoned not less than fifteen years, and,
      notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court shall not suspend
      the sentence of, or grant a probationary sentence to, such person with
      respect to the conviction under section 922(g).

18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1) (emphasis added).

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       In his sentencing memorandum, Martin’s counsel requested a total sentence of
15 years. At sentencing, Martin’s counsel did not object to Martin’s career offender
status given his prior violent felony convictions and acknowledged that she incorrectly
thought the 5-year term on count V could run concurrent to the term on count IV.
Martin’s counsel then requested a sentence of 10 years as to counts I-III, 15 years as
to count IV and a consecutive 5 years as to count V, for a total of 20 years. The
district court sentenced Martin to 15 years on each of counts I-IV to be served
concurrently and 5 years on count V to be served consecutively, for a total of 20 years.

       On appeal, Martin contends the district court’s failure to inform him of the 15-
year statutory minimum on count IV at his change of plea hearing amounted to a
violation of due process and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. Martin requests
that this court vacate his 20-year sentence and impose a 15-year sentence or remand
for a re-sentencing with instruction that the district court impose a sentence of 10
years as to Count IV. Alternatively, Martin requests that this court vacate his guilty
plea as to Count IV, a remedy he raises for the first time in his reply brief.

                                   DISCUSSION
       Because Martin failed to raise these issues before the district court, we review
for plain error. United States v. Gray, 581 F.3d 749, 752 (8th Cir. 2009). “Under
plain error review, the defendant must show: (1) an error; (2) that is plain; and (3) that
affects substantial rights.” Id. (quotation and citation omitted). An error is plain
when it is “clear or obvious, rather than subject to reasonable dispute.” Puckett v.
United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009) (citation omitted). Affecting substantial
rights ordinarily means the error “affected the outcome of the district court
proceedings.” Id. (quotation and citation omitted).

       The government concedes the district court committed error by failing to notify
Martin of the 15-year statutory minimum on count IV. But even assuming the error
is plain, such error did not affect Martin’s substantial rights. The district court

                                           -4-
sentenced Martin to a total of 20 years, a term below the recommended guidelines
range and one which Martin’s counsel requested at sentencing, after acknowledging
the earlier misunderstanding about whether count V had to run concurrent to count IV.
See United States v. McCully, 407 F.3d 931, 934 (8th Cir. 2005) (where defendant
received a sentence at the low end of the guidelines range as requested, she cannot
challenge the sentence on appeal). Further, the district court sentenced Martin to 15
years on each of counts I-IV to be served concurrently and a consecutive term of 5
years on count V. As such, Martin’s sentence would remain the same at 20 years even
without the 15-year term on count IV.

       Although Martin did not raise the Rule 11 issue before the district court, this
issue may be raised for the first time on appeal. United States v. Young, 927 F.2d
1060, 1061 (8th Cir. 1991) (“[C]ompliance with Rule 11 is properly raised on appeal
without first being presented to the district court.”) (citation omitted). Among the
requirements of Rule 11, the district court must inform a defendant of any mandatory
minimum penalty before accepting the plea. Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(I). This the
district court failed to do. However, “the burden is on [Martin] to show he would
have plead [sic] not guilty but for the Rule 11 violation.” United States v. Gray, 581
F.3d 749, 752 (8th Cir. 2009). However, Martin makes no such showing—not before
the district court or in his opening brief to this court.

       Even after receiving his PSR, which put Martin on notice of the 15-year
statutory minimum on count IV, Martin made no objection to the fact that no such
minimum was mentioned at the change of plea hearing. At sentencing, the district
court gave Martin the opportunity to voice his concerns, asking “Is there anything that
you’d like to say this morning before I determine your sentence?” Martin replied,
“No, sir.” Martin did not object to the defective plea colloquy.

      Martin’s opening brief to this court is devoid of any showing that but for the
Rule 11 violation, he would not have pleaded guilty. See United States v. Todd, 521

                                         -5-
F.3d 891, 896 (8th Cir. 2008) (“Even in his brief on appeal, [defendant] does not
assert that he would have proceeded to trial if the plea hearing had fully complied with
Rule 11”). Therefore, because Martin failed to make the requisite showing, we
conclude the district court did not commit plain error.

       Finally, Martin asserts he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Martin
claims his counsel wrongfully advised him that he would receive a total sentence of
15 years and refused to seek withdrawal of his guilty plea as to count IV despite his
request. The record here provides no support for Martin’s claim of ineffective
assistance. This issue as to the representation Martin received is an issue which
Martin did not raise and cannot raise here. See United States v. Dubray, 727 F.2d 771,
772 (8th Cir. 1984) (noting ineffective assistance of counsel claims are normally
raised for the first time in collateral proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 because such
claims require development of the facts outside the original record).

      Accordingly, we affirm.
                        ______________________________

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