Court Opinion

ID: 3029054
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:42:10.531296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:09:17.602729
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                   ___________

                                   No. 02-1193
                                   ___________

United States of America,               *
                                        *
             Appellee,                  *
                                        * Appeal from the United States
      v.                                * District Court for the Western
                                        * District of Missouri
William L. Shade,                       *
                                        *    [UNPUBLISHED]
             Appellant.                 *
                                   ___________

                          Submitted: July 19, 2002

                               Filed: July 29, 2002
                                    ___________

Before McMILLIAN, WOLLMAN, and LOKEN, Circuit Judges.
                         ___________

PER CURIAM.

       William L. Shade appeals from the final judgment entered in the District Court1
for the Western District of Missouri upon his guilty plea to knowingly possessing a
firearm that had been transported in interstate commerce after he had been convicted
of a felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2). The district court
sentenced Shade to 71 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release. On
appeal, counsel has moved to withdraw under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738

      1
      The Honorable Nanette K. Laughrey, United States District Judge for the
Western District of Missouri.
(1967), and has filed a brief arguing, for reversal, that the district court erred in
denying Shade’s downward-departure motion and in sentencing him at the top of the
Guidelines range. Counsel states that Shade believes his harsh sentence was based
on his race (African-American). Shade argues additionally in a pro se supplemental
brief that the district court failed to properly assess his mental stability at sentencing,
violating his due process rights, and that his trial counsel was ineffective. For the
reasons discussed below, we affirm the judgment of the district court.

       We may review a sentence within the applicable Guidelines range for improper
consideration of race. See U.S.S.G. § 5H1.10 (race not relevant to determination of
sentence); cf. United States v. Gunderson, 211 F.3d 1088, 1089 (8th Cir. 2000)
(reviewing for improper consideration of religion). Shade has made no showing,
however, that the district court considered his race in any way in sentencing him
(including the district court’s denial of his motion for downward departure based on
his personal history and alleged diminished capacity). In addition, the district court’s
comments at sentencing indicate that its denial of the motion for downward departure
was a purely discretionary decision, not one based on its belief that it lacked authority
to depart downward. Thus, we will not otherwise review the district court’s refusal
to depart downward. See United States v. Field, 110 F.3d 587, 591-92 (8th Cir.
1997).

      Shade’s due process argument also fails, because he had the opportunity, with
the assistance of counsel, to present evidence at sentencing. See United States v.
Payne, 81 F.3d 759, 764 (8th Cir. 1996) (listing due process safeguards required at
sentencing). Shade’s ineffective-assistance claims are not properly raised on direct
appeal. See United States v. Cain, 134 F.3d 1345, 1352 (8th Cir. 1998).

      Finally, following our independent review, see Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75
(1988), we find no nonfrivolous issues. Accordingly, we affirm. We also grant
counsel’s motion to withdraw and we deny Shade’s motion to strike the Anders brief.

                                            -2-
A true copy.

      Attest:

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

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