Court Opinion

ID: 3030827
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:44:57.344186+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:08:11.001612
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                   ___________

                                   No. 02-2795
                                   ___________

United States of America,               *
                                        *
                   Appellee,            * Appeal from the United States
                                        * District Court for the District
      v.                                * of South Dakota.
                                        *
Larry Big Boy,                          *      [UNPUBLISHED]
                                        *
                   Appellant.           *
                                   ___________

                             Submitted: February 11, 2003

                                  Filed: February 18, 2003
                                   ___________

Before BOWMAN, FAGG, and MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit Judges.
                          ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Larry Big Boy, an Indian, entered an agreement with the Government to plead
guilty to abusive sexual contact in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2244(a)(1), (c) and §
1153 (2000). At his plea hearing, Big Boy told the district court* he was hesitant to
plead guilty. The district court excused the prosecutor and engaged Big Boy in a
colloquy about his concerns and the plea process. At the end of the colloquy, Big
Boy agreed that he did want to plead guilty that day. The prosecutor returned and the

      *
       The Honorable Karen E. Schreier, United States District Court for the District
of South Dakota.
plea hearing continued. Big Boy in fact pleaded guilty. During the plea colloquy,
Big Boy admitted the factual basis for the charge, and agreed he understood what the
Government must prove at trial, the terms of the plea agreement, the maximum
possible penalties, and his trial related rights. Big Boy stated he was pleading guilty
voluntarily, and was not coerced. In the written plea agreement, Big Boy waived the
right to appeal anything except an upward departure from the guidelines range
established by the court.

       Later, at sentencing, Big Boy told the district court he wanted to withdraw his
guilty plea. The district court continued the sentencing hearing and informed Big
Boy he must file a formal written motion to withdraw his plea. Big Boy first
submitted a letter and then a formal pro se motion to withdraw his plea, indicating he
felt pressured to plead guilty, asserting he was innocent because he would “never hurt
or abuse any of [his] grandchildren,” and questioning the adequacy of the answers in
the earlier colloquy. After a hearing, the district court denied Big Boy’s motion,
finding he had not stated a fair and just reason to withdraw his plea, his assertion of
innocence was conclusory, the motion was not filed in a timely manner, and the
Government would not be prejudiced. The district court continued the sentencing
hearing until the next day, heard more evidence, and sentenced Big Boy to 168
months in prison, without imposing an upward departure from the guidelines range.
Big Boy now appeals, arguing he should be permitted to withdraw his guilty plea.
The Government filed a motion to dismiss, claiming Big Boy waived his right to
appeal.

      The Government’s motion is well-taken. Big Boy waived his right to appeal
in the plea agreement. Waivers of the statutory right to appeal are valid and
enforceable if they are knowing and voluntary. United States v. Street, 257 F.3d 869,
870 (8th Cir. 2001); United States v. Michelson, 141 F.3d 867, 871 (8th Cir. 1998).
After considering the circumstances surrounding the signing and entry of the plea

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agreement, we conclude Big Boy willingly agreed to its terms. See Michelson, 141
F.3d at 871.

      We thus grant the Government’s motion to dismiss this appeal based on Big
Boy’s voluntary waiver of appellate rights. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.

      A true copy.

            Attest:

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

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