Court Opinion

ID: 17946
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 07:09:19+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:06.303793
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                    FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                        _________________

                                           No. 98-50597
                                           No. 98-50598
                                         Summary Calendar
                                        _________________

                UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                            Plaintiff-Appellee,

                versus

                SUSANNE MCDANIEL FUSCHINO, and
                MICHAEL GROVER FUSCHINO,

                                            Defendants-Appellants.

                           Appeals from the United States District Court
                                for the Western District of Texas

                                 (W-96-CR-48-1 & W-96-CR-48-2)

                                            May 31, 1999

Before EMILIO M. GARZA, DeMOSS, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*

        Susanne McDaniel Fuschino and Michael Grover Fuschino appeal the denial of their motions

to vacate, set aside, or correct their sentences filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The district court

granted t he Fuschinos a Certificate of Appealability (“COA”) on two issues: (1) whether a

defendant’s right to effective assistance in a federal criminal proceeding arises when he is arrested or

charged in state court; and (2) whether the district court should conduct an evidentiary hearing even

   *
       Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
though the record reflects that the defendant received the complained of advice of counsel prior to

his arrest and indictment on federal charges. The Fuschinos request that we grant a COA on

additional issues, including whether they received ineffective assistance of counsel, whether a conflict

of interest developed, and whether the district court should have held evidentiary hearings to evaluate

the effect of both the conflict and the ineffective assistance.

        We review all of the issues raised by the Fuschino’s on appeal, including those issues not

certified for appeal by the district court, because the Fuschinos have expressly requested that we

evaluate those issues. See United States v. Kimler, 150 F.3d 429, 430 (5th Cir. 1998). We, however,

will issue a COA only if the Fuschinos make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional

right. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2).

        The Fuschinos’ claims regarding ineffective assistance of counsel prior to their indictment in

federal court fail because they entered guilty pleas voluntarily. See Tollett v. Henderson, 411 U.S.
258, 267 (1973) (“When a criminal defendant has solemnly admitted in open court that he is in fact

guilty of the offense with which he is charged, he may not thereafter raise independent claims relating

to the deprivation of constitutional rights that occurred prior to the entry of the guilty plea. He may

only attack the voluntary and intelligent character of the guilty plea . . .”); Smith v. Estelle, 711 F.2d
677, 682 (5th Cir. 1983) (“[O]nce a guilty plea has been entered, all nonjurisdictional defects in the

proceedings against a defendant are waived”). The Fuschinos have not alleged that their pleas were

involuntary, or that, but for their counsel’s ineffectiveness, they would not have pled guilty.

Accordingly, the Fuschinos’ claims lack merit because they have not made a substantial showing of

the denial of a constitutional right. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2).

        Accordingly, we AFFIRM the district court’s dismissal of the Fuschinos’ § 2255 motions.

The Fuschinos’ request for a COA on those issues not certified for appeal by the district court is

DENIED. The Government’s motion to strike those issues not certified by the district court or,

alternatively, for an enlargement of time to respond to those issues is DENIED as unnecessary.

        REQUESTS FOR COA DENIED; JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.

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