Court Opinion

ID: 3029300
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:42:35.312271+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:10:19.174049
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                  ___________

                                  No. 02-1592
                                  ___________

United States of America,              *
                                       *
                    Appellee,          * Appeal from the United States
                                       * District Court for the Southern
      v.                               * District of Iowa.
                                       *
Polo Rico Guerra,                      *       [UNPUBLISHED]
                                       *
                    Appellant.         *
                                  ___________

                             Submitted: August 21, 2002

                                 Filed: August 27, 2002
                                  ___________

Before HANSEN, Chief Judge, FAGG and BYE, Circuit Judges.
                              ___________

PER CURIAM.

      Polo Rico Guerra moved to replace his retained attorney one week before trial
on multiple drug distribution and conspiracy charges was scheduled to begin. After
a hearing on the motion, Guerra informed the court he would continue with his
current attorney. Later that day, Guerra pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute
methamphetamine in exchange for dismissal of the remaining counts and a limitation
on the sentence the Government would seek. Five months later, Guerra moved for
appointment of counsel, having exhausted his financial resources. The motion was
granted.
       Guerra, through newly appointed counsel, then moved to withdraw the guilty
plea. The district court* held a hearing on Guerra’s motion, found Guerra’s testimony
not creditable, found Guerra had not shown a fair and just reason to withdraw his
plea, and denied Guerra’s motion to withdraw. The court then sentenced Guerra to
240 months imprisonment, consistent with the terms of the plea agreement. Guerra
now appeals. Guerra raises several complaints about his first attorney and the plea
agreement, claiming he did not understand the plea agreement or the colloquy
because of difficulties hearing the interpreter and the speed of the proceedings,
counsel did not inform the court of these difficulties, counsel brought an interpreter
to attorney-client meetings only once, counsel said Guerra would receive twelve years
in prison, not twenty, counsel told an intimidating story about how the federal
government executed a drug kingpin, and counsel did not move to exclude the
prosecutor from the hearing on Guerra’s motion to substitute counsel. Because of
these problems, Guerra claims his guilty plea was not knowing and voluntary, the
problems show fair and just reasons to withdraw the plea, and counsel was ineffective
in advising Guerra to accept a plea bargain. Having carefully reviewed the record and
the parties’ submissions, we reject each of Guerra’s claims.

       We find no error with the district court’s conclusion that Guerra’s guilty plea
was knowing and voluntary. United States v. Bahena, 223 F.3d 797, 806 (8th Cir.
2000) (standard of review), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1181 (2001). At the plea hearing,
Guerra testified under oath that he understood the proceedings, he was satisfied with
his attorney, and he admitted the factual basis for his guilt. Id. Although Guerra
complains that he could not hear the interpreter read the agreement to him before the
colloquy, he admitted that he did not tell the interpreter he could not hear her. Guerra
had the benefit of the same interpreter at the plea hearing and at the hearing for his
motion to withdraw the plea. We also reject Guerra’s contentions that his attorney

      *
       The Honorable Robert W. Pratt, United States District Judge for the Southern
District of Iowa.

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coerced him to plead guilty. The attorney explained the reasons for his
recommendation to accept the plea on the record. The district court then informed
Guerra that no one was pressuring him to plead guilty and Guerra alone had the right
to determine whether or not to proceed to trial. Guerra agreed he understood the
district court’s explanation of his right to trial.

       Likewise, we conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying
Guerra’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea. United States v. Embrey, 250 F.3d
1181, 1183 (8th Cir. 2001). Although we grant Guerra more liberal consideration
because he moved to withdraw the guilty plea before sentencing, Guerra has not
shown a fair and just reason to withdraw his plea. Id. Guerra’s difficulties
understanding the interpreter could have been easily remedied by asking her to repeat
items or to speak louder. The district court found Guerra’s complaints about his
attorney not creditable. Having considered the proper factors to determine whether
Guerra may set aside his guilty plea, we conclude the factors do not support Guerra’s
motion to withdraw his plea. Id. (listing factors). Guerra has asserted his innocence
of being a leader or supervisor of the conspiracy, but he admitted the factual basis of
the drug distribution charge under oath. Guerra sought to withdraw his guilty plea
before sentencing, but that motion came six months after he entered the plea.
Because we do not find Guerra has shown a fair and just reason to withdraw his plea,
we need not consider whether the government would be prejudiced. United States v.
Has No Horses, 261 F.3d 744, 750 (8th Cir. 2001), cert. denied, 122 S. Ct. 1114
(2002).

      Even though we do not normally decide ineffective assistance of counsel
claims on direct review, because the record is adequately developed in this case, we
conclude Guerra’s claim fails. United States v. Cole, 262 F.3d 704, 710 (8th Cir.
2001); see also United States v. Hernandez, 281 F.3d 746, 749 (8th Cir. 2002)
(holding ineffective assistance of counsel claims may be decided on direct appeal
where the district court has developed a record on the ineffectiveness issue). The

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record includes Guerra’s testimony of his attorney’s failings, the attorney’s testimony
explaining his actions, and the district court’s finding that Guerra’s testimony was not
creditable. The record also shows the prosecutor’s presence during the motion to
substitute counsel hearing did not compromise attorney-client privilege as Guerra
claimed. Because Guerra cannot show that counsel’s assistance fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness or that but for counsel’s actions, Guerra would
not have pleaded guilty, Guerra’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails.
Wilcox v. Hopkins, 249 F.3d 720, 722 (8th Cir. 2001), cert. denied, 122 S. Ct. 1088
(2002).

      Having rejected Guerra’s claims, we affirm his conviction and sentence.

      A true copy.

             Attest:

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

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