Court Opinion

ID: 3023816
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:29:47.797149+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:47:38.705355
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                    No. 99-2111
                                    ___________

United States of America,                *
                                         *
             Appellee,                   *
                                         * Appeal from the United States
      v.                                 * District Court for the
                                         * Eastern District of Arkansas.
Reed Edward Avey,                        *     [UNPUBLISHED]
                                         *
             Appellant.                  *
                                    ___________

                            Submitted: November 2, 1999

                                Filed: November 5, 1999
                                    ___________

Before WOLLMAN, Chief Judge, BEAM, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.
                             ___________

PER CURIAM.

      After Reed Edward Avey pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in
possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), the district court1
sentenced him to 18 months’ imprisonment and two years’ supervised release. On
appeal, counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967),
suggesting that the district court abused its discretion in refusing to depart downward
because of Avey’s family ties and distinguished military service. Counsel further

      1
        The Honorable Henry Woods, United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Arkansas.
suggested that the district court erred by refusing to sentence Avey to a term of
probation or to confinement in a halfway house because of his medical condition. Avey
filed a pro se supplemental brief, in which he argues that his firearms charge should be
dismissed because the military tribunal in which he was convicted bypasses
constitutional safeguards to achieve a conviction and should therefore not be classified
as a “court” for purposes of section 922(g)(1). Avey further contends that the district
court improperly made a sentencing decision based on written materials submitted to
it prior to the sentencing hearing.

        We conclude that these arguments lack merit. First, the district court’s refusal
to depart downward is unreviewable, because its statements, taken as a whole, indicate
that it was aware of its authority to depart downward and that it exercised its discretion
not to do so. See United States v. Jenkins, 78 F.3d 1283, 1290 (8th Cir. 1996).
Second, Avey’s 15-to-21-month Guidelines imprisonment range made him ineligible
for probation, see U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 5B1.1, comment. (n.2) (1998),
and the district court’s comments at sentencing indicate that it considered Avey’s
medical needs, see United States v. Byrd, 984 F.2d 251, 252 (8th Cir. 1993) (per
curiam).

       We further conclude that, by pleading guilty, Avey waived his argument that the
military tribunal in which he was convicted was not a “court.” See United States v.
Fitzhugh, 78 F.3d 1326, 1330 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 902 (1996). Avey’s
remaining contention is belied by the sentencing transcript, which shows that the
district court considered Avey’s arguments prior to sentencing him to a term of
imprisonment well below the presentence report’s recommended sentencing range.

       In accordance with Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80 (1998), we have reviewed
the record for any nonfrivolous issues and have found none. We grant counsel’s
motion to withdraw.

                                           -2-
The judgment is affirmed.

A true copy.

      Attest:

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

                               -3-