Court Opinion

ID: 992495
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-03 23:52:46.770674+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:26:21.587381
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.                                                                No. 96-4931

RAMON DELGADO, JR.,
Defendant-Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of South Carolina, at Spartanburg.
Henry M. Herlong, Jr., District Judge.
(CR-96-254)

Submitted: June 12, 1997

Decided: June 24, 1997

Before WIDENER and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges, and
PHILLIPS, Senior Circuit Judge.

_________________________________________________________________

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

_________________________________________________________________

COUNSEL

Allen B. Burnside, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Columbia,
South Carolina, for Appellant. Harold Watson Gowdy, III, OFFICE
OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Greenville, South Caro-
lina, for Appellee.

_________________________________________________________________
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
Local Rule 36(c).

_________________________________________________________________

OPINION

PER CURIAM:

Ramon Delgado, Jr., pled guilty pursuant to a written plea agree-
ment to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to dis-
tribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (1994). Delgado was
sentenced to seventy months imprisonment, five years of supervised
release, and a $50 special assessment. Delgado noted a timely appeal.
Counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S.
738 (1967), challenging the Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 proceeding and the
court's refusal to depart downward from Delgado's guideline range,
but stating that in his view no nonfrivolous grounds for appeal exist.
Delgado did not file a supplemental brief, although he was advised of
his right to do so. Finding no error, we affirm.

In reviewing the adequacy of compliance with Rule 11, this court
accords "deference to the trial court's decision as to how best to con-
duct the mandated colloquy with the defendant." United States v.
DeFusco, 949 F.2d 114, 116 (4th Cir. 1991). Rule 11 violations
should be evaluated under the harmless error standard. See id. at 117.
This court may vacate a conviction resulting from a guilty plea only
if the trial court's violations of Rule 11 affected the defendant's sub-
stantial rights. See id.

At the time the plea was entered, Delgado was thirty-three years
old and had attended the tenth grade. He was not under the influence
of drugs or alcohol, and he stated that he was satisfied with his coun-
sel's representation. The district court determined that Delgado was
competent to enter his plea.

The court then ascertained that Delgado understood what rights he
was waiving by entering a guilty plea, and Delgado acknowledged
that he was aware of his rights. The court read the indictment and
explained that the Government would be required to prove two ele-

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ments: that the conspiracy described in the indictment was wilfully
formed and existed at or about the time alleged in the indictment, and
that Delgado wilfully became a member of the conspiracy. Delgado
acknowledged that he understood the elements of the offense. The
court also insured that there was a factual basis for Delgado's plea.

The court carefully explained the applicable minimum and maxi-
mum penalties with regard to the different amounts of drugs that
could be attributed to Delgado. The court discussed the application of
the sentencing guidelines and explained that it had the authority to
depart from the guidelines in certain circumstances. Further, the court
informed Delgado that, if he was sentenced to a term of imprison-
ment, he would also be sentenced to a term of supervised release.
Finally, the court discussed the plea agreement. Delgado said that he
was in fact guilty of the crime charged and was not pleading guilty
as a result of any force or threats. A review of the transcript reveals
full compliance with Rule 11. Accordingly, this claim of error is with-
out merit.

Delgado next claims that the court erred by not departing down-
ward from his guideline range. Because the record is devoid of any
indication that the sentencing judge misunderstood his authority to
depart downward, this issue is not appealable. See United States v.
Bayerle, 898 F.2d 28 (4th Cir. 1990).

In accordance with Anders, we have examined the entire record in
this case and find no reversible error. We therefore affirm the convic-
tion and sentence. This court requires that counsel inform his client,
in writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court of the United
States for further review. If the client requests that a petition be filed,
but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then
counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from represen-
tation. Counsel's motion must state that a copy thereof was served on
the client. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal
contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court,
and oral argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

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