Court Opinion

ID: 9931605
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-09 16:01:14.260226+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:34.056328
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                         For the Eighth Circuit
                     ___________________________

                             No. 23-2559
                     ___________________________

                          United States of America

                     lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellee

                                        v.

                              Alvin Dale Abbott

                   lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellant
                                   ____________

                 Appeal from United States District Court
                 for the Southern District of Iowa - Eastern
                               ____________

                        Submitted: February 6, 2024
                          Filed: February 9, 2024
                               [Unpublished]
                              ____________

Before BENTON, KELLY, and STRAS, Circuit Judges.
                           ____________

PER CURIAM.
      Alvin Abbott appeals the sentence imposed by the district court1 after he
pleaded guilty to a firearm offense. His counsel has moved for leave to withdraw,
and has filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).

       Abbott argues that the district court erred in determining that he had at least
two felony convictions for crimes of violence. This determination resulted in a base
offense level of 26 under USSG § 2K2.1(a)(1). We review a district court’s
determination that a prior conviction is a “crime of violence” under the Guidelines
de novo. See United States v. Pulley, 75 F.4th 929, 930 (8th Cir. 2023). After careful
review, we conclude that under our precedent, Abbott’s Iowa convictions for
domestic abuse assault impeding air or blood flow and assault with a dangerous
weapon qualify as crimes of violence. United States v. Parrow, 844 F.3d 801, 803
(8th Cir. 2016) (per curiam); United States v. McGee, 890 F.3d 730, 736-37 (8th Cir.
2018). Thus, the district court correctly applied the increased base offense level.
Because these two convictions satisfy section 2K2.1(a)(1), we need not reach
Abbott’s argument that the district court erred in concluding that his conviction for
domestic abuse assault, second offense, qualified as a crime of violence. See United
States v. Daye, 90 F.4th 941 (8th Cir. 2024).

      We have independently reviewed the record under Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S.
75 (1988), and have found no non-frivolous issues for appeal. Accordingly, we
affirm, and we grant counsel leave to withdraw.
                       ______________________________

      1
        The Honorable Stephanie M. Rose, Chief Judge, United States District Court
for the Southern District of Iowa.

                                         -2-