Court Opinion

ID: 3031763
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:46:33.470377+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:09:01.140284
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                   ___________

                                   No. 02-2381
                                   ___________

United States of America,               *
                                        *
             Appellee,                  *
                                        *
      v.                                * Appeal from the United States
                                        * District Court for the
Darryl Jerome Glover,                   * District of Minnesota.
                                        * [UNPUBLISHED]
             Appellant.                 *
                                   ___________

                          Submitted: June 4, 2003
                              Filed: June 13, 2003
                                   ___________

Before MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, BYE, and RILEY, Circuit Judges.
                         ___________

PER CURIAM.

      Darryl Jerome Glover challenges his conviction and the sentence imposed by
the district court1 after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a prison guard using a
dangerous weapon, namely a broom, and inflicting bodily injury, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) and (b). Glover was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment to run
consecutively to an undischarged prison sentence, and to a concurrent 3-year
supervised release term. On appeal, Glover asserts that counsel was ineffective for
not objecting to the presentence report, for not advocating effectively for Glover at

      1
      The Honorable David S. Doty, United States District Judge for the District of
Minnesota.
sentencing, and for failing to reach a plea agreement with the government; that he
should have received a 3-level decrease for acceptance of responsibility; that the
broom was not a dangerous weapon; that his sentence should have run concurrently
with his undischarged term; and that his plea was not voluntary. We reject these
arguments.

       First, Glover’s ineffective-assistance claims should be raised in a 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255 motion, where a full record can be developed regarding counsel’s
performance. See United States v. Clayton, 210 F.3d 841, 845 n.4 (8th Cir. 2000).
We note that contrary to Glover’s assertions, the record shows that defense counsel
did raise Glover’s concerns regarding being on medication, did object to the
presentence report, and did attempt to negotiate a plea agreement with the
government. Second, plea negotiations reached an impasse and Glover did not plead
guilty until the scheduled trial date, and thus we conclude the district court did not err
in denying a 3-level decrease under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(b)(2). See United States v.
Chatman, 119 F.3d 1335, 1342 (8th Cir.) (affirming district court’s denial of 3-level
decrease because, despite ongoing plea negotiations and defendant’s stated intention
prior to trial to plead guilty, defendant did not in fact plead guilty until trial date and
government had essentially completed its preparations for trial), cert. denied, 522
U.S. 976 (1997). Third, the record shows that Glover swung the broom with
sufficient force to cause the prison guard bleeding and bruising to his head and body
requiring medical attention, and thus was a “dangerous weapon.” See U.S.S.G.
§ 2A2.2, comment. (n.1) (dangerous weapon “includes any instrument that is not
ordinarily used as a weapon (e.g., a car, a chair, or an ice pick) if such an instrument
is involved in the offense with the intent to commit bodily injury”); § 1B1.1,
comment. (n.1(b)) (“bodily injury” means any significant injury, e.g., injury that is
painful and obvious or is of type for which medical attention ordinarily would be
sought). Fourth, the Guidelines require that Glover’s offense be served consecutively
to his undischarged prison sentence. See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(a) (if instant offense was
committed while defendant was serving prison term, sentence for instant offense

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“shall be imposed to run consecutively” to undischarged term); United States v.
Melgar-Galvez, 161 F.3d 1122, 1123 n.2 (7th Cir. 1998) (§ 5G1.3(a) applies to
person who assaults prison guard while serving prison term). Fifth, we conclude
Glover’s plea was knowing and voluntary. The record shows that Glover was found
to be competent when using medication, Glover does not appear to dispute his
competence, and Glover was questioned extensively about his awareness and
understanding of the change-of-plea proceeding. Glover also affirmed at the plea
hearing that his decision to plead guilty was not affected by defense counsel’s
representation, he stated that he hit the prison guard with the broom, and he described
the attack. See United States v. Bahena, 223 F.3d 797, 806-07 (8th Cir. 2000)
(finding plea to be knowing and voluntary where defendant testified under oath that
he understood proceeding, was satisfied with his attorney, and had committed crimes
charged), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1181 (2001); Nguyen v. United States, 114 F.3d 699,
703 (8th Cir. 1997) (defendant’s representations during plea-taking carry strong
presumption of verity).

      Accordingly, we affirm.

      A true copy.

             Attest:

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

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