Court Opinion

ID: 4550664
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-07-23 17:00:17.534096+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:00:39.874077
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 _____________

                                      No. 19-3248
                                     _____________

                            UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                             v.

                                GLENN FORD, Appellant

                                     ______________

             APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
              FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                   (D.C. Crim. Action No. 2-17-cr-00326-001)
                   District Judge: Honorable Reggie B. Walton
                                 ______________

                      Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
                                     July 1, 2020
                                  ______________

       Before: GREENAWAY, JR., SHWARTZ, and RENDELL, Circuit Judges.

                              (Opinion Filed: July 23, 2020)

                                     ______________

                                        OPINION *
                                     ______________

GREENAWAY, JR., Circuit Judge.

       *
        This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7
does not constitute binding precedent.
       Counsel for appellant Glenn Ford moves to withdraw pursuant to Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), based upon Counsel’s conclusion that no nonfrivolous

issues exist for appeal. Ford pled guilty to three counts of bank robbery, pursuant to 18

U.S.C. § 2113(a), and one count of Hobbs Act robbery, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1951.

The District Court sentenced Ford to 151 months’ imprisonment, followed by a three-

year term of supervised release, and ordered Ford to pay $7,846 in restitution. Ford filed

a timely notice of appeal. For the reasons set forth below, we will grant Counsel’s

motion to withdraw, affirm the District Court’s judgment of conviction, and deny Ford’s

request for appointment of new counsel.

                    I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       The charges in this case arise from three bank robberies and a robbery of a

convenience store. The first robbery occurred on September 15, 2017, when Ford

demanded money from a teller at a branch of the Huntington Bank and left with $2,340.

A few days later, on September 20, 2017, Ford went to a branch of the Citizens Bank and

demanded money from the teller. Ford left with $2,950. While waiting at a nearby bus

station, an off-duty security guard observed Ford entering and leaving the bank in a

suspicious manner. Based on his suspicions, the off-duty security guard entered the bank

to ask if it had been robbed. Upon learning that the bank had in fact been robbed, the off-

duty guard left to catch his bus. Ford got on the same bus. The off-duty security guard

took a picture of Ford and provided it to the police.

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       Over a week later, on September 28, 2017, Ford returned to the same Huntington

Bank branch that he robbed on September 15, 2017 and approached the same teller. The

teller recognized Ford and placed a dye pack with the money Ford had demanded. The

dye pack exploded as Ford fled the bank, causing damage to Ford’s clothes and to the

$2,370 Ford had stolen from the bank.

       Ford’s final robbery occurred on October 4, 2017, when Ford took $186 from a

convenience store while possessing a knife. Police officers arrested Ford several days

later after recognizing him on surveillance videos. Ford admitted to committing the

robberies and assisted the officers in recovering the damaged money from the third bank

robbery.

       On November 30, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted Ford on three counts of bank

robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery. Against the District Court’s advice, Ford

chose to represent himself whereby the Court appointed him with standby counsel. Ford

pled not guilty to the indictment. In July 2018, Ford indicated that he wished to change

his plea to guilty pursuant to a plea agreement. At the change of plea hearing on July 24,

2018, however, Ford changed his mind and declined to accept the plea agreement. Two

days later, Ford had a second opportunity to accept the plea agreement, but again

declined to do so.

       At a status hearing on October 24, 2018, Ford withdrew his request to represent

himself and as a result, the District Court appointed standby counsel to represent Ford as

his counsel. By late February 2019, Ford indicated that he was prepared to accept an
                                             3
open plea. On March 7, 2019, the District Court held a change of plea hearing where,

among other things, Ford waived his right to a jury trial, acknowledged that he

understood the charges, and agreed with the factual basis for the charges. Satisfied that

Ford was competent and understood the consequences of his decision to plead guilty, the

District Court accepted Ford’s guilty plea.

       Shortly after his change of plea hearing, on March 20, 2019, Ford filed a motion to

withdraw his plea, arguing that he was innocent of the charged offenses and that counsel

had provided ineffective assistance. A month later, on April 23, 2019, Ford filed a

second motion to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing that he wished to represent himself by

asserting the defense of insanity. At a status hearing on May 2, 2019, the District Court

denied Ford’s request to represent himself and tabled adjudication of Ford’s motion to

withdraw his guilty plea to a later date until the government could respond to his motion.

After the government responded to Ford’s motion, Ford filed two additional motions to

withdraw his guilty plea on May 23, 2019 and June 12, 2019. Ford, however, later

withdrew all four motions at a motion hearing on August 2, 2019.

       Ford’s indecisiveness eventually led him to file two more motions to withdraw his

guilty plea on August 20, 2019 and September 5, 2019. Ford then withdrew these

motions at his sentencing hearing on September 20, 2019. During Ford’s sentencing

hearing, the District Court listened to defense counsel’s argument for a downward

variance from Ford’s career offender status based on the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a). After considering defense counsel’s argument and taking into account the
                                              4
Presentence Investigation Report, the District Court denied the variance request and

determined that Ford was a career offender under the Sentencing Guidelines

(“Guidelines”). Ford received a sentence of 151 months’ imprisonment, followed by a

three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $7,846 in restitution.

       On October 1, 2019, Ford filed a timely notice of appeal. On March 4, 2020,

Counsel moved to withdraw, pursuant to the standards set forth in Anders. Ford has not

filed a brief, but after briefing was completed, he filed a motion for appointment of new

counsel.

                                      II. JURISDICTION

       The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231. This Court has

jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

                                III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

       Appellate counsel must “support his client’s appeal to the best of his ability.”

Anders, 386 U.S. at 744. However, if an attorney representing a criminal defendant finds

an appeal to be wholly frivolous, Anders delineates the process by which an attorney may

request to withdraw from continued representation. Id. Pursuant to Anders, counsel

requesting to withdraw must satisfactorily show the court they have “scoured the record

[for] appealable issues” and “explain why the issues are frivolous.” United States v.

Marvin, 211 F.3d 778, 780 (3d Cir. 2000). The court must then engage in a two-part

inquiry: “(1) whether counsel adequately fulfilled [Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule

                                             5
109.2’s] requirements;[1] and (2) whether an independent review of the record presents

any nonfrivolous issues.” United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir. 2001). If an

appeal is judged to be wholly frivolous, this Court must “grant trial counsel’s Anders

motion, and dispose of the appeal without appointing new counsel.” Id. (quoting 3d Cir.

L.A.R. 109.2(a)). On the other hand, “[i]f the panel finds arguable merit to the appeal, or

that the Anders brief is inadequate to assist the court in its review, it will appoint

substitute counsel, order supplemental briefing and restore the case to the calendar.” 3d

Cir. L.A.R. 109.2(a).

                                          IV. ANALYSIS

       We are satisfied that the brief submitted by Counsel contains a “conscientious

examination of the record” for issues of arguable merit and find that Counsel has fulfilled

the requirements set forth in Anders. As we have previously stated, “[i]t is well

established that a criminal defendant’s unconditional, knowing and voluntary plea of

guilty waives all non-jurisdictional issues.” Washington v. Sobina, 475 F.3d 162, 165 (3d

Cir. 2007) (citations omitted). Here, the District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to

18 U.S.C. § 3231. Accordingly, no appealable issue exists with respect to jurisdiction.

       As Counsel noted, there is also no appealable issue as to the validity of the plea.

       1
        Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule 109.2(a) provides, in relevant part, that
“[w]here, upon review of the district court record, counsel is persuaded that the appeal
presents no issue of even arguable merit, counsel may file a motion to withdraw and
supporting brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), which must be
served upon the appellant and the United States.”
                                               6
Based on the record before us, we are satisfied that the District Court complied with the

constitutional requirements and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. A criminal

defendant’s guilty plea is considered valid if entered into “knowing[ly], voluntar[ily], and

intelligent[ly].” United States v. Tidwell, 521 F.3d 236, 251 (3d Cir. 2008). To ensure

the validity of a plea, the “court must address the defendant personally in open court.”

Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1). Inherent in a guilty plea is the defendant’s relinquishment of

“not only a fair trial, but also other accompanying constitutional guarantees.” United

States v. Porter, 933 F.3d 226, 229 (3d Cir. 2019) (quoting United States v. Ruiz, 536

U.S. 622, 628 (2002)). The district court must ensure the defendant understands his

rights, the nature of the charges, and the direct implications of entering a plea. United

States v. Schweitzer, 454 F.3d 197, 202–03 (3d Cir. 2006) (citing Boykin v. Alabama, 395

U.S. 238, 242–44 (1969); Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)).

       To challenge the validity of a guilty plea, Ford has the burden of showing that the

requirements of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 and the constitutional

requirements enumerated in Boykin have not been satisfied. Counsel found no basis to

support an argument that Ford’s plea was unknowing, involuntary, or unintelligent. Our

review of the guilty plea colloquy reveals that the District Court followed all of the

requirements of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. The District Court ensured Ford

was sufficiently competent to enter his plea, understood the constitutional rights he was

waiving, and entered the plea voluntarily. Further, Ford admitted to the factual basis for

the plea. We, therefore, agree with Counsel’s conclusion that the record shows that
                                              7
Ford’s plea was knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently made.

       With respect to sentencing, we must determine whether the sentence was both

procedurally and substantively reasonable. United States v. Tomko, 562 F.3d 558, 566–

67 (3d Cir. 2009) (en banc). When a defendant fails to preserve a procedural objection in

the District Court, we review the procedural reasonableness of a criminal sentence for

plain error. 2 United States v. Flores-Mejia, 759 F.3d 253, 256 (3d Cir. 2014) (en banc).

If there is no procedural error, we then review the substantive reasonableness based on

the totality of the circumstances under a highly deferential abuse of discretion standard.

Tomko, 562 F.3d at 567–68. If the sentence imposed by the District Court was both

procedurally and substantively reasonable, such review is not a basis for appeal.

       An appellate court first reviews a district court’s sentence for “no significant

procedural error.” Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 50–51 (2007). When imposing a

sentence, a district court must correctly calculate the applicable Guidelines range,

entertain any variances or departures, and consider all the factors set forth in

18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). United States v. Levinson, 543 F.3d 190, 194–95 (3d Cir. 2008);

see also United States v. Gunter, 462 F.3d 237, 247 (3d Cir. 2006).

       Relying on the Presentence Investigation Report, the District Court calculated the

       2
        A “party must object to the procedural error complained of after [a] sentence is
imposed in order to avoid plain error review on appeal.” United States v. Flores-Mejia,
759 F.3d 253, 255 (3d Cir. 2014) (en banc). Since Ford did not object to the procedural
reasonableness after receiving his sentence in the District Court, our review is for plain
error.

                                              8
Guidelines range. The District Court found Ford to be a career offender, 3 resulting in an

offense level of 29 and a criminal history category of VI. 4 At the sentencing hearing,

Counsel argued for a downward variance from Ford’s career offender status, but the

District Court denied the variance request given Ford’s extensive criminal history. An

examination of the record shows the District Court considered all the factors set forth in

18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Since the District Court followed the three-step procedure, no

procedural error existed.

       If a sentence is found procedurally reasonable, we will then look to its substantive

reasonableness. Tomko, 562 F.3d at 567. A sentence will be deemed substantively

reasonable “unless no reasonable sentencing court would have imposed the same

sentence on [the] defendant for the reasons the district court provided.” Id. at 568. After

going through the correct procedural steps, the District Court imposed a 151-month term

       3
         “A defendant is [considered] a career offender if (1) the defendant was at least
eighteen years old at the time the defendant committed the instant offense of conviction;
(2) the instant offense of conviction is a felony that is either a crime of violence or a
controlled substance offense; and (3) the defendant has at least two prior felony
convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.”
U.S.S.G § 4B1.1(a).
       4
         At a status hearing on August 2, 2019, Ford confirmed that he reviewed the
Presentence Investigation Report and the Guidelines range listed therein. Moreover, at
the sentencing hearing on September 20, 2019, the District Court noted that the
Guidelines calculation included a three-point reduction in Ford’s sentence for his
acceptance of responsibility, but noted the Court “could have denied those three points in
light of all that’s taken place, especially the one point that he got for having avoided [sic]
the government the effort of preparing this case for trial.” App. 347.

                                              9
of imprisonment, the lowest sentence within the Guidelines range. 5 After reviewing the

record, we find the sentence substantively reasonable based on the totality of the

circumstances. Since the sentence was both procedurally and substantively reasonable,

any challenge to it would be meritless.

       Although not identified by Counsel, we note two other related issues that may

have formed a basis for an appeal, but, due to their lack of merit, do not. Following his

plea, Ford filed six motions to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing that he was innocent of

the offenses and that Counsel had provided ineffective assistance. “Once a court accepts

a defendant’s guilty plea, the defendant is not entitled to withdraw that plea simply at his

whim.” United States v. Jones, 336 F.3d 245, 252 (3d. Cir. 2003). A defendant may

withdraw a guilty plea before sentencing if “the defendant can show a fair and just reason

for requesting the withdrawal.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(d)(2)(B). In addressing a motion to

withdraw a guilty plea, the court must consider three factors: “(1) whether the defendant

asserts his innocence; (2) the strength of the defendant’s reasons for withdrawing the

plea; and, (3) whether the government would be prejudiced by the withdrawal.” Jones,

336 F.3d at 252.

       First, Ford failed to support his assertion of innocence. A defendant who moves a

       5
        The District Court noted that there was “some temptation to give [Ford]
something other than a bottom Guideline sentence because of his [criminal] history and
because of all that has transpired in this case.” App. 335. Nonetheless, the District Court
imposed the lowest sentence within the Guidelines range. Counsel recognized that “[t]he
facts were there to impose more” time than what Ford was given.” Appellant’s Br. 36.
                                             10
court to withdraw a guilty plea must make a credible showing of innocence that is

supported by a factual record. Id. “Bald assertions of innocence,” without more, will not

do. Id. Here, Ford simply states that he was innocent of the charged offenses. Beyond

this statement, Ford has not offered any facts or further explanation to support an

assertion of innocence. Thus, Ford has not meaningfully asserted his innocence.

       Second, we are not persuaded by the strength of Ford’s reason for withdrawing his

plea. Ford argued that he should be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea because he had

been “misled” by Counsel and would like to represent himself by asserting the defense of

insanity. App. 274. As we noted, our review of the guilty plea colloquy revealed that all

the requirements of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 were met. Ford’s plea was

knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently made. Therefore, we are not persuaded by

Ford’s reasoning to withdraw his plea.

       Since Ford failed to provide factual support for his innocence or provide a

justifiable reason for withdrawing his plea, the government need not establish prejudice.

Therefore, this issue presents no nonfrivolous issue for appeal.

       Next, we address Ford’s claim that Counsel provided ineffective assistance.

“[W]e have held that we may address the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on

direct appeal when the record is sufficient to allow determination of the issue.” United

States v. Thornton, 327 F.3d 268, 271 (3d Cir. 2003). Here, the record is insufficient to

allow a ruling on Ford’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Ford may, however,

raise this claim in a habeas petition. See Massaro v. United States, 538 U.S. 500, 504
                                            11
(2003) (“We hold that an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim may be brought in a

collateral proceeding under § 2255, whether or not the petitioner could have raised the

claim on direct appeal.”); United States v. Davies, 394 F.3d 182, 188 (3d Cir. 2005).

          Finally, following Counsel’s motion to withdraw, Ford filed a motion for

appointment of new counsel. As we noted, if an appeal is without merit, we “will grant

trial counsel’s Anders motion, and dispose of the appeal without appointing new

counsel.” Youla, 241 F.3d at 300 (quoting 3d Cir. L.A.R. 109.2(a)). Since we have

concluded this appeal presents no nonfrivolous issues, we will deny Ford’s request for

appointment of new counsel.

                                         V. CONCLUSION

          For the foregoing reasons, we agree with Counsel that no nonfrivolous issues exist

for appeal under Anders. Accordingly, we will grant Counsel’s motion to withdraw,

affirm the District Court’s judgment of conviction, and deny Ford’s request for

appointment of new counsel. Pursuant to 3d Cir. L.A.R. 109.2(b), Counsel is relieved of

the obligation to file a petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United

States.

                                              12