Court Opinion

ID: 4124792
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-09 19:01:05.711615+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:46:24.614399
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                          United States Court of Appeals
                                                                  Tenth Circuit

                                                                February 9, 2017
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                   Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                  Clerk of Court
                                   TENTH CIRCUIT

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

          Plaintiff - Appellee,
                                                       No. 16-1451
 v.                                        (D.C. Nos. 1:15-CV-00481-DME and
                                                 1:10-CR-00326-PAB-17)
 TERRY MARGHEIM,                                        (D. Colo.)

          Defendant - Appellant.

            ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY *

Before TYMKOVICH, Chief Judge, BALDOCK, and McHUGH, Circuit
Judges.

      After a bench trial, Terry Margheim was convicted of federal gun and drug

crimes and this court affirmed the conviction on direct appeal. United States v.

Margheim, 770 F.3d 1312 (10th Cir. 2014). Margheim then filed a habeas

petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 seeking relief on a number of grounds. The

district court rejected Margheim’s arguments and proceeded to reject his request

      *
         After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G).
The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order is not
binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and
collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent
with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
for a certificate of appealability (COA) in a separate order. Margheim now

renews his request for a COA for a subset of the claims the district court

considered—claims related to ineffective assistance of counsel.

      We may only issue a COA if Margheim makes a “substantial showing of

the denial of a constitutional right,” such that “reasonable jurists would find the

district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong.” 28

U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000). And to

prevail on claims that his counsel was constitutionally ineffective, Margheim

must show two things: (1) counsel’s representation “fell below an objective

standard of reasonableness”; and (2) “there is a reasonable probability that, but

for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been

different.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694 (1984).

      Margheim first claims his lawyers were ineffective because they failed to

raise arguments related to the Speedy Trial Act and to the calculation of criminal

history points at sentencing. But as the district court found, these arguments are

without legal merit. So even had these claims been raised, there is no reasonable

probability that Margheim would have prevailed, meaning he cannot show

ineffective assistance of counsel. See United States v. Orange, 447 F.3d 792, 797

(10th Cir. 2006); Hooks v. Ward, 184 F.3d 1206, 1221 (10th Cir. 1999).

      Margheim also claims his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to convey

a proposed plea deal to him. During Margheim’s § 2255 proceedings, the district

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court conducted an evidentiary hearing on this claim. At the hearing, a

government witness testified that no such plea offer had been made, and the

district court found this testimony credible. Construed liberally, Margheim’s

appeal argues that this fact-finding constituted clear error. But he offers no good

reason to think the district court clearly erred in accepting the witness’s testimony

that no such plea offer was on the table. See United States v. Wiseman, 297 F.3d
975, 978 (10th Cir. 2002). Once again, he cannot show ineffective assistance.

      The application for a COA is denied and this appeal is dismissed. We deny

as moot Margheim’s request that the government respond to his pleadings.

                                               ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                               Timothy M. Tymkovich
                                               Chief Judge

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