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U.S. v. Marin

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Apr 13, 1992
961 F.2d 493 (4th Cir. 1992)

Summary

holding that waiver of appeal does not prohibit appeal of a sentence imposed in excess of the statutory maximum

Summary of this case from United States v. Epps

Opinion

No. 90-5737.

Argued December 3, 1991.

Decided April 13, 1992.

Anthony George Spencer, Morchower, Luxton Whaley, Richmond, Va., argued (John W. Luxton, on brief), for defendant-appellant.

N. George Metcalf, Asst. U.S. Atty., Richmond, Va., argued (Henry E. Hudson, U.S. Atty., Monica Kowalski, Third Year Law Intern, on brief), for plaintiff-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Before RUSSELL, WIDENER, and WILKINS, Circuit Judges.


OPINION


Herbert John Marin pled guilty to four counts of making a materially false statement in connection with the acquisition of firearms, 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(a)(6) (West Supp. 1991) and six counts of unlawfully receiving a firearm while under indictment, 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(n) (West Supp. 1991). Departing upward from Marin's applicable sentencing guideline range, the district court imposed a sentence of 24 months from which Marin appeals. The Government moved to dismiss this appeal on the ground that Marin waived the right to appeal his sentence. See 18 U.S.C.A. § 3742(a) (West 1985 Supp. 1991). Because Marin did waive his right to seek appellate review of his sentence, we dismiss.

I.

Marin entered a plea agreement with the Government pursuant to which he agreed to plead guilty to various firearms charges. The agreement included an express waiver by Marin of his right to appeal from the sentence imposed by the district court. Additionally, the agreement contained an explicit reservation by the Government of its right to seek an upward departure from the applicable sentencing guideline range.

Because familiarity with provisions of the plea agreement is necessary to an understanding of our opinion, we quote at length from pertinent portions of the agreement:

6. Defendant, HERBERT JOHN MARIN, is aware that in some counts of the Criminal Information sentence will be imposed in conformity with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and Policy Statement. Defendant is also aware that the constitutionality of the Guidelines has been challenged on various grounds, that courts have reached differing results in ruling on these challenges, and that the Supreme Court has not yet resolved every issue that might be raised. Defendant is also aware that a sentence imposed under the Guidelines does not provide for parole. Knowing these facts, Defendant agrees that this Court has jurisdiction and authority to impose any sentence within the statutory maximum set for his offense, including a sentence determined under the Sentencing Guidelines. In addition, Defendant, knowing that he has a right of direct appeal of the sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and the grounds listed therein, expressly waives the right to appeal his sentence on those grounds or on any ground.

7. Defendant, HERBERT JOHN MARIN, is also aware that his sentence has not yet been determined by the Court. Defendant is aware that any estimate of probable sentencing range that he may have received from his counsel, the United States, or the probation office is a prediction, not a promise, and is not binding on the United States, the probation office, or the Court. Realizing the uncertainty in estimating what sentence he will ultimately receive, Defendant knowingly waives his right to appeal the sentence in exchange for the concessions made by the United States in this agreement.

. . . .
11. It is further understood that even though the defendant fully complies with all conditions of this Plea Agreement and Understanding, the representative of the United States is free to argue at the time of sentencing for an upward departure from the sentence recommended by the Sentencing Guidelines, and may present any and all evidence in support of said argument and upward departure.

During the plea colloquy pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, an Assistant United States Attorney summarized the plea agreement, including Marin's waiver of his right to appeal and the reservation by the Government of its right to seek an upward departure. The court reviewed the contents of the agreement with Marin, identifying and discussing specifically the provision permitting the Government to advocate an upward departure and inquiring of Marin if he understood this condition. Marin answered that he did. The court then questioned Marin concerning whether he agreed to waive his right to appeal the sentence imposed by the court. Marin replied, "Yes, Your Honor." Later in the exchange, the court inquired if by his signature on the plea agreement Marin intended to indicate his "acceptance, assent, and agreement to every term and phrase and sentence contained in the plea agreement." Marin again responded affirmatively. The court accepted Marin's guilty plea, finding that it was a "knowing and voluntary plea supported by an independent basis in fact."

The presentence report calculated Marin's sentence under United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, § 2K2.2(a)(2) (Nov. 1990), entitled "Unlawful Trafficking and Other Prohibited Transactions Involving Firearms," which called for a base offense level of six. After a five-level enhancement for distribution of 25-49 weapons, U.S.S.G. § 2K2.2(b)(1)(E), and a two-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a), the resulting offense level was nine. Combined with a criminal history category II, the presentence report recommended a guideline range of six to twelve months. Marin, the Government, and the sentencing court agreed that the recommendation contained in the presentence report was a correct application of the sentencing guidelines.

We note that Marin's sentence should have been calculated under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(2), with a resulting base offense level of 12. After the reduction for acceptance of responsibility, this offense level combined with criminal history category II, would have resulted in a guideline range of 814 months. The Government has not appealed this error and could not in view of the decision of this court in United States v. Guevara, 941 F.2d 1299, reh'g denied, 949 F.2d 706 (4th Cir. 1991), petition for cert. filed, 60 U.S.L.W. 3600 (U.S. Feb. 11, 1992) (No. 91-1305).

The Government moved for an upward departure on the basis of the profusion of firearms violations occurring in the Eastern District of Virginia. The district court rejected this ground for departure but announced its decision to depart upward based upon "the quantity of a specific type of weapon (semi-automatic), the destructive nature of the weapons[,] . . . the harm that could be inflicted, [and] selling the weapons for profit." The court then sentenced Marin to 24 months imprisonment.

Marin appeals this sentence principally arguing that the reasons for departure announced by the district court were adequately considered by the United States Sentencing Commission in promulgating the sentencing guidelines and, therefore, do not support the departure. Additionally, Marin contends that the sentencing court, in departing sua sponte, violated Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32. He bases his argument on Burns v. United States, 501 U.S. 129, 111 S.Ct. 2182, 2187, 115 L.Ed.2d 123 (1991), wherein the Supreme Court held that before a district court may depart upward on a ground not identified in either the presentence report or a submission by the Government, a defendant must be provided notice of and the reasons for the contemplated departure and an opportunity to respond.

II.

"[I]t is well settled that there is no constitutional right to an appeal." Abney v. United States, 431 U.S. 651, 656, 97 S.Ct. 2034, 2038, 52 L.Ed.2d 651 (1977). Prior to the enactment of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, as amended, 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 3551, et seq. (West 1985 Supp. 1991), 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 991- 98 (West Supp. 1991), defendants appealed their sentences under the authority of 28 U.S.C.A. § 1291 (West Supp. 1991), which permits the courts of appeals "to review `all final decisions of the district courts,' both civil and criminal," Abney, 431 U.S. at 657, 97 S.Ct. at 2039 (quoting 28 U.S.C.A. § 1291 (West 1966)). But, if the district court imposed a sentence within statutory limits, it was "generally not subject to review." United States v. Tucker, 404 U.S. 443, 447, 92 S.Ct. 589, 591, 30 L.Ed.2d 592 (1972). In adopting the Sentencing Reform Act, Congress expanded a defendant's rights to permit the courts of appeals to review a sentence:

imposed in violation of law; . . . imposed as a result of an incorrect application of the sentencing guidelines; . . . [that is] greater than the sentence specified in the applicable guideline range[;] . . . or . . . imposed for an offense for which there is no sentencing guideline and [that] is plainly unreasonable.
18 U.S.C.A. § 3742(a).

Recognizing that "`defendants can waive fundamental constitutional rights such as the right to counsel, or the right to a jury trial,'" this court has upheld the validity of a defendant's waiver of the statutory right to appeal a sentence when the waiver was knowingly and voluntarily made. United States v. Wiggins, 905 F.2d 51, 53 (4th Cir. 1990) (quoting United States v. Clark, 865 F.2d 1433, 1437 (4th Cir. 1989)). We have also held that a waiver is not knowingly or voluntarily made if the district court fails to specifically question the defendant concerning the waiver provision of the plea agreement during the Rule 11 colloquy and the record indicates that the defendant did not otherwise understand the full significance of the waiver. United States v. Wessells, 936 F.2d 165, 168 (4th Cir. 1991). Whether a defendant effectively waived his right to appeal is a matter of law that this court reviews de novo. United States v. Bolinger, 940 F.2d 478, 479 (9th Cir. 1991).

We agree with Marin that a defendant who waives his right to appeal does not subject himself to being sentenced entirely at the whim of the district court.

For example, a defendant could not be said to have waived his right to appellate review of a sentence imposed in excess of the maximum penalty provided by statute or based on a constitutionally impermissible factor such as race. However, the sentence that Marin seeks to appeal is not such a sentence. Assuming the district court committed the errors that Marin alleges, his complaints at most rest on an improper application of the guidelines and a violation of a procedural rule.

Our review of the Rule 11 colloquy indicates that the district court questioned Marin at length concerning the waiver of his right to appeal and the reservation by the Government of the right to seek an upward departure. We consider "[t]he plea agreement and the circumstances surrounding its adoption . . . wholly sufficient to establish that" Marin knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal. Wiggins, 905 F.2d at 54. Consequently, we conclude that appellate review of the sentencing errors raised in this appeal is foreclosed.

DISMISSED.


Summaries of

U.S. v. Marin

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Apr 13, 1992
961 F.2d 493 (4th Cir. 1992)

holding that waiver of appeal does not prohibit appeal of a sentence imposed in excess of the statutory maximum

Summary of this case from United States v. Epps

holding that a knowing and voluntary waiver in a plea agreement of the right to appeal a sentence will be enforced

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Brock

recognizing that we refuse to enforce an appeal waiver when a sentence is imposed in excess of the statutory maximum or is based on a constitutionally impermissible factor

Summary of this case from United States v. McKinney

explaining that allegations of "an improper application of the guidelines" or "a violation of a procedural rule" do not overcome a valid appellate waiver

Summary of this case from United States v. Carter

noting that defendant "could not be said to have waived his right to appellate review of a sentence . . . based on a constitutionally impermissible factor"

Summary of this case from United States v. Luna

enforcing waiver and dismissing appeal resting on complaints of “an improper application of the guidelines and a violation of a procedural rule”

Summary of this case from United States v. Thornsbury

noting the first two possibilities

Summary of this case from United States v. Thornsbury

noting that a defendant cannot waive his right to appeal a sentence that was imposed in excess of the maximum penalty provided by statute or that was based on a constitutionally impermissible factor

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Sims

providing review standard

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Daniels

allowing review despite waiver for claim that sentence exceeded statutory maximum or was based on constitutionally impermissible factor

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Johnson

noting that a "defendant could not be said to have waived his right to appellate review of a sentence imposed in excess of the maximum penalty provided by statute or based on a constitutionally impermissible factor such as race"

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Poindexter

In United States v. Marin, 961 F.2d 493 (4th Cir. 1992), the Fourth Circuit asserted that "[A] defendant who waives his right to appeal does not subject himself to being sentenced entirely at the whim of the district court. For example, a defendant could not be said to have waived his right to appellate review of a sentence... based on a constitutionally impermissible factor such as race."

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Johnson

providing examples of sentences based on race or in excess of the maximum statutory penalty as examples of illegal sentences for which appellate review is not waived

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Andis

noting that arguments contending that sentence was imposed based upon constitutionally impermissible factors or that sentence exceeds the statutory maximum are not barred by contractual waivers

Summary of this case from U.S. v. General

providing examples of sentences based on race or in excess of the maximum statutory penalty as examples of illegal sentences for which appellate review is not waived

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Andis

stating that a defendant does not waive his right to appellate review of a sentence based on race

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Cockerham

In Marin, we held that because the plea agreement contained an express and unqualified waiver of the defendant's right to appeal his sentence and the record did not indicate that the waiver was anything less than knowing and voluntary, the waiver was valid.

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Brown

waiving right to appeal does not permit being sentenced entirely at the whim of the district court and would not encompass a sentence in excess of maximum statutory penalty or one based on a constitutionally impermissible factor such as race

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Schuman

In Marin, for example, we said that while a defendant who signs a general waiver of the right to appeal his sentence waives the right to appellate review of his sentence on the ground that it "rest[s] on an improper application of the guidelines or a violation of a procedural rule," he "could not be said to have waived his right to appellate review of a sentence imposed in excess of the maximum penalty provided by statute or based on a constitutionally impermissible factor such as race."

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Attar

In Marin, the Fourth Circuit observed that a valid waiver of appeal and collateral-attack rights does not give the district court boundless discretion in imposing a sentence and that certain fundamental defects or errors fall into a class of claims that lie beyond the scope of any waiver.

Summary of this case from Dean v. United States

In Marin, the Fourth Circuit observed that a valid waiver of appeal and collateral-attack rights does not give the district court boundless discretion in imposing a sentence and that certain fundamental defects or errors fall into a class of claims that lie beyond the scope of any waiver.

Summary of this case from Lucas v. United States

In Marin, the Fourth Circuit observed that a valid waiver of appeal and collateral-attack rights does not give the district court boundless discretion in imposing a sentence and that certain fundamental defects or errors fall into a class of claims that lie beyond the scope of any waiver.

Summary of this case from Moore v. United States

explaining appellate claim falls outside the scope of the waiver when the defendant was actually sentenced in excess of the maximum prescribed by statute, not when he potentially could have been sentenced in excess of the statutory maximum

Summary of this case from Duggins v. United States

characterizing a district court's erroneous sentence as a misapplication of a "procedural rule"

Summary of this case from Wallace v. United States

noting that a "defendant could not be said to have waived his right to appellate review of a sentence imposed in excess of the maximum penalty provided by statute or based on a constitutionally impermissible factor such as race"

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Widener
Case details for

U.S. v. Marin

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, v. HERBERT JOHN MARIN…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

Date published: Apr 13, 1992

Citations

961 F.2d 493 (4th Cir. 1992)

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