Date: 10-02-2017

Case Style:

Case Number: 16-4191

Judge: Harris L. Hartz

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on appeal from the District of Utah (Salt Lake County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Carol A. Dain

Defendant's Attorney: Jeremy Delicino

Description: After entering into a plea agreement that included a broad appeal waiver, Defendant Adan Soberanis pleaded guilty on March 14, 2016, to possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B). The parties agreed to a sentence of 100 months. The United States District Court for the District of Utah accepted Defendant’s plea, and on October 19 it sentenced Defendant to the stipulated term of imprisonment of 100 months.
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Despite the appeal waiver, Defendant has appealed the district court’s judgment.
Discerning no meritorious issues for appeal, his attorney filed an Anders brief and a
motion for leave to withdraw. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744,
(1967) (defense counsel may “request permission to withdraw” when counsel
conscientiously examines a case and determines that an appeal would be “wholly
frivolous”). As required by Anders, Defendant was provided a copy of the brief and the
clerk sent him a letter informing him that he could respond with any meritorious
arguments within 30 days. See id. But Defendant has not filed a brief, and the United
States also chose not to submit a brief. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
After independently examining the record, we agree with defense counsel that
Defendant’s appeal waiver was valid. Accordingly, we grant the motion for leave to
withdraw and dismiss the appeal.
United States v. Hahn sets forth three factors to consider in evaluating an appeal
waiver: “(1) whether the disputed appeal falls within the scope of the waiver of appellate
rights; (2) whether the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his appellate rights;
and (3) whether enforcing the waiver would result in a miscarriage of justice.” 359 F.3d
1315, 1325 (10th Cir. 2004). Here, all Hahn factors support enforcing the waiver.
First, the waiver provides:
(a) Fully understanding my limited right to appeal my sentence, as
explained above in paragraph 8, and in consideration of the concessions
and/or commitments made by the United States in this plea agreement, I
knowingly, voluntarily, and expressly waive my right to appeal any
sentence imposed upon me, except that I do not waive the right to appeal as
set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3742(c)(1), which states that I may not file a notice
of appeal unless the sentence imposed is greater than the sentence set forth
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in this plea agreement.
(b) I also knowingly, voluntarily, and expressly waive my right to challenge
my sentence, unless the sentence imposed is greater than the sentence set
forth in this agreement, in any collateral review motion, writ or other
procedure, including but not limited to a motion brought under 28 U.S.C. §
2255, except on the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel.
Plea Agreement, R., Vol. I at 22. The sentence imposed on Defendant does not trigger
either the first or second exception to the waiver since (a) the term of imprisonment of
100 months is exactly the amount stipulated by the plea agreement and (b) Defendant
does not bring, and we see no possible ground for, an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel
claim.
Second, the record reflects that Defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his
right to appeal. The plea agreement Defendant signed shows both that he understood that
he had a right to appeal and that he chose to “knowingly [and] voluntarily” waive most of
that right. Id. And the district court confirmed with him at the plea hearing that he
understood the nature of the charge and the maximum penalty, that he understood the
consequences of the appeal waiver, and that he was entering his plea voluntarily.
Finally, we see nothing to suggest that enforcement of the appeal waiver would
cause a miscarriage of justice.

Outcome: We GRANT counsel’s motion to withdraw and DISMISS this appeal.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: