United States v. Patrick Watson ( 2012 )

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 11-2829
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
PATRICK WATSON,
Appellant
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On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. No. 2-10-cr-00095-017)
District Judge: Honorable Michael M. Baylson
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Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
October 31, 2012
Before: SLOVITER, AMBRO, and BARRY, Circuit Judges
(Filed: November 1, 2012)
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OPINION
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SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.
Patrick Watson appeals his judgment of sentence after pleading guilty to one count
of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341 (2006). Counsel for Watson has moved to
withdraw pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). We will grant counsel’s
motion and affirm the District Court’s judgment.1
I.
In March of 2004, Watson helped stage a car accident that provided the basis for
fraudulent insurance claims. After the scheme to engage in insurance fraud was
discovered, Watson pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §
1341. The District Court sentenced Watson to six months of imprisonment, three years
of supervised release, a $5,000 fine, restitution of $7,500, and a special assessment of
$100. Watson timely appealed his sentence and argues in a pro se brief that his criminal
history category was miscalculated.
After conscientious examination of the record, Watson’s counsel concludes that
his client’s arguments are “wholly frivolous” and requests permission to withdraw
pursuant to Anders. 386 U.S. at 744.
II.
To satisfy Anders requirements, appellant’s counsel must thoroughly review the
record in search of appealable issues and explain why the issues are frivolous. United
States v. Marvin, 211 F.3d 778, 780-81 (3d Cir. 2000). Counsel need not raise and
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The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231, and we have
appellate jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742.
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dismiss every possible claim but must meet the “conscientious examination” standard
established in Anders. Id.; 386 U.S. at 744. In his Anders brief, Watson’s counsel states
that he “reviewed the transcripts from the change of plea hearing and from the sentencing
hearing.” Appellant’s Br. at 8. He identifies the portions of the record relevant to a claim
that the District Court misapplied the guidelines, but concludes that such a claim would
be frivolous. We agree.
The record does not support the contention that the District Court miscalculated or
misapplied the sentencing guidelines. Although the Government incorrectly stated
during the sentencing hearing that Watson had a prior conviction for drug sales, the
District Court recognized that the conviction was not for drug sales, but for possession of
“a very small amount” of marijuana. App. at 10. Moreover, the District Court sentenced
within the proper four- to ten-month range outlined in the Presentence Investigation
Report (“PSR”), rather than the incorrect eight- to fourteen-month range asserted by the
Government in the sentencing hearing.
The other claims that Watson raises in his pro se brief are equally meritless. At
sentencing, Watson did not dispute the criminal history calculation. He now claims that
he was unrepresented for two of his prior convictions (for marijuana possession and
defiant trespassing) and that his waiver of counsel in these proceedings was not knowing
and intelligent. Watson does not present any evidence that he was deprived of counsel in
either proceeding and therefore he fails to meet his burden of overcoming the
presumption of regularity that attaches to final judgments. See Parke v. Raley, 506 U.S.
20, 31 (1992); United States v. Jones, 332 F.3d 688, 697 (3d Cir. 2003). Watson further
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claims that two of his prior convictions were downgraded and thus should not have
factored into his criminal history score. He offers no support for this claim either,
however, and the claim directly contradicts the undisputed PSR. Because a defendant’s
failure to object to facts in the PSR amounts to an admission, the District Court properly
weighed these convictions when calculating Watson’s criminal history. United States v.
Siegel, 477 F.3d 87, 93 n.2 (3d Cir. 2007).
For the reasons above, we find that counsel’s Anders brief is satisfactory. Our
independent review of the record does not reveal any nonfrivolous issues to address. We
therefore will grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the judgment of sentence.
Because the issues presented on appeal lack legal merit, pursuant to Local Appellate Rule
109.2(c), counsel is not required to file a petition for writ of certiorari with the United
States Supreme Court.
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