United States v. Brown

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
JAN 29 2003
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
No. 02-3166
v. D.C. No. 01-CV-3058-RDR and
98-CR-40034-01-RDR
CARL LANEILL BROWN, (D. Kansas)
Defendant - Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before KELLY , McKAY , and O’BRIEN , Circuit Judges.
After examining the appellant’s brief and the appellate record, this panel
has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist 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.
Defendant-appellant Carl Laneill Brown, a federal inmate proceeding
pro se, seeks to appeal the district court’s order dismissing his 28 U.S.C. § 2255*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
motion. Because he has failed to make “a substantial showing of the denial of
a constitutional right,” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), we deny his application for a
certificate of appealability (“COA”) and dismiss the appeal.
Mr. Brown was convicted of conspiracy to commit a carjacking, carjacking,
use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, carrying a firearm
during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a
felon. United States v. Brown , 200 F.3d 700, 703 (10th Cir. 1999), cert. denied ,
528 U.S. 1178 (2000). His conviction was affirmed on direct appeal. Id. at 710.
The parties are familiar with the facts, and we do not repeat them here.
Mr. Brown filed his § 2555 motion in the district court, claiming that
(1) his sentencing offense level should not have been enhanced for bodily injury
to the victim and (2) his trial attorney was constitutionally ineffective for
(a) failing to challenge the prosecution in federal, rather than state, court;
(b) failing to argue for a downward departure; (c) unsuccessfully challenging
the sentencing disparity with his co-defendant; (d) failing to seek acquittal
based on insufficient evidence; (e) failing to seek a downward departure for a
non-leadership role in the carjacking conspiracy; (f) failing to cross-examine a
prosecution witness more vigorously; and (g) failing to submit voir dire questions
regarding gang affiliation and activities. Mr. Brown also filed two motions
seeking leave to amend his § 2255 motion, one to include an argument under
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Apprendi v. New Jersey , 530 U.S. 466 (2000), and the other to add three new
claims.
The district court, after a thorough analysis of each of Mr. Brown’s claims,
denied the § 2255 motion, ruling that Mr. Brown had been properly sentenced and
that his counsel had not been constitutionally ineffective. The district court also
denied Mr. Brown’s two motions to amend. It ruled that both motions were
untimely filed and, because they sought to add entirely new claims and theories of
relief, could not relate back to Mr. Brown’s earlier, timely motion. See United
States v. Espinoza-Saenz , 235 F.3d 501, 505 (10th Cir. 2000). It further ruled that
the Apprendi claim and three other new claims were baseless.
In his application for COA to this court, Mr. Brown raises the same
issues raised in his § 2255 motion. We agree with the district court’s analyses
of these claims, and conclude that its disposition of Mr. Brown’s § 2255 motion
is neither deserving of further proceedings, nor debatable among jurists of reason,
nor subject to different resolution on appeal. Accordingly, Mr. Brown has failed
to make the required substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right
and is not entitled to a COA. See Slack v. McDaniel , 529 U.S. 473, 483-84
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(2000); 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c). This court therefore DENIES Mr. Brown’s request
for a COA and DISMISSES this appeal.
Entered for the Court
Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
Circuit Judge
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