UNITED STATES v. MOORE (2021)

David Moore pled guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2). The district court sentenced Moore to 46 months’ imprisonment. On appeal, Moore argues that the sentencing court erred by applying an enhancement for wanton endangerment, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) (2018), and that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to adequately object to that enhancement. The Government has moved to dismiss the appeal. We grant the Government's motion.

An appeal waiver “preclude[s] a defendant from appealing a specific issue if the record establishes that the waiver is valid and the issue being appealed is within the scope of the waiver.” United States v. Archie, 771 F.3d 217, 221 (4th Cir. 2014). We review de novo the validity of an appeal waiver. United States v. Copeland, 707 F.3d 522, 528 (4th Cir. 2013). A defendant validly waives his appeal rights if he agreed to the waiver “knowingly and intelligently.” United States v. Manigan, 592 F.3d 621, 627 (4th Cir. 2010). “To determine whether a waiver is knowing and intelligent, we examine the totality of the circumstances, including the experience and conduct of the accused, as well as the accused's educational background and familiarity with the terms of the plea agreement.” United States v. Thornsbury, 670 F.3d 532, 537 (4th Cir. 2012) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Generally, if a district court questions a defendant regarding the waiver of appellate rights during the [Fed. R. Crim. P.] 11 colloquy and the record indicates that the defendant understood the full significance of the waiver, the waiver is valid.” Id.

Our review of the Rule 11 colloquy and the plea agreement confirms that Moore knowingly and voluntarily waived the right to appeal his sentence. Moore's claim that the district court improperly applied an enhancement for wanton endangerment falls squarely within the scope of the waiver. We therefore enforce the appellate waiver with respect to that issue.

Moore's ineffective assistance of counsel claims, however, fall outside the scope of Moore's appeal waiver. Unless an attorney's ineffectiveness conclusively appears on the face of the record, ineffective assistance claims are not generally addressed on direct appeal. United States v. Faulls, 821 F.3d 502, 507 (4th Cir. 2016). Instead, such claims should be raised in a motion brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, in order to permit sufficient development of the record. United States v. Baptiste, 596 F.3d 214, 216 n.1 (4th Cir. 2010). Ineffectiveness of counsel does not conclusively appear on the face of the record before us. Therefore, Moore should raise this claim, if at all, in a § 2255 motion. Faulls, 821 F.3d at 508.

We therefore grant the Government's motion and dismiss this appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

DISMISSED

PER CURIAM:

Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.