United States Fourth Circuit

Denial of a petition for habeas relief, brought by an individual convicted of drunk-driving offenses and sentenced to life imprisonment is affirmed as the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeal's holding that recidivist proceedings were not a direct consequence of defendant's guilty plea, and thus his plea was knowing and voluntary, was not contrary to or an unreasonable application of established federal law as determined by the Supreme Court.

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/27/2009
• Decided 02/19/2010
• Published 02/19/2010

Judges

• Before TRAXLER, Chief Judge, and NIEMEYER and AGEE, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:Martin Patrick Sheehan, Sheehan & Nugent, PLLC, Wheeling, West Virginia, for Appellant. Robert David Goldberg, Office of the Attorney General of West Virginia, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellee. ON BRIEF:Darrell V. McGraw, Jr., Attorney General, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellee.