United States Eighth Circuit

Conviction and sentence for drug crimes and firearms possession is affirmed where: 1) defendant's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel fails as district court properly held that counsel's failure to call three possible defense witnesses was not unreasonable, and properly concluded that despite the tension between counsel and defendant he was still represented in an able and professional manner; and 2) district court adequately considered defendant's arguments for a variance and adequately stated its reasons for the sentence imposed.

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/15/2009
• Published 04/15/2009

Judges

• COLLOTON, Circuit Judge., Before MURPHY, COLLOTON, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Eighth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Katherine M. Menendez, AFPD, argued, Minneapolis, MN, for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Christian Sean Wilton, AUSA, argued, Erica H. MacDonald, AUSA, on the brief, Minneapolis, MN, for appellee.