UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Rashawn Donnell WILLIAMS, Defendant-Appellant.
Rashawn Donnell Williams appeals his convictions and the 336-month sentence imposed following Williams’ guilty plea, pursuant to a Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement, to attempted murder of a federal employee (and aiding and abetting), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1114, 2, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (and aiding and abetting), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c), 2. Appellate counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), primarily questioning whether, in light of United States v. Davis, ––– U.S. ––––, 139 S. Ct. 2319, 204 L.Ed.2d 757 (2019), Williams’ § 924(c) conviction was supported by a valid predicate crime of violence. Williams raises the same argument in his pro se supplemental brief. The Government has declined to file a response.
Our recent ruling in United States v. Taylor, 979 F.3d 203 (4th Cir. 2020), forecloses a Davis challenge to Williams’ § 924(c) conviction, which was predicated on attempted murder.* Specifically, Taylor instructs that an attempt to commit a substantive crime that itself “requires the use of physical force” likewise “necessarily involves the attempted use of force” and so, too, qualifies as a categorical crime of violence. 979 F.3d at 209. As we explained in Taylor, it is settled in this circuit that murder qualifies as a crime of violence under the force clause because it requires such a use of force. Id. (citing United States v. Mathis, 932 F.3d 242, 265 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, ––– U.S. ––––, 140 S. Ct. 639, 205 L.Ed.2d 401, and cert. denied, ––– U.S. ––––, 140 S. Ct. 640, 205 L.Ed.2d 401 (2019), and In re Irby, 858 F.3d 231, 236 (4th Cir. 2017)). In light of these authorities, we reject Williams’ argument that his § 924(c) conviction is invalid under Davis.
In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the entire record in this case and have found no meritorious grounds for appeal. We agree with counsel's assessment that neither ineffective assistance of counsel nor prosecutorial misconduct are apparent on the face of this record. We therefore affirm the criminal judgment. This court requires that counsel inform Williams, in writing, of the right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If Williams requests that a petition be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel's motion must state that a copy thereof was served on Williams.
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.
AFFIRMED
FOOTNOTES
FOOTNOTE. This appeal, which was held in abeyance for Taylor, became ripe for adjudication upon the issuance of the mandate in Taylor.
PER CURIAM:
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.