U.S. v. Fairchild

• Decision Date: 10 November 1986
• Docket Number: No. 84-7624,84-7624
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ralph Leo FAIRCHILD, Defendant-Appellant. Non-Argument Calendar.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eleventh Circuit

Page 1121

803 F.2d 1121

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ralph Leo FAIRCHILD, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 84-7624

Non-Argument Calendar.

United States Court of Appeals Eleventh Circuit.

Nov. 10, 1986.

Charles S. Whitespunner, Jr., Mobile, Ala., for the U.S.

Appeals from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.

Before HILL, KRAVITCH and EDMONDSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Ralph Leo Fairchild, proceeding pro se on appeal, seeks to withdraw his guilty plea, have his conviction for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise in violation of 21 U.S.C.A. Sec. 848 reversed, and a trial. We find that Fairchild made a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary plea of guilty, and the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Fairchild's motion to withdraw the plea. We further find that Fairchild has failed to show ineffective assistance of counsel. We affirm.

Fairchild was indicted on November 22, 1982, on two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C.A. Sec. 846, and two counts of conspiracy to import marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C.A. Sec. 963. Fairchild, represented by James D. Brooks, was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and trial was set for February 7, 1983. Fairchild did not appear for trial and was later sentenced to five years in prison for this failure to appear. A warrant was issued for Fairchild's arrest on February 8, 1983. On April 6, 1984, another indictment was returned. This indictment charged Fairchild with one count of conspiracy to import 1,000 pounds of marijuana and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 1,000 pounds of marijuana. Fairchild was arrested on May 10, 1984, and arraigned on May 14, again represented by Mr. Brooks. On June 8, a superseding indictment was returned. Fairchild was arraigned and again entered a plea of not guilty. The superseding indictment charged Fairchild in Count One with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. It also charged Fairchild with five counts of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and five counts of conspiracy to import marijuana. On August 20, Fairchild withdrew his plea of not guilty and pleaded guilty to Count One. The remaining charges were dropped as a part of the plea bargain. Fairchild received the minimum ¹ sentence for the offense, ten years without parole. 21 U.S.C.A. Sec. 848(a), (c).

Fairchild claims that his guilty plea was not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary because he received ineffective assistance of counsel from Brooks. Specifically, he alleges that Brooks was ineffective because he (1) did not adequately discuss the legal and factual basis of the indictment; (2) exaggerated the maximum possible penalties; (3) did not personally interview all the potential witnesses; (4) failed to advise him that the conspiracy charges in the indictment could not be used as predicate offenses for the continuing criminal enterprise charge; and (5) did not adequately advise him of his right to appeal.

"[A]n accused who has not received reasonably effective assistance from counsel in deciding to plead guilty cannot be bound by his plea." Wofford v. Wainwright, 748 F.2d 1505, 1508 (11th Cir.1984) (citation omitted). In order to prove that Brooks was ineffective, Fairchild needed to show that Brooks' representation fell below a standard of reasonableness, and that a reasonable probability existed that but for Brooks' errors, he would not have pled guilty. See Hill v. Lockhart, --- U.S. ----, 106 S.Ct. 366, 88 L.Ed.2d 203, 210 (1985) (applying Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), effectiveness of counsel test to guilty plea challenges based on ineffectiveness of counsel).

Fairchild failed to make this showing. This issue was remanded to the district court for an evidentiary hearing so that an adequate record could be made for review. At the evidentiary hearing, the trial judge found that Fairchild's testimony lacked credence. The court found no credible evidence to support Fairchild's claim. The court found Brooks' representation to be very effective. The record overwhelmingly supports this finding. Fairchild failed to show that Brooks was ineffective and, absent an abuse of discretion by the district court, the denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea must be upheld. See United States v. Lake, 709 F.2d 43, 45 (11th Cir.1983).

"Because a guilty plea is a waiver of substantial constitutional rights, it must be a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent act done with sufficient awareness of the relevant circumstances and likely consequences." United States v. French, 719 F.2d 387, 390 (11th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 466 U.S. 960, 104 S.Ct. 2174, 80 L.Ed.2d 557 (1984). To determine whether a guilty plea is actually voluntary, knowing, and intelligent the district court judge must address the defendant in open court and...