US v. Brian Portis
Filing
920090617
UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 08-4702
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff Appellee, v. BRIAN PORTIS, Defendant Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, at Richmond. Richard L. Williams, Senior District Judge. (3:08-cr-00034-RLW-1)
Submitted:
May 4, 2009
Decided:
June 17, 2009
Before SHEDD, Circuit Judge, C. Arlen BEAM, Senior Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, sitting by designation, and Joseph F. ANDERSON, Jr., United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina, sitting by designation.
Vacated and remanded by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Jennifer M. Newman, Richmond, Virginia; C. David Richmond, Virginia, for Appellant. Chuck Rosenberg, States Attorney, Alexandria, Virginia, Richard D. Assistant United States Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED ATTORNEY, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellee.
Whaley, United Cooke, STATES
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM: Brian Portis was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an and unlawful one user of in violation of of 18 U.S.C. in
§ 922(g)(3)
count
possession
marijuana
violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844.
These charges arose from evidence
obtained during a police search of Portis' home on June 13, 2007. search Portis moved to suppress the evidence obtained during the of his home as unlawful under the Fourth Amendment.
After an evidentiary hearing on Portis' Fourth Amendment claim, the district court denied the motion to suppress. Portis then
entered a purported conditional plea, reserving the right to appeal the denial of his suppression motion. Generally, a defendant who pleads guilty waives all
nonjurisdictional defects in the proceedings conducted prior to entry of the plea. (4th Cir. 2004). may enter a United States v. Bundy, 392 F.3d 641, 644
However, in limited circumstances, a defendant guilty plea under Federal Rule of
conditional
Criminal Procedure 11(a)(2) and preserve certain pretrial issues for appeal. Interpreting Rule 11(a)(2), we held in Bundy that,
among other requirements, a conditional plea must 1) be offered in writing, 2) have the affirmative consent of the Government, and 3) have the approval of the district court. Bundy, 392 F.3d at 645.
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After requested
the
parties
filed briefs
their on the
appellate issue of
briefs, whether
we the
supplemental
purported conditional plea in this case is proper in light of Bundy and United States v. Phillips, 296 Fed. Appx. 349 (4th Cir. 2008). In its supplemental brief, the Government concedes
that the requirements for a conditional guilty plea were not fully satisfied but contends that any defect in Portis'
conditional guilty plea should not bar review of the merits of his appeal. In his supplemental brief, Portis largely adopts
the arguments of the Government. Both parties concede that the writing requirement was not satisfied. Next, the parties argue that the Government's
approval of the plea is clear from its failure to object to the conditional guilty plea. However, we stated in Bundy that the See 392 F.3d
Government must affirmatively agree to the plea. at 645.
Finally, the parties note that the court was willing to
approve of the conditional guilty plea, and therefore, the third requirement is satisfied. However, the record is less than
clear on this point. *
Because the record is not clear on whether
At first, the court appeared willing to accept the conditional guilty plea. See J.A. 125. The court then appeared to conduct a Rule 11 colloquy. See J.A. 128-130. However, the court immediately thereafter declared that it was conducting a bench trial based on the evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing and declared that Portis was guilty of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See J.A. 131. Portis' (Continued) 3
*
the district court approved of the conditional guilty plea, we cannot agree that the third requirement court approval has been satisfied. For these reasons, we hold that this appeal is not properly before us. Because Portis only entered into the plea agreement
and pled guilty based on the express understanding that he would be able to pursue this appeal, the appropriate course under
Bundy is for us to vacate the judgment of conviction and remand this case to the district court for further proceedings. See Id. at 649-50. Accordingly, we vacate the judgment of conviction and
remand this case to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We dispense with oral argument
because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process. VACATED AND REMANDED
counsel also agreed to the court finding Portis guilty beyond a reasonable doubt on the evidence that had been submitted. Id. Further confusing this matter, the judgment reflects that Portis pled guilty rather than having been found guilty. See J.A. 135. Both parties now argue on appeal that Portis entered a conditional guilty plea.
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