Baldwin v. United States of America

Filing 2

ORDER denying Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence (2255); mailed to David Charles Baldwin, II #51453-048 EL RENO-FCI P O Box 1500 El Reno, OK 73036. Signed by Honorable Robin J. Cauthron on 9/28/17. (lg)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff
vs.
DAVID CHARLES BALDWIN, II,
Defendant

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No. CR-15-245-01-C
CIV-17-834-C

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Defendant has filed a Motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 seeking to vacate, set
aside, or correct his sentence. In his Motion, Defendant raises a number of claims
asserting each entitle him to relief. Those claims can be grouped as follows: First, three
arguments that his counsel was ineffective; second, a number of arguments challenging the
manner in which his sentence was calculated. For the reasons set forth below, the only
issues properly before the Court are the ineffective assistance of counsel arguments.
Defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim raises three points. First, that
his attorney represented he would talk to the Assistant United States Attorney and reach an
agreement that the two-point gun enhancement would be dropped. Second, his counsel
informed him that if he did not want to take the plea deal offered, that he could plead guilty
on all counts and have a hearing with the judge only. Third, that counsel would argue the
enhancements on the presentence investigation report, both with the probation officer and
if necessary at sentencing, but that counsel did not make these arguments.

To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Defendant must
demonstrate that his defense counsel performed deficiently and that the performance
prejudiced the petitioner. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984).
Turning first to Defendant’s argument raising the alleged agreement to drop the gun
enhancement, Plaintiff has provided an affidavit from Defendant’s counsel asserting that
no such agreement was in place. Even absent the affidavit, the Court would find against
Defendant. In filling out his Petition to Enter Plea of Guilty, Defendant specifically noted
that document contained all agreements between the parties. See Dkt. No. 55. Nothing
in that document referenced any agreement to drop the gun enhancement. In short,
Defendant cannot show that counsel’s performance was deficient on this issue; his claim
for ineffective assistance of counsel related to the alleged agreement to drop the gun
enhancement is denied.
The second claim argues that counsel informed him if he did not take the plea deal
he could plead guilty to all counts and have a hearing with the judge only; the affidavit
provided by counsel states this agreement was essentially true. According to the affidavit,
counsel discussed the terms of the plea agreement offered by Plaintiff with his client and
Defendant objected only to the terms of the forfeiture agreement. Counsel avers that he
then explained they could forego the plea agreement, simply plead guilty to the counts, and
challenge the forfeiture with the judge. The docket reflects that was the course of action
taken. Defendant rejected the plea agreement offered by Plaintiff and instead entered into

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a guilty plea to all counts. Counsel avers that there was no challenge to the forfeiture
amount because after reviewing the evidence provided by Plaintiff, Defendant’s counsel
was convinced that the potential amount of forfeiture was substantially larger than that
being sought by the government. According to counsel’s affidavit, Defendant agreed with
this course of action.
Even if the Court were to discredit the affidavit of Defendant’s counsel, Defendant
has failed to offer any evidence or argument demonstrating that a different course of action
on the forfeiture amount would have changed his decision to plead guilty. In order to
establish that Defendant’s trial counsel was ineffective on this issue, he must also
demonstrate that “‘there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, he would
not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.’” Miller v. Champion,
262 F.3d 1066, 1072 (10th Cir. 2001) (citation omitted).
Defendant has offered no evidence or argument on this issue. Indeed, in examining
the facts and circumstances surrounding this matter, the Court is persuaded that even had
Defendant’s counsel taken a different path on the forfeiture matter, it would not have
impacted either Defendant’s decision to go to trial or the ultimate outcome of the forfeiture
proceedings.

Accordingly, Defendant has failed to demonstrate his counsel was

ineffective on this issue.
Finally, Defendant’s third argument raises counsel’s promise that he would argue
enhancements on the PSI with the probation officer and, when needed, at sentencing.

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Defendant offers no elaboration within his brief of any fact or argument on this issue. In
the affidavit, Defendant’s trial counsel notes that Defendant’s assertion is essentially true
and that counsel did indeed file objections to certain portions of the presentence
investigation report. Counsel notes that on those matters to which he did not object, it was
because based on counsel’s well-reasoned opinion, no viable objection could be made. In
examining those matters, the Court agrees that counsel objected where appropriate and on
the other matters, no valid objection could be raised. “It’s well settled that if an argument
is meritless, defense counsel is not ineffective for failing to make it.” Eitel v. United
States, Nos. 13-GV-03-ABJ, 11-CR-06-ABJ, 2013 WL 4525321, *3 (10th Cir. Aug. 27,
2013). Defendant’s arguments that his counsel was ineffective are without merit and his
request for relief on those claims will be denied.
The Court cannot consider Defendant’s remaining arguments. The arguments
challenging the manner in which his sentence was determined must necessarily have been
originally brought in a direct appeal and not in a collateral attack. “‘[Section] 2255 is not
available to test the legality of matters which should have been raised on appeal.’” United
States v. Walling, 982 F.2d 447, 448 (10th Cir. 1992) (quoting United States v. Khan, 835
F.2d 749, 753 (10th Cir. 1987)). Defendant did not file a direct appeal challenging these
issues, and Plaintiff has raised the procedural bar. Thus, absent a demonstration of cause
and prejudice or a miscarriage of justice, Defendant is barred from raising them now. See
United States v. Allen, 16 F.3d 377, 378 (10th Cir. 1994):

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When a defendant fails to challenge his sentence on direct appeal but
subsequently attempts to do so under § 2255, the courts may take one of
several courses of action. First, if the government raises procedural bar, the
courts must enforce it and hold the defendant’s claims procedurally barred
unless cause and prejudice or a miscarriage of justice is shown.
Defendant has offered no argument or evidence on the cause/prejudice or miscarriage of
justice issue. Therefore, the Court finds his challenges to the manner in which his
sentence was determined to be procedurally barred.
Because a decision can be made on basis of the record before the Court, no hearing
is necessary on Defendant’s arguments regarding ineffective assistance of counsel. See
United States v. Mota, Nos. 11-40047-09-JAR, 13-4130-JAR, 2014 WL 2772924, *2 (10th
Cir. June 19, 2014).
For the reasons set forth herein, Defendant’s Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to
Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct a Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody (Dkt. Nos. 129,
1) is denied. A separate judgment will issue.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 28th day of September, 2017.

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