United States v. Washington
United States v. Washington
Opinion
UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. No. 01-4278 MELDON IRVIN WASHINGTON, Defendant-Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, at Richmond.
Robert E. Payne, District Judge. (CR-00-287) Submitted: November 29, 2001 Decided: December 18, 2001 Before NIEMEYER, WILLIAMS, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
COUNSEL John C. Jones, Jr., LAW OFFICES OF JOHN C. JONES, JR., Provi- dence Forge, Virginia, for Appellant. Paul J. McNulty, United States Attorney, John S. Davis, Assistant United States Attorney, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See Local Rule 36(c).
2 UNITED STATES v. WASHINGTON OPINION PER CURIAM: Meldon Irvin Washington was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to knowingly possess with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of crack cocaine, 21 U.S.C.A. § 846 (West 1999), and possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of crack cocaine, 21 U.S.C.A. § 841
We review a challenge to the admissibility of evidence under Rule 404(b) for abuse of discretion. United States v. Queen, 132 F.3d 991, 993 (4th Cir. 1997). This court has articulated a four prong test to determine the admissibility of prior act evidence. Queen, 132 F.3d at 995. The evidence must be: (1) relevant to an issue other than charac- ter; (2) necessary to prove an element of the crime charged; (3) reli- able; and (4) in compliance with Fed. R. Evid. 403, its probative value must not be substantially outweighed by its prejudicial nature. Id. We have reviewed the district court’s application of the Queen factors to the evidence proffered by the Government and find no abuse of dis- cretion. We also note that the district court adhered to the two admin- istrative protections suggested in Queen, 132 F.3d at 997. Washington received specific notice of the Rule 404(b) evidence weeks before the trial and the court gave limiting instructions during the testimony regarding prior acts.
Washington contends that the sentencing court violated Apprendi because it applied a four level increase in his sentencing guidelines offense level for relevant conduct, specifically the quantity of drugs attributed to him from prior transactions. He further challenges under Apprendi an enhancement for possession of a weapon during a prior drug transaction. These arguments are foreclosed by our decision in United States v. Kinter, 235 F.3d 192, 199 (4th Cir. 2000). While Washington urges us to reconsider its holding in Kinter, one panel UNITED STATES v. WASHINGTON 3 may not overrule the decision of another panel. Brubaker v. City of Richmond, 943 F.2d 1363, 1381-82 (4th Cir. 1991).
For the first time on appeal, Washington challenges the factual findings that support the sentencing increase and enhancement. "A defendant’s failure to object to a sentencing issue amounts to a waiver of his right to raise that issue on appeal, absent plain error." United States v. Ford, 88 F.3d 1350 (4th Cir. 1996). Our review reveals no error in the presentence calculation of the drugs attributable to Wash- ington as relevant conduct or in the court’s application of the firearm enhancement.
Finally, Washington has moved to file a pro se supplemental brief; we grant the motion. Washington contends that: (1) the search of his co-defendant’s hotel room violated Washington’s Fourth Amendment rights; (2) one statute he was convicted of violating, 21 U.S.C.A. § 841
We affirm Washington’s convictions and sentences. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are ade- quately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid in the decisional process.
AFFIRMED
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