U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2014

United States v. Johnny Locklear, Jr.

United States v. Johnny Locklear, Jr.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · Decided August 7, 2014 · Shedd, Diaz, Thacker
581 F. App'x 217

United States v. Johnny Locklear, Jr.

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Johnny Kinlaw Locklear, Jr. appeals the district court’s judgment after pleading guilty to possessing firearms subsequent to a felony conviction. On appeal, he contends the district court erred in denying his request for a hearing under Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978), which he made in his pre-plea motion to suppress evidence. We dismiss the appeal.

“This court has recognized that, pursuant to Rule 11(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the direct review of an adverse ruling on a pretrial motion is available only if the defendant expressly preserves that right by entering a conditional guilty plea.” United States v. Abramski, 706 F.3d 307, 314 (4th Cir.), cert. granted, — U.S.-, 134 S.Ct. 421, 187 L.Ed.2d 278 (2013), and aff'd, — U.S. -, 134 S.Ct. 2259, 189 L.Ed.2d 262 (2014) (citations and internal quotations omitted). Absent a valid conditional guilty plea, we “will dismiss a defendant’s appeal from an adverse pretrial ruling on a non-jurisdictional issue.” Id. (citation and internal quotations omitted); see also Tollett v. Henderson, 411 U.S. 258, 267, 93 S.Ct. 1602, 36 L.Ed.2d 235 (1973); Haring v. Prosise, 462 U.S. 306, 321, 103 S.Ct. 2368, 76 L.Ed.2d 595 (1983). Because Locklear did not enter a conditional guilty plea, we may not review the district court’s adverse pretrial ruling.

Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal. 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.

DISMISSED.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.