United States v. Henefield
Opinion
Alexander Frank Henefield pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. In anticipation that the Supreme Court might hold that the United States Sentencing Guidelines were invalid under Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), the district court imposed alternative sentences: one sentence under the Sentencing Guidelines and a second, discretionary sentence to take effect if the Sentencing Guidelines were invalidated. The government concedes that under the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Booker, — U.S. -, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), Henefield’s sentence “was not harmless error” because the district court would have imposed a lesser sentence under an advisory Sentencing Guideline scheme. Accordingly, we vacate Henefield’s sentence and remand the case for resentencing. See United States v. Mares, 402 F.3d 511 (5th Cir.), petition for cert. filed (Mar. 31, 2005) (No. 04-9517).
The record provides no support for Henefield’s argument that his guilty plea was not knowing and voluntary. See United States v. Johnson, 1 F.3d 296, 302-03 (5th Cir. 1993) (en banc). Henefield’s argument that the district court erred by refusing to allow him to withdraw his plea is frivolous as Henefield did not make such a request in the district court.
AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED AND REMANDED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Alexander Frank HENEFIELD, Defendant-Appellant; United States of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Alexander Henefield, Defendant-Appellant
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Unpublished