United States v. Kenny Bevard
Opinion
Kenny Clyde Homer Bevard, II pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a *569 firearm. After Bevard’s conviction became final, the Supreme Court decided Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2581, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004). Bevard later filed a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence, asserting his sentence violates Blakely. The district court * denied Bevard’s motion holding Blakely does not apply on collateral review. Bevard appeals asserting Blakely and United States v. Booker, — U.S.-, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), should apply retroactively for three reasons. First, Bevard contends Blakely and Booker did not create new procedural rules because their holdings were dictated by existing precedent. Second, Bevard argues that even if Blakely and Booker created a new procedural rule, it is a watershed rule implicating the fundamental fairness and accuracy of criminal proceedings. Third, Bevard argues Blakely and Booker created a substantive change in the law by changing the punishment available for the crime. Bevard’s arguments are foreclosed by our recent decision in Never Misses A Shot v. United States, 413 F.3d 781 (8th Cir. 2005). Like all other circuits that have considered the issue, we held “the ‘new rule’ announced in Booker does not apply to criminal convictions that became final before the rule was announced, and thus does not benefit movants in collateral proceedings.” Id. at-, 125 S.Ct. 738.
We thus affirm the district court’s denial of Bevard’s motion.
The Honorable Ronald E. Longstaff, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Kenny Clyde Homer BEVARD, II, Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished