Opinion
No. 08-1875.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) December 12, 2008.
Filed: December 15, 2008.
On Appeal from the District Court of the Virgin Islands (D.V.I. No. 03-cr-00021-001), District Judge: Honorable Curtis V. Gomez.
Bruce Z. Marshack, Esq., Office of United States Attorney, Christiansted, St. Croix USVI, Everard E. Potter, Esq., Office of United States Attorney, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas USVI, for United States of America.
Jesse A Gessin, Esq., Office of Federal Public Defender, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas USVI, for Appellant.
Before: FISHER, JORDAN and STAPLETON, Circuit Judges.
OPINION OF THE COURT
Leon Martin Nisbett ("Nisbett") appeals from a Final Judgment and Commitment Order of the District Court of the Virgin Islands of the United States for violating the terms of his supervised release (the "Supervised Release Revocation Order"). Nisbett's attorney has filed a motion to withdraw as counsel from this case, along with a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). We notified Nisbett of his right to submit a pro se brief in support of his appeal and he has done so. For the reasons that follow, we will grant counsel's request to withdraw and affirm the Supervised Release Revocation Order.
I. Background
Nisbett's underlying conviction is for Failure to Appear, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 3146(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A), and Carrying Dangerous Weapons, in violation of 14 V.I.C. § 2253(a). His sentence included a three-year term of supervised release, the terms of which included, but were not limited to, (1) reporting to the United States Office of Probation between the first and fifth of each month; (2) refraining from the unlawful use of a controlled substance; (3) not leaving the District of the Virgin Islands without permission from the Court or his probation officer; and (4) notifying the probation office within seventy-two hours of any arrest.
In July 2007, the United States Probation Office issued a warrant for Nisbett's arrest for violating the terms of his supervised release by failing to report to his probation officer. Furthermore, in January 2008, the Probation Office discovered that Nisbett was in custody in Antigua, West Indies on suspicion of a double homicide. He was then expelled from Antigua and, upon his arriving in Puerto Rico, was arrested on the outstanding warrant for violating the terms of his supervised release. The Probation Office discovered that Nisbett had also been earlier arrested in the Virgin Islands for possessing twenty-seven small bags of marijuana. Prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant in July 2007, Nisbett had last reported to the Probation Office on February 2, 2007, and had failed to report his arrests.
In March 2008, the District Court held a hearing on the possible revocation of Nisbett's supervised release. Probation Officer Brian Smith testified about Nisbett's violations and, based on that evidence, the Court found that Nisbett had breached the conditions of release and "resentenced [him] to nine (9) months incarceration with a two (2) year period of supervised release." (A-19, 38, 51-52.) The Supervised Release Revocation Order was issued in April 2008 and this appeal followed.
II. Discussion
The District Court had jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231 and 48 U.S.C. § 1612(a). We exercise jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
The government has the burden of proving a violation of a defendant's supervised release by a preponderance of the evidence. 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3); United States v. Maloney, 513 F.3d 350, 354 (3d Cir. 2008). We review the District Court's decision to revoke supervised released for abuse of discretion. Maloney, 513 F.3d at 354 (citing Virgin Islands v. Martinez, 239 F.3d 293, 297 (3d Cir. 2001)). The factual findings supporting that decision are reviewed for clear error and the legal issues are subject to de novo review. Id. (internal citations omitted).
Our Court's Local Appellate Rule 109.2(a) provides that "[w]here, upon review of the district court record, trial counsel is persuaded that the appeal presents no issue of even arguable merit, trial counsel may file a motion to withdraw and supporting [ Anders] brief." In considering counsel's Anders brief, we examine: "whether counsel adequately fulfilled the rule's requirements," and "whether an independent review of the record presents any nonfrivolous issues." United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir. 2001). To fulfill the requirements of Rule 109.2(a), the brief must "satisfy the court that counsel has thoroughly examined the record in search of appealable issues" and "explain why the issues are frivolous." Id. (citing United States v. Marvin, 211 F.3d 778, 780 (3d Cir. 2000)). At a minimum, the brief must assure us that counsel has made a conscientious examination of the record. Id.
In this case, defense counsel's brief plainly demonstrates the requisite examination of the record and provides the necessary explanation as to why the issues Nisbett wishes to raise are frivolous. We also conclude, after our own independent analysis of the record, that this appeal presents no nonfrivolous issues.
Nisbett raises several objections to the findings of the District Court. The first, an allegation that the District Court lacked jurisdiction, is frivolous on its face and warrants no discussion. We also decline to address the charge of ineffective assistance of counsel, as it is well settled that such claims are generally to be raised in collateral proceedings. United States v. Thornton, 327 F.3d 268, 271 (3d Cir. 2003). The remaining issues are discussed briefly.
A. The Government Had Probable Cause To Seek Revocation of Nisbett's Supervised Release, As Demonstrated By Sufficient Evidence
Nisbett breached the conditions of his supervised release by leaving the country without permission and by being arrested twice and failing to report those arrests to his probation officer. Brian Smith of the Probation Office testified to those violations. As to the assertion that Probation Officer Smith's testimony relied on hearsay, we note that hearsay is permitted in revocation hearings. See FED. R.EVID. 1101(d)(3). Based on the evidence recounted in that testimony, which supported the charged violations, the government had probable cause to seek the revocation of Nisbett's supervised release.
B. Nisbett Received Proper Notice Of The Revocation Hearing And The Alleged Violations
Nisbett broadly asserts that his due process rights were violated because he didn't receive adequate notice of the alleged violations. The District Court addressed at the revocation hearing the alleged deficiencies in the notice, and Nisbett's counsel acknowledges that Nisbett "was given written notice of the claimed violations of the supervised release and the evidence against him." (Appellant Br. at 7 (citing United States v. Maloney, 513 F.3d 350, 356 (3d Cir. 2008) (citing, inter alia, FED.R.CRIM.P. 32.1)).) Nisbett has not provided any evidence to the contrary.
Nisbett also argues that his due process rights were violated because the revocation hearing occurred in St. Thomas, while he had a right to be heard in St. Croix, where the warrant was issued. Both St. Thomas and St. Croix fall within the jurisdiction of the District Court of the Virgin Islands. There is no right to be heard in a specific courthouse within the jurisdiction of that Court. In short, there is nothing to suggest a deprivation of due process in this case.
III. Conclusion
Accordingly, counsel's request to withdraw will be granted and the District Court's Supervised Release Revocation Order will be affirmed, without prejudice to any ineffective assistance of counsel claim Nisbett may choose to pursue hereafter in an appropriate proceeding.
This qualification implies nothing about the merits of any such claim.