United States v. Michael Raymond Stone, 153 F.3d 729, 10th Cir. (1998)

153 F.
3d 729
98 CJ C.A.R. 4093
NOTICE: Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored,
unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a
material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral
argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties. See General Order of
November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until December 31, 1995, or
further order.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.
Michael Raymond STONE, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 97-8111.
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

July 28, 1998.
Before BALDOCK, EBEL, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
MICHAEL R. MURPHY, Circuit Judge.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination
of this appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
In July 1995, defendant was sentenced by the Wyoming federal court to

seventy months' imprisonment for manufacturing and distributing
methamphetamine, and conspiring to possess with intent to distribute
methamphetamine. He registered no objection to the calculation of his criminal
history contained in the presentence report. He did not file a direct appeal. Nine
months after he was sentenced, he filed a motion to correct errors in his
presentence report. The district court denied that motion and this court
affirmed, noting that relief must be sought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2255. See
United States v. Stone, No. 96-8039, 1996 WL 606311 (10th Cir. Oct.23,
1996). Defendant then filed a motion pursuant to 2255 to correct his

presentence report and resentence him. The district court denied the motion. He
now appeals the denial, proceeding pro se. We deny issuance of a certificate of
appealability and dismiss the appeal.
3
Defendant's failure to object to the presentence report at the sentencing hearing

will preclude him from raising the issue in a 2255 motion, absent a showing
of cause and prejudice. See United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 167-68, 102
S.Ct. 1584, 71 L.Ed.2d 816 (1982). Constitutionally ineffective assistance of
counsel can satisfy the cause and prejudice requirement. See United States v.
Cook, 45 F.3d 388, 392 (10th Cir.1995).
Defendant alleges his attorney rendered constitutionally ineffective assistance

by failing to object to the presentence report, which included a conviction
entered against him on a counseled guilty plea in Yuba County, California.
Three points were added to defendant's criminal history score based on the
Yuba County case. He claims that the Yuba County charges were ultimately
dismissed and, therefore, could not be used to calculate his sentence in the
Wyoming case. Defendant cannot dispute that the Yuba County charges were
dismissed on November 16, 1995, four months after he was sentenced in the
Wyoming case.
Defendant relies on a document entitled "Disposition of Arrest and Court

Action" pertaining to the Yuba County charges to establish that he did not enter
a guilty plea to those charges, contrary to the findings in the presentence report.
He has also produced the November 1995 request and order for dismissal of
the Yuba County charges. Defendant has not produced the complete Yuba
County court file, however, and he has not denied that he entered a guilty plea
to those charges. Rather, he argues only that the documents he submitted fail to
prove he entered a counseled guilty plea.
To establish that counsel provided ineffective assistance, a defendant must

demonstrate both that his attorney's representation was deficient and that the
attorney's substandard performance prejudiced him. See Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984).
Defendant has failed to meet this burden. The two selected documents
pertaining to the Yuba County charges are insufficient to establish that those
charges were dismissed prior to entry of a guilty plea. Defendant has not
established any error in the presentence report to which his attorney should
have objected. Moreover, he does not contend that he told his counsel about
this alleged error. Accordingly, he cannot fault his counsel for failing to
challenge the presentence report. Cf. United States v. King, 936 F.2d 477, 480
(10th Cir.1991) ("An attorney's failure to investigate cannot be charged as a

claim of 'ineffective assistance of counsel' when the essential and foundational
information required to trigger such an investigation is withheld from the
defendant's attorney by the defendant himself.") (quotation omitted). Defendant
also cannot fault his attorney for failing to foresee that the Yuba County
charges would be dismissed after the Wyoming case was concluded. Defendant
has failed to establish that his attorney's performance was constitutionally
deficient.
7
To the extent defendant argues he may reopen his sentence on the ground that
his Yuba County conviction was subsequently set aside, see United States v.
Cox, 83 F.3d 336, 339 (10th Cir.1996), we conclude that the grounds upon
which the Yuba County charges were dismissed do not warrant reopening his
federal sentence, see United States v. Hines, 133 F.3d 1360, 1363 (10th
Cir.1998) (court must examine grounds upon which defendant's sentence was
set aside). Here, the district court found that the Yuba County case was
dismissed because defendant was sentenced to prison in this case. Accordingly,
the Yuba County charges were not dismissed "for reasons related to
constitutional invalidity, innocence, or errors of law," id. at 1366, and it was
appropriate to include the Yuba County charges in the calculation of his federal
sentence.
Defendant's request for a certificate of appealability is denied. The appeal is

DISMISSED.
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally
disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and
judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3

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153 F.

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

Before BALDOCK, EBEL, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.

In July 1995, defendant was sentenced by the Wyoming federal court to

1996). Defendant then filed a motion pursuant to 2255 to correct his

Defendant's failure to object to the presentence report at the sentencing hearing

Defendant alleges his attorney rendered constitutionally ineffective assistance

Defendant relies on a document entitled "Disposition of Arrest and Court

To establish that counsel provided ineffective assistance, a defendant must

(10th Cir.1991) ("An attorney's failure to investigate cannot be charged as a

Defendant's request for a certificate of appealability is denied. The appeal is

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