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U.S. v. Braswell

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Dec 5, 2002
51 F. App'x 783 (9th Cir. 2002)

Opinion


51 Fed.Appx. 783 (9th Cir. 2002) UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff--Appellee, v. Cyrus D.A. BRASWELL, Defendant--Appellant. No. 00-30370. D.C. No. CR-97-00068-A-JKS. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. December 5, 2002

Submitted December 2, 2002.

This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2). Accordingly, Braswell's request for oral argument is denied.

NOT FOR PUBLICATION. (See Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 36-3)

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, James K. Singleton, Chief District Judge, Presiding.

Before GOODWIN, TROTT, and GRABER, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

Cyrus D.A. Braswell appeals pro se the district court's denial of his motions for

Page 784.

judgment of acquittal, arrest of judgment, or new trial, as well as for return of property and change of venue. To the extent we have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.

We refuse to consider any of Braswell's sentencing issues because he could have raised them in his prior appeal. See United States v. Nagra, 147 F.3d 875, 882 (9th Cir.1998).

On April 12, 2002, we remanded this appeal to the district court to give Braswell an opportunity to show cause why his notice of appeal that was filed more than 10 days after the entry of the final judgment was not untimely. See Fed. R.App. P. 4(b)(1)(A), (b)(4). The district court, in an order dated May 23, 2002, found there was excusable neglect for the delay and extended the filing period making this appeal timely.

As an initial matter, Braswell contends the district court's denial of his motion for a change of venue was in error. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 21. Reviewing for an abuse of discretion, see United States v. Etsitty, 130 F.3d 420, 424 (9th Cir.1997), we find none.

Braswell next contends that the district court erred by denying his motion for acquittal and motion for arrest of judgment. Because these motions were not filed within 7 days of the verdict, the district court correctly denied them as untimely. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 29, 34; Carlisle v. United States, 517 U.S. 416, 421, 116 S.Ct. 1460, 134 L.Ed.2d 613 (1996); Baker v. United States, 429 F.2d 1278, 1279 (9th Cir.1970) (per curiam).

Braswell further contends that the district court erred by denying his motion for a new trial. The district court correctly found the motion timely because it was based upon newly discovered evidence and filed within 3 years of the trial date. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 33. Because of the strong corroborating evidence and overwhelming evidence of guilt, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by finding that the newly discovered evidence does not warrant a new trial. See United States v. Kulczyk, 931 F.2d 542, 549 (9th Cir.1991).

Braswell's final contention is that the district court erred by denying his motion for a return of property. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 41(e). We review a district court's denial of a Rule 41(e) motion de novo, and the underlying findings of fact for clear error. See United States v. Marolf, 173 F.3d 1213, 1216 (9th Cir.1999). Again, because of the strong corroborating evidence and overwhelming evidence of guilt, and notwithstanding Braswell's newly discovered evidence, we determine that the district court's findings of fact were not clearly erroneous, and that it did not err by denying the motion for return of property.

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

U.S. v. Braswell

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Dec 5, 2002
51 F. App'x 783 (9th Cir. 2002)
Case details for

U.S. v. Braswell

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff--Appellee, v. Cyrus D.A. BRASWELL…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Dec 5, 2002

Citations

51 F. App'x 783 (9th Cir. 2002)

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