Opinion
No. 08-35539.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed September 28, 2010.
Helen J. Brunner, Esquire, Karyn Johnson, Esquire, Office of the U.S. Attorney, Seattle, WA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Jeffrey E. Ellis, Steven Witchley, Ellis, Holmes Witchley, PLLC, Seattle, WA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, James L. Robart, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. 2:07-cv-01738-JLR.
Before: SILVERMAN, CALLAHAN, and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Federal prisoner Evangelos Dimitrios Soukas appeals from the district court's order denying his motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253, and we affirm.
Soukas contends that his appellate counsel was ineffective because she did not challenge the district court's failure to calculate Soukas' criminal history category on direct appeal. In light of the district court's comments at sentencing, Soukas cannot show "a reasonable probability that he would have received a different sentence" but for the district court's failure to calculate his criminal history category. See United States v. Dallman, 533 F.3d 755, 762 (9th Cir. 2008) (applying plain error analysis where counsel failed to object to procedural error at sentencing). Accordingly, Soukas cannot show a reasonable probability that he would have prevailed on direct appeal, and his ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claim fails. See Miller v. Keeney, 882 F.2d 1428, 1434 (9th Cir. 1989).