Opinion
No. 10-50033 Summary Calendar.
June 15, 2010.
Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
John Simmons, Beaumont, TX, pro se.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, USDC No. 1:08-CR-337-7.
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, CLEMENT, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
John Simmons pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams of more of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting. He was sentenced to 151 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release. Over six months after the entry of judgment, Simmons, acting pro se, moved for an extension of time to file an appeal, filed a notice of appeal, and moved for the appointment of appellate counsel. The district court denied Simmons's motion for an extension of time because it was not filed within 30 days of the expiration of his appeal period, as required by FED. R.APP.P. 4(b)(4). The district court dismissed Simmons's motion for appointment of counsel. Counsel who had been appointed to represent Simmons in the district court thereafter moved to withdraw, and the district court granted counsel's motion.
Simmons now moves this court for the appointment of counsel. We may dismiss an appeal when considering an interlocutory motion if the appeal "is frivolous and entirely without merit." 5TH Cm. R. 42.2. Simmons did not file a notice of appeal within the limitations period under FED. R.APP. P. 4(b)(1)(A), and his motion for an extension of time to file an appeal was filed beyond the time limitations set forth under FED. R.APP. P. 4(b)(4). Simmons is not entitled to have the untimeliness of his notice of appeal disregarded. See United States v. Leijano-Cruz, 473 F.3d 571, 574 (5th Cir. 2006). Because the instant appeal is without arguable merit, Simmons's motion for appointment of counsel is DENIED, and the appeal is DISMISSED as frivolous. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.