United States of America v. Richard L. Gathercole

United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
___________________________
No. 19-2288
___________________________
United States of America
lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellee
v.
Richard L. Gathercole
lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellant
____________
Appeal from United States District Court
for the District of Nebraska - Lincoln
____________
Submitted: February 27, 2020
Filed: March 3, 2020
[Unpublished]
____________
Before BENTON, SHEPHERD, and KELLY, Circuit Judges.
____________
PER CURIAM.
Richard Gathercole appeals after he pleaded guilty to bank robbery, carjacking,
and a firearm offense, and the district court1 imposed a sentence consistent with his
1The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, United States District Judge for the District
of Nebraska.

-- 1 of 3 --

binding Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement, which
contained an appeal waiver. His counsel has moved for leave to withdraw, and has
filed a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), arguing that the
sentence was unreasonable, and that Gathercole was denied effective assistance of
counsel. Gathercole has filed a pro se brief arguing that his firearm conviction--i.e.,
brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)--is
unconstitutional in light of United States v. Davis, 139 S. Ct. 2319 (2019)
(invalidating § 924(c)(3)(B)--the residual clause definition of crime of violence--as
unconstitutionally vague).
Upon careful review, we conclude that Davis does not apply to Gathercole’s
conviction. See Estell v. United States, 924 F.3d 1291, 1293 (8th Cir. 2019) (bank
robbery qualifies as a crime of violence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(3)(A)); see also
Kidd v. United States, 929 F.3d 578, 581 (8th Cir. 2019) (per curiam) (armed robbery
categorically qualifies as crime of violence under use-of-force clause of
§ 924(c)(3)(A); Davis does not apply where predicate offense qualifies under use-of-
force clause).
To the extent Gathercole attempts to assert ineffective assistance of counsel,
we decline to address the claim in this direct appeal, see United States v. Hernandez,
281 F.3d 746, 749 (8th Cir. 2002) (generally, ineffective-assistance claim is not
cognizable on direct appeal).
Finally, we conclude that the appeal waiver is valid, enforceable, and
applicable to the remaining issues raised in this appeal. See United States v. Scott,
627 F.3d 702, 704 (8th Cir. 2010) (validity and applicability of an appeal waiver is
reviewed de novo); United States v. Andis, 333 F.3d 886, 889-92 (8th Cir. 2003) (en
banc) (appeal waiver will be enforced if the appeal falls within the scope of the
waiver, the defendant knowingly and voluntarily entered into the plea agreement and
the waiver, and enforcing the waiver would not result in a miscarriage of justice). We
-2-

-- 2 of 3 --

have also independently reviewed the record under Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75
(1988), and have found no non-frivolous issues for appeal falling outside the scope
of the waiver. Accordingly, we enforce the appeal waiver as to Gathercole’s
challenge to the reasonableness of his sentence, affirm in all other respects, and grant
counsel leave to withdraw.
______________________________
-3-

-- 3 of 3 --