United States v. Mark Mink

United States Court of Appeals For the Eighth Circuit ___________________________ No. 13-3279 ___________________________ United States of America lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee v. Mark Mink lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant ____________ Appeal from United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas - Ft. Smith ____________ Submitted: June 6, 2014 Filed: June 6, 2014 [Unpublished[ ____________ Before BYE, COLLOTON, and BENTON, Circuit Judges. ____________ PER CURIAM. Mark Howard Mink directly appeals the sentence imposed by the district court1 after he pled guilty to coercing and enticing a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1 The Honorable P.K. Holmes, III, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. § 2422(b). On appeal, his counsel has moved to withdraw and filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Counsel argues that the sentence was substantively unreasonable. Mink has filed a pro se supplemental submission, in which he claims counsel was ineffective. Having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms. After careful review, this court concludes that Mink’s sentence was not substantively unreasonable, as the 120-month sentence imposed was the statutory minimum sentence. See 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) (whoever commits offense shall be imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life); United States v. Woods, 717 F.3d 654, 659 (8th Cir. 2013) (rejecting argument that sentence was substantively unreasonable, as defendant received statutory minimum sentence); United States v. Watts, 553 F.3d 603, 604 (8th Cir. 2009) (per curiam) (district court lacks authority to reduce sentence below statutory minimum). This court declines to consider Mink’s ineffective- assistance claim in this direct criminal appeal. See Woods, 717 F.3d at 657. The judgment is affirmed. Counsel’s motion to withdraw is granted. ______________________________ -2-