NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FILED
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT JUN 29 2015
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 14-30098
Plaintiff - Appellee, D.C. No. 1:13-cr-00100-PA
v.
MEMORANDUM*
CHRIS DARRELL JOSEPH SAGE,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Oregon
Owen M. Panner, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted June 22, 2015**
Before: HAWKINS, GRABER, and W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judges.
Chris Darrell Joseph Sage appeals his guilty-plea conviction and 240-month
sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 922(g)(1), and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, in
violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(viii). We dismiss.
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
Sage pled guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement, which contained an
appeal waiver. Sage argues the appeal waiver is unenforceable because his guilty
plea was involuntary, based on the alleged abusive conduct of his attorney. Sage’s
allegations of misconduct by his attorney, as described in two letters and two pre-
plea hearings, do not establish that Sage was coerced into entering a guilty plea.
To the contrary, Sage confirmed at his plea hearing that his guilty plea was not “the
result of force, threat or intimidation by anyone.” We give considerable weight to
Sage’s confirmation on this point as we have previously explained that “[s]olemn
declarations in open court carry a strong presumption of verity.” Doe v. Woodford,
508 F.3d 563, 571 (9th Cir. 2007) (internal quotations omitted). Moreover, the
district court appointed another lawyer to give Sage a second opinion. On this
record, we conclude the appeal waiver is valid and enforceable. See United States
v. Brizan, 709 F.3d 864, 866-67 (9th Cir. 2013).
DISMISSED.
2 14-30098