United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
December 15, 2005
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 04-60709
Summary Calendar
UNTIED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
DALE ROY CREEL, also known as Shorty,
Defendant-
Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Mississippi
USDC No. 1:03-CR-80-GRo
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Before BARKSDALE, STEWART and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Following a jury trial, Dale Roy Creel was convicted of one count of conspiracy to
manufacture more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, t wo counts of discharging a firearm in
relation to a drug offense, and one count of brandishing a firearm in relation to a drug offense. The
district court sentenced Creel to serve life in prison on the methamphetamine offense, ten years on
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
each discharge offense, and seven years on the brandishing offense. He was also sentenced to serve
a five-year term of supervised release. Creel now appeals his convictions and sentences.
Creel argues that the district court abused its discretion in denying his request for new
appointed counsel. Creel has not shown that his disagreements with counsel constituted good cause
for him to receive a new attorney. See Morris v. Slappy, 461 U.S. 1, 13-14 (1983); United States
v. Young, 482 F.2d 993, 995 5th Cir. 1973). Consequently, Creel likewise has not shown that the
district court erred in denying his request for substitute appointed counsel.
Creel contends t hat the district court’s instructions to the jury constructively amended the
indictment as to the firearms charges. He concomitantly argues that his convictions on these charges
should be overturned. Creel has not shown that these convictions were based on grounds that were
permissible under the statute but not charged in the indictment. See United States v. Daniels, 252
F.3d 411, 413 (5th Cir. 2001). He thus has not shown that his indictment was constructively
amended by the jury instructions. Because Creel has shown no error in connection with his
convictions, those convictions are AFFIRMED.
Creel argues that his sentence must be vacated in light of United States v. Booker, 125 S. Ct.
738 (2005). When, as here, a Booker claim is preserved, we will ordinarily vacate and remand unless
the Government can show beyond a reasonable doubt that the error was harmless. See United States
v. Pineiro, 410 F.3d 282, 285 (5th Cir. 2005). The district court’s imposition of a sentence based
on facts exceeding those contained in the judgment of conviction was erroneous. See id. Further,
the Government concedes that the error was not harmless, and there is nothing in the record to
indicate that the district court would have imposed the same sentences under an advisory guidelines
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scheme. See id. Accordingly, Creel’s sentences are VACATED and this matter is REMANDED for
resentencing.
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