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United States v. Orrell

Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Date filed: 1995-10-16
Citations: 70 F.3d 1267
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               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
                         __________________

                              No. 95-50277
                          Conference Calendar
                           __________________

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                       Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

WILLIAM P. ORRELL, II,
                                       Defendant-Appellant.

                       - - - - - - - - - -
          Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Western District of Texas
                 USDC No. P-93-CR-31; P-94-CA-30
                       - - - - - - - - - -
                        (October 18, 1995)

Before POLITZ, Chief Judge, and REAVLEY and SMITH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     William P. Orrell, II, pleaded guilty to one count of wire

fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and was sentenced to 24 months

imprisonment, three years supervised release, a $2,500 fine, and

a $50 special assessment.    He filed a motion under 28 U.S.C.

§ 2255 alleging, inter alia, that that he was denied effective

assistance of counsel.    The district court denied relief and

dismissed the motion.

     Orrell admitted his guilt at the guilty plea hearing and at

the sentencing hearing.    In exchange for his guilty plea to the

one-count information, the Government dismissed a six-count

     *
          Local Rule 47.5 provides: "The publication of opinions
that have no precedential value and merely decide particular
cases on the basis of well-settled principles of law imposes
needless expense on the public and burdens on the legal
profession." Pursuant to that Rule, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published.
                             No. 95-50277
                                  -2-

indictment.   Orrell has not demonstrated that in the absence of

his attorney's alleged errors, he would have insisted on going to

trial.   See United States v. Smith, 844 F.2d 203, 209 (5th Cir.

1988); Czere v. Butler, 833 F.2d 59, 64 (5th Cir. 1987).

     Orrell also argues that his attorney was ineffective because

he took $500 from his parents prior to Barclay being appointed as

his attorney.    Even assuming Orrell's allegations are true, he

cannot demonstrate how this action rendered his attorney's

assistance ineffective.

     For the first time on appeal Orrell argues that his attorney

was ineffective for failing to investigate the case adequately.

This court need not address issues not considered by the district

court.   "[I]ssues raised for the first time on appeal are not

reviewable by this court unless they involve purely legal

questions and failure to consider them would result in manifest

injustice."     Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir.

1991).

     This appeal is without arguable merit and thus frivolous.

Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983).    Because

the appeal is frivolous, it will be dismissed.    5th Cir. R. 42.2.

We caution Orrell that any additional frivolous appeals filed by

him or on his behalf will invite the imposition of sanctions.      To

avoid sanctions, Orrell is further cautioned to review all

pending appeals to ensure that they do not raise arguments that

are frivolous because they have been previously decided by this

court.

     Appeal DISMISSED.