Background
Seth Zachary Owens appealed judgments from the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. He challenged his guilty-plea convictions and concurrent thirty-three-month sentences for being a felon in possession of ammunition and obstruction of justice. Owens’s counsel filed a brief under Anders v. California stating there were no non-frivolous arguments for appeal.
The court’s reasoning
The court conducted an independent review of the record to determine if the appeal waivers were enforceable. The panel found no non-frivolous issues regarding the enforceability of the waivers. Consequently, the court dismissed the appeals and granted counsel’s motion to withdraw.
What it means going forward
The dismissal prevents further appellate review of the convictions and sentences, leaving the district court judgments in place.