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2d 1058
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of
Virginia, at Roanoke. James C. Turk, Chief District Judge. (CR-91-5-R,
CA-92-25-R)
Terry Wayne Hurley, Appellant Pro Se.
Ray Burton Fitzgerald, Jr., Office of the United States Attorney, Roanoke,
Virginia, for Appellee.
W.D.Va.
Affirmed.
Before WIDENER, WILKINSON, and LUTTIG, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
OPINION
1
Terry Wayne Hurley was convicted of drug possession and using or carrying
I.
3
Hurley's contention that one must have actually used or carried a gun during a
drug transaction in order to be convicted under 924(c) is meritless. This Court
has broadly construed the"use" element of 924(c) to include mere possession
during the commission of the predicate crime,2 United States v. Paz, 927 F.2d
176 (4th Cir. 1991), the presence of a firearm to help facilitate the success of a
crime, United States v. Brockington, 849 F.2d 872, 876 (4th Cir. 1988), or even
possession so as to "embolden" the actor during the commission of a crime, id.
First, Hurley claims that his counsel erred in "allowing" Hurley to be brought to
trial on the 924(c) charge, because there was insufficient evidence to support
the charge. The district court properly found that, because defense counsel has
no control on what charges will proceed to trial, Hurley's counsel did not err in
"allowing" the trial to proceed on the 924(c) charge. Thus, the district court
properly dismissed this claim.
Further, the court below did not err in its analysis of Hurley's second ineffective
assistance claim. Hurley contended that he was not informed of his right to
appeal his conviction. This Court has held that the failure to inform one of his
right to appeal his conviction violates the right to effective assistance of
counsel. Nelson v. Peyton, 415 F.2d 1154, 1156 (4th Cir. 1969), cert. denied,
397 U.S. 1007 (1970). If the trial court so advised Hurley, however, his
counsel's failure to do so does not constitute ineffective assistance. Id. at 1158.
The record reveals that the trial court advised Hurley of his right to appeal.
Further, Hurley's own allegations reveal that he had been advised of this right
by his own counsel.
Because the district court properly dismissed Hurley's claims, the district
court's order is affirmed. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and
legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the Court and
argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED