United States of America v. George Verkler

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
GEORGE VERKLER,
Defendant-Appellant.
No. 15-30244
D.C. No. 2:15-cr-00041-JCC
MEMORANDUM*
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Washington
John C. Coughenour, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted December 14, 2016**
Before: WALLACE, LEAVY, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
George Verkler appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges his
guilty-plea convictions and 24-month concurrent sentences for theft of government
funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641, consecutive to 24-month concurrent
sentences for aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A.
FILED
DEC 19 2016
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

-- 1 of 2 --

Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), Verkler’s counsel has filed
a brief stating that there are no grounds for relief, along with a motion to withdraw
as counsel of record. Verkler has filed pro se supplemental opening and reply
briefs. No answering brief has been filed.
Verkler waived his right to appeal his conviction and sentence. Our
independent review of the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80
(1988), discloses no arguable issue as to the validity of the waiver, including the
voluntariness of the plea. See United States v. Watson, 582 F.3d 974, 986-88 (9th
Cir. 2009). We accordingly dismiss the appeal. See id. at 988.
To the extent that Verkler seeks to raise claims of ineffective assistance of
counsel, we decline to address these issues on direct appeal. See United States v.
Rahman, 642 F.3d 1257, 1259-60 (9th Cir. 2011).
Counsel’s motion to withdraw is GRANTED; Verkler’s pro se motion to
dismiss counsel and to appoint substitute counsel is DENIED.
DISMISSED.
15-30244 2

-- 2 of 2 --