United States v. Jackson

MEMORANDUM **

Federal prisoner Leonard Lee Jackson appeals the district court’s judgment denying his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate his 210-month sentence following his guilty plea conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 (a)(1). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253 , we review de novo, United States v. Chacon-Palomares, 208 F.3d 1157, 1158 (9th Cir. 2000), and we affirm.

Jackson contends that his trial attorney rendered ineffective assistance by failing to argue that the search of the vehicle Jackson was driving exceeded the scope of his consent. For Jackson to succeed, he must demonstrate that his attorney’s representation was deficient to such a degree as to prejudice his defense. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 , 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984).

Jackson has not demonstrated that his attorney’s performance was deficient, nor can he show a reasonable probability that, had his attorney argued that the search exceeded Jackson’s consent, it would have changed the result of the proceedings. Therefore, the district court properly denied his petition. See id. at 691-92 , 104 S.Ct. 2052…