United States v. Bethany

Confronted with a thirteen count indictment involving marijuana violations, Michael B. Bethany pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 90 pounds of marijuana and obtained a dismissal by the Government of the remaining twelve counts. He now appeals the validity of his conviction and the failure of the court to reduce his sentence from four years confinement and a special parole term of not less than two years.

First, he challenges the sufficiency of the factual basis supporting his plea. Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure prohibits the court from…