United States v. Richard Pineda

Richard Pineda appeals the denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate his sentence. Pineda argues that (1) he was denied the right to appear in court at his sentence reduction hearing, and (2) his trial and appellate counsel were ineffective. Finding no merit in his arguments, we affirm.

I

In 1971, Richard Pineda pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute heroin and was sentenced to the statutory maximum of fifteen years imprisonment, plus a ten-year enhancement for prior convictions and ten years special parole. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A) (West 1981).…