156 F.3d 1245
98 CJ C.A.R. 4307
NOTICE:  Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored, unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties.  See General Order of November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until December 31, 1995, or further order.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.John Martin NOBLE, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 97-6354.
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
Aug. 10, 1998.

Before BALDOCK, EBEL and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
DAVID M. EBEL, Circuit Judge.


1
On January 24, 1996, pursuant to a plea agreement, the defendant in this case pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute.  (See R., Doc. # 15.)  On March 25, 1996, the district court imposed a sentence of 135 months in prison.  (See R., Doc. # 21.)  The defendant failed to file a notice of appeal within the ten days allotted by Fed.  R.App. P. 4(b), and as a consequence, the judgment of his conviction became final on April 4, 1996.  On July 23, 1997, the defendant filed a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 claiming that his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel was violated by his lawyer's failure to raise an ex post facto challenge to his sentence.  (See R., Doc. # 28.)  The district court denied this motion as untimely, denied the defendant's subsequent request for a certificate of appealability, and denied his request to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis.  (See R., Doc. # 34, 38, & 40.)


2
In United States v. Simmonds, 111 F.3d 737, 746 (10th Cir.1997), this court held that a defendant whose conviction became final before the effective date of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, i.e., before April 24, 1996, had until April 23, 1997, to file a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.  The defendant's conviction became final on April 3, 1996, and as a result, he had until April 23, 1997, to file his § 2255 motion.  See Simmonds, 111 F.3d at 746.  The defendant failed to meet this deadline, and as a result, we can see no justification for granting the requested certificate of appealability under 28 U.S.C. § 2253.


3
Additionally, in light of the fact that the appellant has paid his appellate filing fee, his motion to proceed in forma pauperis is moot.


4
For the foregoing reasons, we DENY the appellant's motion to proceed in forma pauperis; we DENY the appellant's petition for a certificate of appealability, and we DISMISS this appeal.


5
The mandate shall issue forthwith.



*
 After examining appellant's brief and the appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal.  See Fed.  R.App. P. 34(f) and 10th Cir.  R. 34.1.9.  The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.  This Order and Judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel.  The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir.  R. 36.3


