UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff - Appellee,

vs.

ANTONIO MARISCAL-PENA,

Defendant - Appellant.

No. 02-3030

(	D.C. No. 01-CV-3228-WEB)

(D. Kan.)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before KELLY, McKAY, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.**

Defendant - Appellant Antonio Mariscal-Pena, a federal inmate appearing pro se, seeks a certificate of appealability ("COA") allowing him to appeal the district court's order denying relief on his motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Because Mr. Mariscal-Pena has failed to make a "substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right," 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483-84 (2000), we deny a COA and dismiss the appeal.

In May 1999, Mr. Mariscal-Pena pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. In July, he was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment. Mr. Mariscal-Pena did not directly appeal his sentence. Almost two years later, he filed this 28 U.S.C. § 2255 petition. Mr. Mariscal-Pena argues that his conviction is void because (1) the indictment did not include drug quantities in violation of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000)1 and (2) he received ineffective assistance of counsel. The district court denied the § 2255 motion as time-barred, at least insofar as the Apprendi claims, holding that Apprendi was not retroactive. It then denied Mr. Mariscal-Pena's ineffective assistance claim on the merits. While we agree with the district court's merits disposition, it is unnecessary to reach it.

Before reaching the merits of Mr. Mariscal-Pena's motion, it is necessary to determine whether it is timely. A one-year period of limitation applies to a § 2255 motion. The limitation period runs from the latest of -

(1) the date on which the judgment of conviction became final;

[or]

(3) the date on which the right asserted was initially recognized

by the Supreme Court, if that right has been newly recognized

by the Supreme Court and made retroactively applicable to

cases on collateral review;

28 U.S.C. § 2255.

Mr. Mariscal-Pena filed his § 2255 motion almost two years after his conviction became final. Consequently, his ineffective assistance of counsel claim is time-barred. As to the Apprendi issue, this court has already determined that Apprendi is not retroactively applicable to initial habeas petitions and § 2255 motions. United States v. Mora, No. 01-8020, __ F.3d __, 2002 WL 1317126, at *3-4 (10th Cir. June 18, 2002). Therefore, although Mr. Mariscal-Pena's motion was filed within one year of the Apprendi decision, his Apprendi claim is also time-barred.

We DENY a COA and DISMISS the appeal.

Entered for the Court

Paul J. Kelly, Jr.

Circuit Judge