06-4302 -- U.S. v. Montalvo-Maldonado -- 04/13/2007

(15316 bytes)

(9757 bytes)

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

EUSEBIO MONTALVO-MALDONADO,

Defendant-Appellant.

No. 06-4302

(D.C. No. 2:06-CR-104-TC)

(D. Utah)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT^(*)

Before BRISCOE, McCONNELL, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges.

Defendant pled guilty to illegal reentry following removal in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. His plea agreement states that he "knowingly, voluntarily and expressly waive[s] [his] right to appeal any sentence imposed . . . and the manner in which the sentence is determined, on any of the grounds set forth in [18 U.S.C. § 3742] or on any ground whatever, except . . . [for] a sentence (1) above the maximum penalty provided in the statutes of conviction as set forth in [the agreement]; (2) an upward departure above the high end of the Guideline range determined by the Court to apply to [him] and the facts of [his] case; or (3) if the Court fails to apply the two-level 'fast track' reduction recommended by the government." Statement by Def. in Advance of Plea of Guilty (Plea Agreement), at 3; see Change of Plea Tr. at 14-15 (reflecting defendant's oral confirmation of waiver in Plea Agreement). Consistent with the unchallenged presentence report and the government's recommendation for the two-level fast-track reduction, the district court determined a guideline range of 24 to 30 months and imposed a sentence of 30 months, well within the 20-year statutory maximum recited in the plea agreement. Defendant appealed and the government has moved to enforce his appeal waiver under United States v. Hahn, 359 F.3d 1315 (10th Cir. 2004) (en banc). We grant the motion and dismiss the appeal.

Under Hahn, we consider "(1) whether the disputed appeal falls within the scope of the waiver of appellate rights; (2) whether the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his appellate rights; and (3) whether enforcing the waiver would result in a miscarriage of justice." Id. at 1325. The miscarriage-of-justice prong requires the defendant to show (a) his sentence relied on an impermissible factor such as race; (b) ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with the negotiation of the appeal waiver rendered the waiver invalid; (c) his sentence exceeded the statutory maximum; or (d) his appeal waiver is otherwise unlawful. Id. at 1327. The government's motion addresses all of these considerations, explaining why none of them undermine defendant's appeal waiver. Upon review of the pertinent plea and sentencing materials, we agree.

Defendant "does not dispute that his plea, along with his waiver of appeal rights, was knowingly and voluntarily entered" and that "[t]his appeal falls within the terms of the appeal waiver he accepted in exchange for . . . promises in th[e] plea agreement." Memo. in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss, at 1. His only argument in response to the government's motion is that "a miscarriage of justice will occur if this appeal is dismissed . . . because of the lengthy sentence of 30 months." Id. at 2. He objects that the sentence "was based solely upon the district court's adoption of the sentencing guideline recommendation, without significant explicit consideration of other sentencing factors listed in 18 U.S.C. [§ 3553], including the facts [that] . . . [he] is a parent of three children who live in this country, and has not had any criminal history since 2002." Memo. in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss at 2.

Such sentencing objections, however, do not establish that enforcement of the appeal waiver would be unlawful, which is the focus of the miscarriage-of-justice inquiry. See Hahn, 359 F.3d at 1329. Unless undercut by an error that "seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings," an appeal waiver is enforceable. Id. at 1327. No such error has been raised here.

The government's motion is GRANTED and the appeal is DISMISSED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

ENTERED FOR THE COURT

PER CURIAM

FOOTNOTES
Click footnote number to return to corresponding location in the text.

^*. This panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). 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. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.

(15316 bytes)

(9757 bytes)

Comments to: WebMaster, ca10 [at] washburnlaw.edu.
Updated: April 16, 2007.
HTML markup © 2007, Washburn University School of Law.
URL: http://ca10.washburnlaw.edu/cases/2007/04/06-4302.htm.