Opinion
This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
NOT FOR PUBLICATION. (See Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 36-3)
Jane M. Kirk, Esq., USYA--Office of the U.S. Attorney, Yakima, WA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Gordon R. Stoa, Esq., Law Office of Gordon Stoa, Spokane, WA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, Lonny R. Suko, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CR-04-02054-LRS.
Before: HUG, O'SCANNLAIN, and SILVERMAN, Circuit Judges.
Page 609.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Jose Guadalupe Fabian-Chavez appeals from the 46-month sentence imposed following his guilty plea conviction for being an alien in the United States after deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
Fabian-Chavez contends that the district court erred by granting only a five-level downward departure and denying his request for additional downward departures. Fabian-Chavez was sentenced before the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Although a defendant may not challenge on appeal the extent of a downward departure under the pre- Booker mandatory Sentencing Guidelines, see United States v. Riggins, 40 F.3d 1055, 1058 (9th Cir.1994), we cannot reliably determine from the record whether the sentence imposed would have been materially different had the district court known that the Guidelines were advisory. Accordingly, we remand to the sentencing court to answer that question, and to proceed pursuant to United States v. Ameline, 409 F.3d 1073, 1084-85 (9th Cir.2005) (en banc). See United States v. Moreno-Hernandez, 419 F.3d 906, 916 (9th Cir.2005) (extending Ameline's limited remand procedure to cases involving non-constitutional Booker error).
REMANDED.