Opinion
No. 13-2184
02-04-2014
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JESUS ANTONIO MENDEZ-MONTOYA, Defendant-Appellant.
(D.C. No. 2:13-CR-02125-JTM-1)
(D. N.M.)
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
This panel has determined 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 This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel.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.
Before HARTZ, MATHESON, and PHILLIPS, Circuit Judges.
Jesus Antonio Mendez-Montoya pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(D), and one count of reentry of a removed alien, 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b), and received concurrent sentences of 37 months' imprisonment on each count. In his plea agreement, Mr. Mendez-Montoya acknowledged that he "knowingly waive[d] the right to appeal this conviction and any sentence, including any fine, at or under the maximum statutory penalty authorized by law." Dist. Court Doc. 19, at 8. He nevertheless took an appeal following the entry of judgment. The government has moved to enforce the appeal waiver in the plea agreement. We grant the motion.
The government's motion explains that the waiver in the plea agreement applies to this appeal, that the waiver was knowing and voluntary, and that there are no circumstances on the existing record to suggest a miscarriage of justice. See generally United States v. Hahn, 359 F.3d 1315, 1325 (10th Cir. 2004) (en banc) (per curiam) (summarizing three components of court's inquiry when enforcing appeal waiver). Upon receipt of the motion, we ordered Mr. Mendez-Montoya to file a response. He has done so through counsel, admitting he cannot assert "any legal or factual reasons to deny the motion." Resp. to Mot. to Enforce Appellate Waiver in Plea Agreement (Resp.), at 1.
The response does suggest there may be a potential claim for ineffective assistance of counsel in negotiating and entering the guilty plea, but concedes that there is not an "adequate basis in the [existing] record to raise this issue." Id. at 2. Given that concession, the suggested claim is not available on this appeal. See United States v. Flood, 635 F.3d 1255, 1260 (10th Cir. 2011) (noting ineffective assistance claims may be heard on direct appeal "only where the issue was raised before and ruled upon by the district court and a sufficient factual record exists"). This rule of unavailability applies even where the ineffective assistance claim might otherwise have been invoked in an effort to invalidate an appeal waiver under the miscarriage-of-justice exception. See United States v. Porter, 405 F.3d 1136, 1143-44 (10th Cir. 2005). Under such circumstances, the appeal waiver remains in force on direct appeal, see id., but the defendant's right to pursue the ineffective assistance claim on collateral review should be preserved, see, e.g., United States v. Polly, 630 F.3d 991, 1003 (10th Cir. 2011).
The government's motion to enforce the appeal waiver is granted and the appeal is dismissed. This disposition is without prejudice to any motion brought by Mr. Mendez-Montoya under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 asserting ineffective assistance of counsel.
Entered for the Court
Per Curiam