Opinion
No. 13-40445
02-21-2014
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. EDGAR JAVIER RIVERA-GAONA, Defendant-Appellant
Conference Calendar
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. 7:12-CR-1974-1
Before REAVLEY, OWEN, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
The Federal Public Defender appointed to represent Edgar Javier Rivera-Gaona (Rivera) has moved for leave to withdraw and has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and United States v. Flores, 632 F.3d 229 (5th Cir. 2011). Rivera has filed a response. The record is insufficiently developed to allow consideration at this time of Rivera's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel; such a claim generally "cannot be resolved on direct appeal when the claim has not been raised before the district court since no opportunity existed to develop the record on the merits of the allegations." United States v. Cantwell, 470 F.3d 1087, 1091 (5th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). We have reviewed counsel's brief and the relevant portions of the record reflected therein, as well as Rivera's response. We concur with counsel's assessment that the appeal presents no nonfrivolous issue for appellate review. Accordingly, the motion for leave to withdraw is GRANTED, counsel is excused from further responsibilities herein, and the APPEAL IS DISMISSED. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.