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United States v. Valenzuela

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Sep 28, 2006
202 F. App'x 286 (9th Cir. 2006)

Opinion

Submitted August 17, 2006.

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NOT FOR PUBLICATION.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)

David A. Pimsner, Esq., Office of the U.S. Attorney, Phoenix, AZ, for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Lynn T. Hamilton, Esq., Hamilton Law Office, PC, Mesa, AZ, for Defendant-Appellant.


Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Paul G. Rosenblatt, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CR-03-01091-PGR.

Before: CANBY, HAWKINS, and THOMAS, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM

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.

Pio Valenzuela appeals the 121-month sentence the district court imposed following

Page 287.

his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 21 U.S.C. § 841. We dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction because Valenzuela knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal on the grounds he raises. See United States v. Jeronimo, 398 F.3d 1149, 1152-53 (9th Cir.2005).

Valenzuela waived "any right to appeal or collaterally attack any matter pertaining to this prosecution and sentence if the sentence imposed is consistent with the terms of this agreement." The plea agreement provided that Valenzuela should be sentenced at the low end of the applicable Guidelines range. The Court properly calculated a Guideline range of 121 to 151 months and, consistently with the plea agreement, sentenced Valenzuela to 121 months imprisonment.

The government did not breach the plea agreement when it opposed Valenzuela's motion for safety valve relief under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f), or when it sought an enhancement for possession of a firearm under U.S. S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1). The court's denial of safety valve relief did not render Valenzuela's sentence illegal because his sentence did not exceed the statutory maximum of life imprisonment. See United States v. Cardenas, 405 F.3d 1046, 1048 (9th Cir.2005).

Appeal DISMISSED.


Summaries of

United States v. Valenzuela

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Sep 28, 2006
202 F. App'x 286 (9th Cir. 2006)
Case details for

United States v. Valenzuela

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Pio VALENZUELA, aka Jose…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Sep 28, 2006

Citations

202 F. App'x 286 (9th Cir. 2006)