Opinion
No. 07-30450.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed October 7, 2009.
Helen J. Brunner, Esquire, Assistant U.S., Office of the U.S. Attorney, Seattle, WA, Douglas James Hill, Special Assistant U.S., USTA-Office of the U.S. Attorney, Tacoma, WA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Thomas Alexander Campbell, Law Offices of Steven D. Weier, Inc., PS, Auburn, WA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Franklin D. Burgess, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CR-06-05637-FDB.
Before: SILVERMAN, RAWLINSON, and CLIFTON, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Arturo Reyes-Rodriguez appeals his jury-trial conviction for drug crimes, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
The sole argument on appeal is that trial counsel was ineffective. Although we generally do not review such claims on direct appeal, here the record is sufficiently developed to permit us to resolve the issue. See United States v. Vgerri, 51 F.3d 876, 882 (9th Cir. 1995).
There is no "reasonable probability that, 3, but for counsel's [allegedly] unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would it have been different." See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694, 104 S.Ct. t. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Therefore, Reyes-Rodriguez was not prejudiced by his counsel's allegedly deficient performance, and we reject his contention that he was denied ineffective assistance of counsel. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697, 104 S.Ct. 2052 ("[A] court need not determine whether counsel's performance was deficient before examining the prejudice suffered by the defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies.").