Case ID: f-appx_150/html/0294-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Meredith M. MATHERNE, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 04-30923.
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Decided Sept. 29, 2005.
    Robert William Piedrahita, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Catherine M. Maraist, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    
      James Rodney Baum, Baton Rouge, LA, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before SMITH, GARZA, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Meredith M. Matherne appeals the sentence imposed following her conviction on a guilty plea on one count of using a communications facility to distribute a controlled substance and on one count of possession of methamphetamine. She asserts that the use of any statements obtained from Matherne, pursuant to an agreement to grant immunity, to increase her offense level is a violation of due process and that the district court relied upon insufficiently reliable evidence in determining the extent of her relevant conduct. Matherne also asserts that certain sentencing enhancements violate the Sixth Amendment rule announced in United States v. Booker, — U.S.-, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005).

The Government urges us to enforce the appeal waiver provision contained in Matherne’s plea agreement, and we do so. See United States v. Martinez, 263 F.3d 436, 437-38 (5th Cir.2001). Our- review of the rearraignment transcript demonstrates that the waiver was both informed and voluntary. See United States v. Portillo, 18 F.3d 290, 292-93 (5th Cir.1994); United States v. Melancon, 972 F.2d 566, 568 (5th Cir.1992). Matheme’s first two sentencing challenges are precluded by the waiver as neither of them goes to the limited exceptions thereto. Nor does Matherne’s Booker challenge fall within either of the two exceptions to the waiver. See, e.g., United States v. Bond, 414 F.3d 542, 543 (5th Cir.2005) (statutory maximum in waiver refers to maximum allowed by statute, not Guidelines maximum authorized by guilty plea or jury verdict); United States v. McKinney, 406 F.3d 744, 746-47 (5th Cir. 2005) (sentence imposed in violation of Booker rule did not constitute upward departure). Accordingly, Matherne’s appeal is barred by the waiver and is DISMISSED.

APPEAL DISMISSED. 
      
      
         Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under tire limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.