Case ID: f-appx_254/html/0304-01.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. Ubaldo Briones SIERRA, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 06-51412
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Nov. 9, 2007.
    Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Kimberly S. Keller, San Antonio, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    
      Before WIENER, GARZA, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Defendant-Appellant Ubaldo Briones Sierra appeals his conviction and sentence for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute between 500 grams and five kilograms of cocaine and aiding and abetting the distribution and possession with the intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine. Sierra contends that the district court abused its discretion in refusing to accept his guilty plea. He also contends that the district court erred in denying a reduction in his offense level for acceptance of responsibility-

As Sierra failed to object, prior to or during trial, to the district court’s refusal to accept his guilty plea, we review for plain error. See United States v. Foy, 28 F.3d 464, 471-72 (5th Cir.1994). A defendant does not have an “absolute right to have a guilty plea accepted.” Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 262, 92 S.Ct. 495, 30 L.Ed.2d 427 (1971). “A court may reject a plea in the exercise of sound judicial discretion.” Santobello, 404 U.S. at 262, 92 S.Ct. 495.

Sierra did not clearly attempt to enter a guilty plea at the healing conducted on October 7, 2004. He expressed doubt as to his guilt, even suggesting possible entrapment by the government. Additionally, a careful reading of the transcript shows that the district court did not refuse to accept Sierra’s guilty plea, but merely postponed doing so. And, the government filed a superseding indictment against Sierra several months after the October 7, 2004 hearing, at the arraignment for which Sierra entered a plea of not guilty. The record reflects that Sierra never attempted to plead guilty at any time prior to trial. Therefore, he has not shown plain error.

Reviewing the district court’s refusal to reduce Sierra’s offense level under the applicable, highly deferential standard, we hold that the court did not err in denying Sierra’s request for a reduction of acceptance of responsibility. See United States v. Washington, 340 F.3d 222, 227 (5th Cir.2003). As Sierra did not clearly express a desire to plead guilty or admit the conduct constituting the offense, the district court’s decision was not “without foundation.” See id.

Accordingly, Sierra’s conviction and sentence are

AFFIRMED. 
      
       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.