Case ID: f-appx_554/html/0725-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jesus ROJAS-ALVARADO, a/k/a “Santos Acevedo-Flores,” a/k/a “Chuy,” Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 13-1412.
    United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
    Feb. 6, 2014.
    Robert Mark Russel, Office of the United States Attorney, Denver, CO, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Veronica S. Rossman, Jill M. Wichlens, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Office of the Federal Public Defender, Denver, CO, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before TYMKOVICH, O’BRIEN, and HOLMES, Circuit Judges.
   ORDER AND JUDGMENT

PER CURIAM.

After entering into a plea agreement that included a waiver of his right to appeal, Jesus Rojas-Alvarado pleaded guilty to three counts: one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A); and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). The district court imposed a sentence of 180 months’ imprisonment for the drug counts and a consecutive sentence of 60 months’ imprisonment on the gun count. Mr. Rojas-Alvarado appealed. The government has moved to enforce the appeal waiver under United States v. Hahn, 859 F.3d 1315, 1325, 1328 (10th Cir.2004) (en banc) (per curiam).

Hahn sets forth three factors to evaluate an appeal waiver: “(1) whether the disputed appeal falls within the scope of the waiver of appellate rights; (2) whether the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his appellate rights; and (3) whether enforcing the waiver would result in a miscarriage of justice.” Id. at 1325. In response to the government’s motion, Mr. Rojas-Alvarado has not challenged the government’s analysis of any of these factors. Instead, through counsel, he has conceded that the appeal waiver is enforceable.

We need not consider a Hahn factor that a defendant does not challenge. See United States v. Porter, 405 F.3d 1136, 1143 (10th Cir.2005). Nevertheless, our independent review of the record confirms that each of the factors is satisfied. To the extent that Mr. Rojas-Alvarado wishes to pursue a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, as indicated by his docketing statement, he should do so in a collateral proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. See Porter, 405 F.3d at 1144 (“[A] defendant must generally raise claims of ineffective assistance of counsel in a collateral proceeding, not on direct review. This rule applies even where a defendant seeks to invalidate an appellate waiver based on ineffective assistance of counsel.” (internal citation omitted)); Hahn, 359 F.3d at 1327 n. 13 (noting it did not disturb the longstanding rule that ineffective assistance claims must generally be brought in collateral proceedings).

The motion to enforce is granted and this matter is dismissed. 
      
       This panel has determined that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R.App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.