Case ID: f-appx_372/html/0533-01.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. Roberto ORTUNO-SANTANA, also known as Roberto Ortuno, also known as Aristeo Reyna Villafuerte, also known as Aristeo Duque Villafuerte, also known as Aristeo Villafuerte-Duque, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 08-20654
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    April 7, 2010.
    James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S., Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Marjorie A. Meyers, Federal, Public Defender Federal Public Defender’s Office Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before BENAVIDES, PRADO and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Roberto Ortuno-Santana appeals the 37-month sentence imposed following his guilty plea conviction for illegal reentry following deportation after having been convicted of an aggravated felony. See 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), (b)(2). He argues that the district court plainly erred in enhancing his base offense level by 12 levels under U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(l)(B) based on his 1996 Louisiana conviction for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He contends that the prior sentence of five years of probation did not qualify as a “sentence imposed [of] 13 months or less” for purposes of the 12-level enhancement.

As Ortuno-Santana concedes, because this issue is raised for the first time on appeal, review is for plain error. See United States v. Rodriguez-Parra, 581 F.3d 227, 229 (5th Cir.2009), pet. for cert. filed (Dec. 29, 2009) (No. 09-8336). To show plain error, the appellant must show a forfeited error that is clear or obvious and that affects his substantial rights. Puckett v. United States, — U.S. -, 129 S.Ct. 1423, 1429, 173 L.Ed.2d 266 (2009). If the appellant makes such a showing, this court has the discretion to correct the error but only if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id.

The district court erred in increasing Ortuno-Santana’s base offense level by 12 levels as a result of the prior conviction for which he received a sentence of five years of probation. See Rodriguez-Parra, 581 F.3d at 229-30. The error was clear or obvious in light of Rodriguez-Parra. See id.; see United States v. Gonzalez-Terrazas, 529 F.3d 293, 298 (5th Cir.2008). Although Rodriguez-Parra was decided after Ortuno-Santana was sentenced, “the error need only be plain at the time of appellate consideration.” Gonzalez-Terrazas, 529 F.3d at 298. Ortuno-Santana has shown a reasonable probability that, but for the misapplication of the Guidelines, he would have received a lesser sentence and that the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. See United States v. Price, 516 F.3d 285, 289-90 & n. 28 (5th Cir.2008); United States v. Villegas, 404 F.3d 355, 364-65 (5th Cir.2005). Accordingly, we vacate sentence and remand for resentencing.

SENTENCE VACATED; CASE REMANDED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5tii Cír 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.