Case ID: f-appx_200/html/0372-01.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. Sergio RIVERA-CERDA, also known as Gabriel Garza Mejia-Cerda, also known as Sergio Hernandez-Garcia, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 06-40333
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Sept. 21, 2006.
    James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
    Adrian Almaguer, Houston, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before DeMOSS, STEWART, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Sergio Rivera-Cerda appeals from the sentence imposed following revocation of his term of supervised release. RiveraCerda argues that his sentence was clearly unreasonable, both in terms of its length and the fact that it was to run consecutively to his other sentence, because: (1) it was unfair in light of the relevant facts; (2) the district court failed to give due consideration to the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), as required by United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005); (3) the district court rigidly adhered to the relevant policy statements in the Sentencing Guidelines; (4) it was grossly disproportionate to the crime, thereby violating the Eighth Amendment; and (5) the Sentencing Commission and the Sentencing Guidelines violate the separation of powers doctrine and the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.

The Government has moved for dismissal of the appeal or for summary affirmance on the ground that this court lacks jurisdiction to consider Rivera-Cerda’s appeal under 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a)(4). Because Rivera-Cerda cannot prevail on the merits of his appeal, we pretermit consideration of the jurisdictional issue. See United States v. Weathersby, 958 F.2d 65, 66 (5th Cir.1992). The Government’s motion for dismissal of the appeal or for summary affirmance is therefore denied. The Government’s alternative request for an extension of time to file an appeal brief is also denied as unnecessary.

The district court properly considered the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors when imposing Rivera-Cerda’s sentence. See United States v. Gonzalez, 250 F.3d 923, 930 (5th Cir.2001). Rivera-Cerda’s sentence was neither unreasonable nor plainly unreasonable. See United States v. Hinson, 429 F.3d 114, 120 (5th Cir.2005). Moreover, his sentence was not unconstitutionally disproportionate. See United States v. Sullivan, 895 F.2d 1030, 1031-32 (5th Cir.1990).

Rivera-Cerda’s separation of powers challenge to the Sentencing Commission and the Sentencing Guidelines is foreclosed under Booker. 543 U.S. at 242-43, 125 S.Ct. 738. Moreover, this court will not consider Rivera-Cerda’s due process argument because it was inadequately briefed. See United States v. Torres-Aguilar, 352 F.3d 934, 936 n. 2 (5th Cir.2003); Fed. R.App. P. 28(a)(9).

AFFIRMED; MOTION FOR DISMISSAL OR SUMMARY AFFIRMANCE DENIED; ALTERNATIVE REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF TIME DENIED AS UNNECESSARY. 
      
       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.