Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01775/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01775-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Motion to Vacate / Correct Illegal Sentence

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LINO MEZA LOPEZ,

Petitioner,

CASE NO. 11cr5737-LAB-1 and

13cv1775-LAB

ORDER DENYING WRIT OF

HABEAS CORPUS PURSUANT

TO 28 U.S.C. § 2255

vs.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Respondent.

Petitioner Lino Meza Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of interstate travel in aid of

a racketeering enterprise in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1952, and one count of being a deported

alien found in the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. He was sentenced to 46

months’ imprisonment, and in a pending appeal is challenging the length of the sentence. 

He is represented by counsel on appeal.

On July 29, he filed a motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate the judgment

against him. He says none of his lawyers are competent, that he was coerced into pleading

guilty, and that he felt intimidated and under pressure during the criminal process. He also

questions whether the translation of court proceedings to him was accurate.

Ordinarily a represented party would not be permitted to file his own motion. But

because he is accusing his attorneys, including his counsel on appeal, of inadequate

representation and because he has no right to counsel to file a § 2255 motion, the Court

accepts his motion as filed.

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The notice of appeal divests the Court of jurisdiction over the matters being appealed. 

Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc. V. Southwest Marine, Inc., 242 F.3d 1163, 1166 (9 Cir. th

2001). Here, however, Lopez is raising different issues than those raised on appeal.

Unfortunately for Lopez, his appellate counsel filed the transcript of the change of

plea hearing (Docket no. 42), which shows he is not entitled to relief.

At the change of plea hearing, held February 21, 2012 before Magistrate Judge

Louisa Porter, Lopez was under oath. (Docket no. 42, 7:4–8.) The record shows a qualified

interpreter was present and performed the interpretation services. (See, e.g., id. at 15:19

(interpreter asking Judge Porter to repeat a question).) The transcript records Lopez’s

appropriate responses to questions, and all his responses are reported in English, showing

that he understood what was being said to him and responded appropriately. (See, e.g., id.

at 4:16–5:3 (Judge Porter questioning Lopez).)

At the hearing, Lopez testified he had not been promised anything other than what

his plea agreement provided, that he had not been threatened in any way to persuade him

to plead guilty, and that he was pleading guilty because he truly was guilty. (Docket no. 42,

12:22–13:8.) See United States v. Sutton, 794 F.2d 1415, 1422 (9 Cir. 1986) (bare th

allegation of coercion, unsupported by the record, was insufficient to set aside a plea).

It may well be that Lopez felt intimidated and under pressure, which is only natural

when one has been arrested, charged with felonies, and held in custody. Where a conviction

is likely, a defendant might feel even more stress. But general feelings of intimidation or

stress because one is charged with crimes, or faces criminal penalties if convicted, do not

render a guilty plea involuntary, nor are they a basis for setting aside such a plea. See

Tanner v. McDaniel, 493 F.3d 1135, 1146 (9 Cir. 2007) (quoting Miles v. Dorsey, 61 F.3d th

1459, 1470 (10 Cir. 1995)) (“Although deadlines, mental anguish, depression, and stress th

are inevitable hallmarks of pretrial plea discussions, such factors considered individually or

in aggregate do not establish that Petitioner's plea was involuntary.”) Lopez has not alleged 

/ / /

/ / /

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any facts that would suggest he was subject to greater stress than any other defendant in

a similar position, nor are any apparent in the record.

The writ is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: August 1, 2013

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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