Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02994/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02994-0/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

JOSE LUIS MENDOZA-CARDENAS,

Petitioner,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Respondent.

 

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Civil No. 11-cv-2994-JAH

Crim. No. 11-cr-3499-JAH

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO

VACATE, SET ASIDE, OR

CORRECT SENTENCE

On December 21, 2011, Petitioner filed a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his

sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. (Dkt. No. 26.) Petitioner pled guilty to

importation of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and was

sentenced to fifty months imprisonment. (Dkt. Nos. 18, 24.) In his § 2255 motion,

Petitioner asserts that a policy making certain rehabilitative programs available only to

United States citizens violates the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fifth

and Fourteenth Amendments because Petitioner is denied the opportunity to reduce his

sentence through participation in those programs. Petitioner, however, waived his right

to appeal or collaterally attack his judgment and sentence. (Dkt. Nos. 18, 24.)

A knowing and voluntary waiver of a statutory right is enforceable. United States

v. Navarro-Botello, 912 F.2d 318, 321 (9th Cir. 1990). The right to collaterally attack

a sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is statutory in nature, and a defendant may

therefore waive the right to file a § 2255 motion. See, e.g., United States v. Abarca, 985

11cv2994/11cr3499

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F.2d 1012, 1014 (9th Cir. 1993) (holding that, by entering plea agreement whereby

defendant waived right to appeal his sentence, defendant relinquished right to directly or

collaterally attack his sentence on the ground of newly discovered exculpatory evidence).

The scope of a § 2255 waiver may be subject to potential limitations. For example,

a defendant’s waiver will not bar an appeal if the trial court did not satisfy certain

requirements under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 to ensure the waiver was made

knowingly and voluntarily. Navarro-Botello, 912 F.2d at 321. Such a waiver might also

be ineffective where the sentence imposed is not in accordance with the negotiated

agreement or violates the law. Id.; United States v. Littlefield, 105 F.3d 527, 528 (9th

Cir. 1996). Additionally, a waiver may be “unenforceable” and may not “categorically

foreclose” a defendant from bringing § 2255 proceedings where a petitioner claims

ineffective assistance of counsel with regard to whether such a waiver was made knowingly

and voluntarily. Washington v. Lampert, 422 F.3d 864, 871 (9th Cir. 2005); Abarca,

985 F.2d at 1014; see also United States v. Pruitt, 32 F.3d 431, 433 (9th Cir. 1992). 

Petitioner does not assert this Court failed to satisfy the requirements under Federal

Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 to ensure Petitioner knowingly and voluntarily waived his

right to directly or collaterally attack his conviction and sentence. Petitioner does not

claim his sentence was not in accordance with the negotiated plea agreement or that his

sentence violates the law. Petitioner does not claim ineffective assistance of counsel with

regard to the knowing and voluntary nature of his waiver. Indeed, Petitioner does not

assert that his waiver was not knowing or voluntary. Because the instant § 2255 motion

is a collateral attack on Petitioner’s sentence, it falls within the parameters of Petitioner’s

waiver and must be denied. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Petitioner’s motion

is DENIED.

Dated: April 12, 2012 _______________________________

JOHN A. HOUSTON

United States District Judge

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