Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02260/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02260-0/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

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JUAN JAVIER GOVEA,

Petitioner,

CASE NO. 12-cv-2260 – IEG

Related Case: 12-cr-2146 – IEG

ORDER:

(1) DENYING PETITIONER’S

MOTION FOR TIME

REDUCTION PURSUANT TO 28

U.S.C. § 2255

[Doc. No. 1 in 12-cv-2260]

[Doc. No. 24 in 12-cr-2164]

(2) DENYING CERTIFICATE OF

APPEALABILITY

vs.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Respondent.

Petitioner Juan Javier Govea (“Petitioner”), a federal inmate proceeding pro se, submitted a

motion for time reduction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. [Case 12-cr-2164 Doc. No. 24.] He

seeks relief on the grounds that, due to his alien status, he is ineligible for (1) a one-year reduction

of sentence through a drug program, (2) an early release to a halfway house, and (3) a Unicor job. 

[Id. at 2-3.] Petitioner argues that the availability of these programs to United States citizens, but

not to aliens, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Due Process

Clause of the Fifth Amendment, and the Equal Rights Act of 1964. [Id.] Having considered

Petitioner’s arguments, and for the reasons set forth below, the Court DENIES Petitioner’s Motion

for Time Reduction.

///

- 1 - 12cr2164-IEG; 12cv2260-IEG

Case 3:12-cv-02260-IEG Document 3 Filed 03/26/13 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

BACKGROUND

Petitioner was charged with, and ultimately pled guilty to, violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326

(removed alien found in the United States). [See Doc. No. 1.] As part of his Plea Agreement,

Petitioner expressly “waive[d], to the full extent of the law, any right to appeal or to collaterally

attack the conviction and sentence, . . . unless the Court impose[d] a custodial sentence above the

greater of the high end of the guideline range recommended by the Government pursuant to this

agreement at the time of sentencing or statutory mandatory minimum term, if applicable.” [Case

12-cr-2164 Doc. No. 13.] On September 11, 2012, the Court sentenced Petitioner to 37 months in

federal custody, the low end of the 37 to 46 months guideline range, and one year of supervised

release. [See Case 12-cr-2164 Doc. No. 22, 23.] 

DISCUSSION

Section 2255(a) authorizes the Court to “vacate, set aside or correct” a sentence of a federal

prisoner that “was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States.” Claims

for relief under § 2255 must be based on some constitutional error, jurisdictional defect, or an error

resulting in a “complete miscarriage of justice” or in a proceeding “inconsistent with the

rudimentary demands of fair procedure.” United States v. Timmreck, 441 U.S. 780, 783-84 (1979)

(internal quotation marks omitted). If the record clearly indicates that a petitioner does not have a

claim or that he has asserted “no more than conclusory allegations, unsupported by facts and

refuted by the record,” a district court may deny a § 2255 motion without an evidentiary hearing. 

United States v. Quan, 789 F.2d 711, 715 (9th Cir. 1986).

I. Waiver

It is clear that Petitioner waived any right to collaterally attack his sentence. “‘A

defendant’s waiver of his appellate rights is enforceable if (1) the language of the waiver

encompasses his right to appeal on the grounds raised, and (2) the waiver is knowingly and

voluntarily made.’” United States v. Rahman, 642 F.3d 1257, 1259 (9th Cir. 2011) (citation

omitted). In this case, as part of his Plea Agreement, Petitioner expressly waived “any right . . . to

collaterally attack the conviction and sentence,” unless “the Court impose[d] a custodial sentence

above the greater of the high end of the guideline range recommended by the Government

- 2 - 12cr2164-IEG; 12cv2260-IEG

Case 3:12-cv-02260-IEG Document 3 Filed 03/26/13 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

pursuant to this agreement at the time of sentencing or statutory mandatory minimum term, if

applicable.” [Case 12-cr-2164 Doc. No. 13] At sentencing, the Court imposed a sentence of 37

months, which was at the low end of the Government’s recommended guideline range of 37 to 46

months. [See Case 12-cr-2164 Doc. No. 22, 23.] Because the Court did not impose a sentence

above the high end of the guideline range recommended by the Government, waiver applies. Nor

is there any indication that Petitioner’s waiver was not knowingly and voluntarily made. 

Accordingly, Petitioner’s valid waiver precludes collateral attack on his sentence. See United

States v. Abarca, 985 F.2d 1012, 1014 (9th Cir. 1993); see also United States v. Navarro-Botello,

912 F.2d 318, 321-22 (9th Cir. 1990) (public policy supports plea agreements because, inter alia,

of the finality that results).

CONCLUSION

Because Petitioner’s collateral attack is precluded by a valid waiver, the Court DENIES

Petitioner’s motion for sentence reduction under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The Court also denies a

certificate of appealability because Petitioner has not “made a substantial showing of the denial of

a constitutional right.” See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 26, 2013 ________________________________

IRMA E. GONZALEZ

United States District Judge

- 3 - 12cr2164-IEG; 12cv2260-IEG

Case 3:12-cv-02260-IEG Document 3 Filed 03/26/13 Page 3 of 3