Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02901/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02901-0/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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FILED 

CLERK, 

I OC~~~ U.S. DIS fAlCl COURT 

SOU~ DISTRICT Of CALIFORNIA 

BY \J...V DEPUTY 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

) 

RAMON CALDERON-AGUILERA, ) 

) Civ. No. 11-2901 

Petitioner, ) Cr. No. 10-2294 

) 

v. 	 ) ORDER 

) 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 

) 

Respondent. ) 

----------------------------------) 

On, December 12, 2012, Petitioner Ramon Calderon-Aguilera ("Mr. Calderon"), filed a 

Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 ("Motion"). Mr. 

Calderon argues that his counsel was ineffective because his counsel did not object to Probation's 

calculation of Mr. Calderon's criminal history score and category. For the reasons stated below, 

Mr. Calderon's Motion is DENIED. 

In order to prevail on a claim ofineffective assistance ofcounsel, a petitioner must show that 

counsel's performance was deficient and that this deficient performance prejudiced the petitioner. 

Strickland v. Washington 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). 

Mr. Calderon argues that his counsel was ineffective because he did not object to the 

computation of his criminal history category. Specifically, Mr. Calderon argues that two points 

Case 3:11-cv-02901-GT Document 2 Filed 10/06/14 Page 1 of 4
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should not have been added pursuant to USSG § 4A1.1 (d) because he was not on parole at the time 

2 the offense was committed. However, Mr. Calderon was on parole as stated in the PSR and this 

3 would have been a frivolous argument. Mr. Calderon also argues that one point should not have 

4 been added pursuant to USSG § 4A1.1(e) because this section was later deleted from the 

guidelines. At the time of Mr. Calderon's sentencing, § 4A1.1(e) was still incorporated in the 

6 guidelines and was correct at the time he was sentence. Failure to raise meritless legal arguments 

7 does not constitute ineffective assistance ofcounseL Baumann v. United States, 692 F .2d 565, 572 

8 (9th Cir. 1982). Accordingly. 

9 IT IS ORDERED that Petitioner's Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence is 

DENIED. 

11 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

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cc: All parties 

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GORDON ~L~1< THOMPSON, JR 

United States District Judge 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

) 

RAMON CALDERON-AGUILERA, ) 

) Civ. No. 11-2901 

Petitioner, ) Cr. No. 10-2294 

) 

v. 	 ) ORDER 

) 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 	 ) 

) 

Respondent. 	 ) 

------------------------------------) 

On, December 12, 2012, Petitioner Ramon Calderon-Aguilera ("Mr. Calderon"), filed a 

Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.c. § 2255 ("Motion"). Mr. 

Calderon argues that his counsel was ineffective because his counsel did not object to Probation's 

calculation of Mr. Calderon's criminal history score and category. For the reasons stated below, 

Mr. Calderon's Motion is DENIED. 

In order to prevail on a claim ofineffective assistance ofcounsel, a petitioner must show that 

counsel's performance was deficient and that this deficient performance prejudiced the petitioner. 

Strickland v. Washington 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). 

Mr. Calderon argues that his counsel was ineffective because he did not object to the 

computation of his criminal history category. Specifically, Mr. Calderon argues that two points 

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should not have been added pursuant to USSG § 4A 1.1 (d) because he was not on parole at the time 

the offense was committed. However, Mr. Calderon was on parole as stated in the PSR and this 

would have been a frivolous argument. Mr. Calderon also argues that one point should not have 

been added pursuant to USSG § 4A 1.1 (e) because this section was later deleted from the 

guidelines. At the time ofMr. Calderon's sentencing, § 4A1.1(e) was still incorporated in the 

guidelines and was correct at the time he was sentence. Failure to raise meritless legal arguments 

does not constitute ineffective assistance ofcounsel. Baumann v. United States, 692 F .2d 565, 572 

(9th Cir. 1982). Accordingly. 

IT IS ORDERED that Petitioner's Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence is 

DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Li'D)I.f

datI!" 

cc: All parties 

2 

Case 3:11-cv-02901-GT Document 2 Filed 10/06/14 Page 4 of 4