Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-24-50319/USCOURTS-ca5-24-50319-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Rafael Paredes-Hinojosa
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

United States Court of Appeals

for the Fifth Circuit ____________

No. 24-50319

Summary Calendar

____________

United States of America, 

Plaintiff—Appellee,

versus

Rafael Paredes-Hinojosa, 

Defendant—Appellant.

______________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court 

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. 2:23-CR-378-1

______________________________

Before Graves, Willett, and Wilson, Circuit Judges.

Per Curiam:*

Rafael Paredes-Hinojosa appeals his conviction and sentence under 8 

U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(2). For the first time on appeal, he contends that 

§ 1326(b)(2) violates the Constitution by treating a prior conviction that 

increases the statutory maximum under the statute as a sentencing factor, 

rather than as an element of the offense. He correctly concedes that his 

_____________________

* This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

December 12, 2024

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

Case: 24-50319 Document: 45-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 12/12/2024
No. 24-50319

2

argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 

(1998), but he wishes to preserve it for further review. See United States v. 

Pervis, 937 F.3d 546, 553–54 (5th Cir. 2019). 

Because the only issue before us is foreclosed by precedent and “there 

can be no substantial question as to the outcome of the case,” Groendyke 

Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969), we GRANT the 

Government’s motion for summary affirmance, and we DENY its 

alternative motion for an extension of time to file an appellate brief. The 

judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

Case: 24-50319 Document: 45-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 12/12/2024