Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-19-51142/USCOURTS-ca5-19-51142-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jconcepcion Alonso-Tobar
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 19-51142

Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

JCONCEPCION ALONSO-TOBAR,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. 4:19-CR-563-1

Before JOLLY, JONES, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Jconcepcion Alonso-Tobar appeals the 46-month sentence imposed after 

he pled guilty to being found unlawfully present in the United States after 

previous removal. He argues that his sentence was imposed under an 

unconstitutional statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b). Specifically, he contends that in 

order to trigger a sentencing enhancement under Section 1326(b), the fact of a 

prior conviction must be alleged in the indictment and proven to a jury; 

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not 

be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH 

CIR. R. 47.5.4.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

May 12, 2020

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

Case: 19-51142 Document: 00515413479 Page: 1 Date Filed: 05/12/2020
No. 19-51142

2

therefore, he asserts that Section 1326(b) is unconstitutional. He correctly 

concedes that his argument is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United 

States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998), but raises the issue to preserve it for further 

possible review. See United States v. Wallace, 759 F.3d 486, 497 (5th Cir. 

2014); United States v. Pineda-Arrellano, 492 F.3d 624, 625–26 (5th Cir. 2007).

The Government has filed an unopposed motion for summary affirmance 

and, alternatively, seeks an extension of time to file its brief. Because the issue 

is foreclosed, summary affirmance is appropriate. See Groendyke Transp., Inc. 

v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969).

The Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED; the 

Government’s alternative motion for an extension of time to file a brief is 

DENIED. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

Case: 19-51142 Document: 00515413479 Page: 2 Date Filed: 05/12/2020