Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-05-01339/USCOURTS-ca8-05-01339-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Serafin Lopez-Flores
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

1

The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, Chief Judge, United States District Court for

the District of Nebraska.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 05-1339

___________

United States of America, *

*

Appellee, * Appeal from the United States

* District Court for the

v. * District of Nebraska.

*

Serafin Lopez-Flores, also known as * [UNPUBLISHED] 

Antonio Lopez, *

 * 

Appellant. *

___________

Submitted: September 13, 2005

Filed: September 21, 2005

___________

Before LOKEN, Chief Judge, WOLLMAN and BYE, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

Serafin Lopez-Flores appeals the sentence imposed by the district court1

 upon

him claiming error for overstating his criminal history. He also contends the district

court impermissibly relied upon the Sentencing Guidelines and the ultimate sentence

was higher than necessary to achieve the sentencing purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)

(West 2005).

Appellate Case: 05-1339 Page: 1 Date Filed: 09/21/2005 Entry ID: 1954281
-2-

Lopez-Flores agreed with the district court’s assessment of his criminal history

category under the Guidelines, but asked for a downward departure from that

category. (See Tr. at 5.) The district court was aware of its authority to depart from

the Guidelines. (Id. at 7-9, 17.) There being no unconstitutional motive for the lack

of departure alleged, the district court’s failure to depart is not reviewable. United

States v. Gonzalez-Lopez, 335 F.3d 793, 799 (8th Cir. 2003).

Lopez-Flores argues the district court impermissibly relied upon the Sentencing

Guidelines in violation of United States v. Booker, 125 S. Ct. 738 (2005). However,

the district court made clear it recognized the advisory nature of the Sentencing

Guidelines and considered the factors enumerated in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). (Tr. at 19.)

Accordingly, the district court committed no Booker error.

In light of the offense level, criminal history category, nature and

circumstances of the offense, history of Lopez-Flores, and the other factors

enumerated in § 3553(a) and United States v. Adams, 401 F.3d 886, 895 (8th Cir.

2005), this Court concludes the sentence imposed by the district court is in all aspects

reasonable.

We therefore affirm the district court.

______________________________

Appellate Case: 05-1339 Page: 2 Date Filed: 09/21/2005 Entry ID: 1954281