Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_04-cr-00967/USCOURTS-azd-2_04-cr-00967-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Alvaro Tapia-Rojas
Defendant
United States of America
Plaintiff

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

United States of America, 

Plaintiff/Respondent, 

vs.

Alvaro Tapia-Rojas,

Defendant/Movant. 

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No. CR-04-967-PHX-MHM

 CIV 04-2834-PHX-MHM (MS)

ORDER

Movant pro se has filed a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence under 28

U.S.C. § 2255. (Doc. 20). The matter was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Morton

Sitver who has issued a Report and Recommendation that recommends that the § 2255 motion

should be denied. (Doc. 32). Movant has not filed written objections to the Report and

Recommendation. 

STANDARD OF REVIEW

The Court must review the legal analysis in the Report and Recommendation de novo.

See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). The Court must review the factual analysis in the Report and

Recommendation de novo for those facts to which objections are filed. "Failure to object to

a magistrate judge's recommendation waives all objections to the judge's findings of fact."

Jones v. Wood, 207 F.3d 557, 562 n.2 (9th Cir. 2000). 

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Case 2:04-cr-00967-MHM Document 33 Filed 03/10/06 Page 1 of 3
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DISCUSSION

Movant was charged with re-entry after deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a),

enhanced by a prior felony. Movant retained counsel and waived indictment and consented

to proceed with a guilty plea before the Magistrate Judge. Movant pleaded guilty to the reentry after deportation offense. Movant's guilty plea was entered pursuant to a plea agreement

which, by its terms, outlined the ranges of sentences that could be imposed, depending on the

basis of the underlying felony conviction and Movant’s criminal history. Movant also waived

any right to appeal the judgment and sentence and any right to collaterally attack his

conviction and sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 or any other collateral attack. The Magistrate

Judge entered findings that the plea was entered knowingly and voluntarily and recommended

that the plea should be accepted. Movant appeared before this Court on November 30, 2004.

Movant's guilty plea was accepted and Movant was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.

Movant did not file a direct appeal. 

Movant has raised the following grounds in his motion for relief under § 2255. Movant

contends that his plea agreement was not knowingly and voluntarily made because he thought

he would receive no more than 12 months imprisonment. Movant also contends that defense

counsel was ineffective for advising him that his sentence would be “a minimum one.” The

Magistrate Judge has recommended that Movant is not entitled to relief. 

As discussed in the Report and Recommendation, Movant waived his right to appeal

and his right to file a collateral attack to his conviction and sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

The record of proceedings indicates that Movant’s plea and waiver were entered "knowingly

and voluntarily". The Magistrate Judge advised Movant of the maximum term and how the

Sentencing Guidelines could be applied and Movant answered that he understood. This Court

explained to Movant the application of the Sentencing Guidelines and Movant stated that he

understood. The Court further explained how the guideline range of 30 to 37 months had

been reached and Movant stated that he understood the calculation. Movant’s claim that

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defense counsel advised him that he would receive a 12-month sentence is not supported by

the record. 

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the Court adopts the Magistrate Judge's Report and

Recommendation (Doc. 32) as the Order of the Court. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct

Sentence filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (Doc. 20) is denied and dismissed. 

DATED this 6th day of March, 2006.

Case 2:04-cr-00967-MHM Document 33 Filed 03/10/06 Page 3 of 3