Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Chuy J. ALCALA, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-01-31
Citations: 165 F. App'x 333
Docket Number: No. 05-40222
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Chuy J. ALCALA, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before REAVLEY, HIGGINBOTHAM and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 165
Pages: 333–334

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Chuy J. ALCALA, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 05-40222.
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided Jan. 31, 2006.
James Lee Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Timothy William Crooks, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Defender’s Office Southern District of Texas, Marjorie A. Meyers, Federal Public Defender, Federal Public, Houston, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before REAVLEY, HIGGINBOTHAM and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Chuy J. Alcala appeals his guilty-plea conviction of possession with intent to distribute a quantity in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine. Alcala argues that the district court reversibly erred in failing to rule on his request for a downward depar ture. He asserts that a court's failure to comply with Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(i)(3)(B) may be raised for the first time on appeal and requires resentencing. He contends that it is undisputed that the district court failed to rule on or make any findings with respect to his downward-departure motion.
By imposing a sentence within the guideline range immediately after hearing defense counsel's argument in favor of a downward departure, the district court implicitly denied the motion. See United States v. Como, 53 F.3d 87, 90 (5th Cir.1995). The record does not indicate that the district court mistakenly believed it lacked authority to downwardly depart. Therefore, we lack jurisdiction to review the district court's implicit denial of Alcala's downward-departure motion. See United States v. Landerman, 167 F.3d 895, 899 (5th Cir.1999).
Alcala also argues that the district court abused its discretion and reversibly erred when it imposed the collection of his DNA as a condition of his supervised release. He argues that the version of the 42 U.S.C. § 14135a(d) in effect at the time of the offense did not include his crime of conviction. He asserts that the application of the amendment of that statute to include any felony conviction would violate the Ex Post Facto Clause. He further asserts that, even if DNA collection is not considered a punishment for purposes of the Ex Post Facto Clause, the application of the amendment to him violates general rules of retroactivity. Alcala's claim regarding collection of DNA on supervised release is not ripe for review. See United States v. Riascos-Cuenu, 428 F.3d 1100, 1102 (5th Cir.2005). We modify the judgment to vacate this condition of supervised release.
Finally, Alcala argues that, given the Supreme Court's decision in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) and (b) are unconstitutional. He concedes that his argument is foreclosed under United States v. Slaughter, 238 F.3d 580, 582 (5th Cir.2000), but states that he wishes to preserve the issue for possible further review. We have specifically rejected the argument that Apprendi rendered the provisions of 21 U.S.C. § 841 unconstitutional. See Slaughter, 238 F.3d at 582; see also United States v. Valenzuela-Quevedo, 407 F.3d 728, 731 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 126 S.Ct. 267, 163 L.Ed.2d 240 (2005).
AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under tiré limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.