Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Elias George SHAHIN, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-05-10
Citations: 179 F. App'x 420
Docket Number: No. 05-50523
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Elias George SHAHIN, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 179
Pages: 420–420

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Elias George SHAHIN, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 05-50523.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted May 8, 2006.
Filed May 10, 2006.
Becky S. Walker, Esq., USLA — Office of the U.S. Attorney Criminal Division, Los Angeles, CA, Anne Gannon, Esq., USSA— Office of the U.S. Attorney, Santa Ana, CA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Vicki I. Podberesky, Esq., Nasatir Hirsch Podberesky & Genego, Santa Monica, CA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before: HAWKINS, GRABER, and PAEZ, Circuit Judges.
This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Elias George Shahin ("Shahin") appeals his guilty plea conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) for attempting to knowingly induce a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, arguing (1) he did not commit the charged offense because he corresponded with an adult undercover agent, rather than an actual minor, and (2) legal impossibility. We affirm.
Because "an actual minor victim is not required for an attempt conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b)," United States v. Meek, 366 F.3d 705, 717 (9th Cir.2004) (internal quotation marks omitted), Shah-in's first claim is unavailing. Nor is Shah-in's legal impossibility defense meritorious. Legal impossibility exists when a defendant's intended acts, even if completed, would not amount to a crime. United States v. McCormick, 72 F.3d 1404, 1408 (9th Cir.1995). Here, such a defense is inapposite because Shahin's intended action — -performing sexual acts on a minor— was criminal.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.