Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Adalberto GUZMAN-SIU, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-11-28
Citations: 459 F. App'x 679
Docket Number: No. 10-30159
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Adalberto GUZMAN-SIU, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before: TASHIMA, BERZON, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 459
Pages: 679–680

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Adalberto GUZMAN-SIU, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 10-30159.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Nov. 21, 2011.
Filed Nov. 28, 2011.
Helen J. Brunner, Esquire, Assistant U.S., Michael Symington Morgan, Assistant U.S., Office of the U.S. Attorney, Seattle, WA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Allen R. Bentley, Esquire, Law Offices of Allen R. Bentley, Seattle, WA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Adalberto Guzman Siu, McRae, GA, pro se.
Before: TASHIMA, BERZON, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Adalberto Guzman-Siu appeals from his guilty-plea conviction and 97-month aggregate sentence for possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and possession of firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), Guzman-Siu's counsel has filed a brief stating there are no grounds for relief, along with a motion to withdraw as counsel of record.
In his pro se supplemental brief, Guzman-Siu contends that he is actually innocent of the firearms offense and also asserts an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
Our independent review of the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80-81, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988), discloses no arguable grounds for relief on direct appeal. With respect to the appeal of the conviction and sentence, we dismiss in light of the valid appeal waiver. See United States v. Nguyen, 235 F.3d 1179, 1182 (9th Cir.2000). We decline to address Guzman-Siu's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on direct appeal as the record is insufficiently developed and his legal representation was not so inadequate that it can be concluded at this point that he obviously was denied his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. See United States v. McKenna, 327 F.3d 830, 845 (9th Cir.2003) ("Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are generally inappropriate on direct appeal.").
Counsel's motion to withdraw is GRANTED.
DISMISSED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provid ed by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.