Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Efrain RODRIGUEZ, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2012-03-12
Citations: 471 F. App'x 695
Docket Number: No. 10-10593
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Efrain RODRIGUEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 471
Pages: 695–695

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Efrain RODRIGUEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 10-10593.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted March 6, 2012.
Filed March 12, 2012.
Laurie K. Gray, Esquire, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Barbara Valliere, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Office of the U.S. Attorney, San Francisco, CA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Michael Clough, Oakland, CA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before: B. FLETCHER, REINHARDT, and TASHIMA, 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
Efrain Rodriguez appeals from the 78-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(l)(A)(viii). We dismiss.
Rodriguez contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel at sentencing when counsel failed to complete his investigation, to submit a sentencing memorandum, or to adequately prepare for the sentencing hearing. We are precluded from reaching the merits of Rodriguez's claim by a valid appeal waiver in which Rodriguez gave up his right to pursue a direct appeal of his sentence. See United States v. Nunez, 223 F.3d 956, 959 (9th Cir.2000) ("[ O ]ne waives the right to argue ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing on direct appeal when one waives the right to appeal the sentence.").
In any event, the record is insufficiently developed and Rodriguez's 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.").
DISMISSED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.