Case Name: Ray Chester LEWIS, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Heidi M. LACKNER, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2014-12-12
Citations: 588 F. App'x 561
Docket Number: No. 12-56592
Parties: Ray Chester LEWIS, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Heidi M. LACKNER, Respondent-Appellee.
Judges: Before: HAWKINS, McKEOWN, and FRIEDLAND, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 588
Pages: 561–562

Head Matter:
Ray Chester LEWIS, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Heidi M. LACKNER, Respondent-Appellee.
No. 12-56592.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Dec. 5, 2014.
Filed Dec. 12, 2014.
Gia Kim, Esquire, Deputy Federal Public Defender, FPDCA-Federal Public Defender’s Office, Los Angeles, CA, for Petitioner-Appellant.
. David Elgin Madeo, AGCA-Office of the California Attorney General, Los Angeles, CA, for Respondent-Appellee.
Before: HAWKINS, McKEOWN, and FRIEDLAND, 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
California state prisoner Ray Chester Lewis appeals from the district court's judgment denying his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253. We review de novo a district court's judgment denying his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition, see Collins v. Runnels, 603 F.3d 1127, 1130 (9th Cir.2010), and we affirm.
As an initial matter, the state argues that Lewis's claim is procedurally barred. We do not reach this issue and instead resolve this case on the merits. See Franklin v. Johnson, 290 F.3d 1223, 1232 (9th Cir.2002).
Lewis contends that his due process rights were violated because his sentence of 28 years and 8 months was motivated by vindictiveness. Lewis previously pleaded guilty to various drug and firearm charges and was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. After Lewis successfully challenged his guilty plea in a state habeas proceeding, he was convicted of fewer charges at a jury trial. A different judge presided over the jury trial and imposed the challenged sentence. The California Court of Appeal concluded that Lewis failed to show either presumptive or actual vindictiveness. This decision was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d); Alabama v. Smith, 490 U.S. 794, 803, 109 S.Ct. 2201, 104 L.Ed.2d 865 (1989) (no presumption of vindictiveness "where a second sentence imposed after a trial is heavier than a first sentence imposed after a guilty plea"); Texas v. McCullough, 475 U.S. 134, 140, 106 S.Ct. 976, 89 L.Ed.2d 104 (1986) (no showing of vindictiveness where "different sentencers assessed the varying sentences that [defendant] received" and "the second sen-tencer provides an on-the-record, wholly logical, non-vindictive reason for the sentence").
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.