Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jose VARGAS-FLORES, 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 670
Docket Number: No. 10-10619
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Jose VARGAS-FLORES, Defendant—Appellant.
Judges: Before: TASHIMA, BERZON, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 459
Pages: 670–671

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Jose VARGAS-FLORES, Defendant—Appellant.
No. 10-10619.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Nov. 21, 2011.
Filed Nov. 28, 2011.
Jennifer I. Gaz, Office of the U.S. Attorney, Phoenix, AZ, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Tonya Jill Peterson, Esquire, Phoenix, AZ, for Defendant-Appellant.
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
Jose Vargas-Flores appeals from his guilty-plea conviction and the 19-month sentence for being a deported alien found in the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), Vargas-Flores's counsel has filed a brief stating there are no grounds for relief, along with a motion to withdraw as counsel of record. We have provided the appellant with the opportunity to file a pro se supplemental brief. No pro se supplemental brief or answering brief has been filed.
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 Vargas-Flores'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.").
Vargas-Flores's motion for leave to file a supplemental opening brief pursuant to Anders is denied.
Counsel's motion to withdraw is GRANTED.
DISMISSED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.