Opinion ID: 152379
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Alvarado's Guilty Plea and Sentencing

Text: On February 2, 2009, Alvarado pled guilty to Count I pursuant to a written plea agreement. On February 23, 2009, Alvarado filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea. In an amended motion, Alvarado claimed (1) two days before Alvarado pled guilty, one of his co-defendants assaulted him in jail, and he lost confidence in the government's ability to protect him; (2) Alvarado wanted to maintain his innocence at his change of plea hearing, but was afraid to do so because of the beating and the government's inability to protect him; (3) Alvarado obtained new evidence later on the day of his plea when he encountered a co-defendant in jail who stated he had knowledge of threats Carrillo made against Alvarado and his family; (4) the beating and resulting fear of future violence rendered his plea involuntary; (5) Alvarado believed he was innocent of voluntarily participating in a conspiracy; and (6) Alvarado maintained his innocence until January 25, 2009, when he agreed to plead guilty. The district court held a hearing on Alvarado's motion to withdraw his guilty plea. Alvarado's counsel provided a lengthy opening statement, setting forth all of the reasons Alvarado should have been permitted to withdraw his guilty plea, largely mirroring the reasons set forth in Alvarado's motion to withdraw. Alvarado's counsel also explained the government had tendered two potential plea agreements, but because a storm was coming and the plea hearing was scheduled for the following Monday, counsel decided which plea agreement to use, brought the plea agreement to Alvarado in the jail, and had Alvarado sign the agreement without the benefit of a translator. Alvarado's counsel stated he returned to the jail with a translator on the Saturday before the change of plea hearing and went over the plea agreement with Alvarado for the first time. Alvarado's counsel asserted Alvarado informed him of the beating Alvarado sustained in jail, but counsel decided not to raise it at the change of plea hearing. Alvarado's counsel maintained, after the plea hearing, Alvarado met a witness who could support Alvarado's claim of innocence or excuse. Between ten and fourteen days after the plea hearing, Alvarado notified counsel he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea. Alvarado's counsel filed the motion to withdraw the plea one week later, giv[ing Alvarado] a chance to sit on it before [counsel] filed a motion. The district court treated Alvarado's counsel's opening statement as a proffer. The district court found there was no reason to proceed with a hearing because, even if Alvarado could prove everything set forth in his proffer, none of the offered reasons provided a sufficient basis for a plea withdrawal. The district court then denied Alvarado's motion to withdraw his guilty plea. During Alvarado's sentencing hearing, Alvarado argued for the first time that he was eligible for safety valve relief pursuant to United States Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G. or Guidelines) § 5C1.2. The district court did not explicitly address the newly raised safety valve issue, and Alvarado did not request a ruling. The district court sentenced Alvarado to 120 months imprisonment, five years supervised release, and a $15,000 fine.