Opinion ID: 678538
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Miguel Vaca

Text: 34 Frank Wesolowski, counsel for defendant Vaca, also filed an Anders brief and raised the following possible grounds for appeal: (1) that the defendant was entitled to a sentencing reduction for acceptance of responsibility based on the government's version of the offense; (2) that the court improperly imposed a $6,191 fine; and (3) that the court relied on inadmissible evidence at the sentencing hearing. Counsel concluded that each of these arguments was groundless and sought to withdraw from appellate representation. The defendant was notified pursuant to Rule 51(a) that his counsel asked leave of the court to withdraw from appellate representation and Vaca was given thirty days to respond. No response was filed. Agreeing with counsel that there are no valid grounds for appeal, we grant the motion to withdraw and dismiss the appeal. 35 We agree with counsel for Vaca that there is no merit to the claim that he is entitled to an acceptance of responsibility reduction solely because of the government's statement in its version of the offense that the prosecutor was aware of no reason to deny the acceptance of responsibility reduction. There is no case law supporting, much less mandating, that the government's recommendation or the probation officer's recommendation is binding on the sentencing judge. United States v. Blythe, 944 F.2d 356, 361 (7th Cir.1991) (a sentencing judge is not bound by the presentence report's recommendations concerning sentence). In addition, the trial court, as required by Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(c), clearly instructed Vaca in his guilty plea hearing that the court would have the final decision as to what [his] sentence [would] be. Moreover, the record is quite clear that the defendant was less than truthful in describing his role in the offense to the prosecutor and to the probation officer. Under the commentary to U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1, a lack of truthfulness on the part of the defendant is grounds for denying the acceptance of responsibility reduction. U.S.S.G. Sec. 3E1.1, comment. (n. 1). Not only was the denial of the acceptance of responsibility proper, but, as the probation officer stated at the sentencing hearing, the court might very well have been justified in enhancing the defendant's sentence under 3C1.1 for obstruction of justice. Thus, a challenge to the denial of an acceptance of responsibility reduction would be groundless. 36 Secondly, counsel concludes that the court's imposition of a $6,191 fine was not in error. The statutory maximum fine for Vaca's offenses was $8,000,000 while the Guidelines recommend a fine between $17,5000 and $175,000. The probation officer explained that as a federal prisoner, Vaca may earn an average of $1,000 per year, thus he recommended that Vaca be assessed a fine in the amount of $6,191, to be paid in $41 monthly installment payments while in custody. The sentencing judge accepted this recommendation ordering the defendant to pay monthly installments of $41 while in custody to the extent of his ability to pay. Counsel for Vaca at sentencing did not object to the imposition of a fine at sentencing thus Vaca has forfeited the issue on appeal. United States v. Olano, --- U.S. ----, ----, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 1777, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993) (holding that when an issue is forfeited review is only for plain error); United States v. Rivero, 993 F.2d 620, 623 (7th Cir.1993). Given our recent cases affirming sentencing court's imposition of a fine and/or restitution when the defendant argues that he presently lacks the ability to pay, we agree that the fine imposed on defendant Vaca was reasonable. See, e.g., United States v. Nelson, 5 F.3d 254, 258 (7th Cir.1993); United States v. Boula, 997 F.2d 263, 268 (7th Cir.1993). In the instant case, the court considered the defendant's ability to pay and limited the fine to a portion of the income he might earn in prison to be paid in monthly installments. See 18 U.S.C.A. Sec. 3572(d) (authorizing court to impose fine paid in installments); United States v. Turner, 998 F.2d 534, 538 (7th Cir.1993). Moreover, payment of the fine was only required while Vaca was in custody and to the extent of his ability to pay. We agree with counsel that the restrictions on the parameters of the fine imposed reflects that the court considered the factors in U.S.S.G. Sec. 5E1.2(d), and thus an appeal of the fine would be groundless. 37 Finally, the Federal Rules of Evidence state The[se] rules ... do not apply in the following situations: ... sentencing.... Fed.R.Evid. 1101(d)(3); United States v. Johnson, 997 F.2d 248 (7th Cir.1993). Thus, the court's reliance on evidence presented in the trial of defendant Rivera was entirely appropriate. We agree with counsel that possible grounds for appeal are without merit. Moreover, based on our review of the record, we are unable to identify any other grounds for appeal, thus, we grant the attorney's motion to withdraw and dismiss the appeal.