Opinion ID: 779418
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Validity of the Fine

Text: 44 Manjarrez's final argument on appeal warrants little discussion. The defendant contends that his indigent status at the time of sentencing barred the district court from imposing a $20,000 fine upon him. Manjarrez, who was represented by counsel at the sentencing hearing, did not object to the fine below, and consequently we review the district court's assessment of the fine for plain error. See United States v. Rowe, 268 F.3d 34, 38 (1st Cir.2001). 45 The Sentencing Guidelines require a district court to impose a fine in all cases, except where the defendant establishes that he is unable to pay and he is unlikely to become able to pay any fine. U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(a). This court has held that the defendant bears the burden of proving both a current and future inability to pay the fine. See Rowe, 268 F.3d. at 38. The district court found that Manjarrez failed to meet that burden, noting that he has the intelligence and skills to work and earn the funds necessary to pay the fine upon his release. We find no plain error in that ruling. 46 We affirm.