Opinion ID: 46230
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: molina's convictions

Text: 9 Molina first contends that his guilty pleas on all counts were involuntary because the district court incorrectly admonished him that the maximum sentence of imprisonment for count three was twenty years, when in reality it was five.
10 Because Molina did not object before the district court, we review for plain error. See United States v. Vonn, 535 U.S. 55, 58-59, 122 S.Ct. 1043, 152 L.Ed.2d 90 (2002). Under the plain-error standard, we may reverse only if (1) there is error, (2) the error is clear under current law, and (3) the error affects the defendant's substantial rights. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-34, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993); United States v. Garcia Abrego, 141 F.3d 142, 165 (5th Cir.1998) (quoting United States v. Dupre, 117 F.3d 810, 817 (5th Cir.1997)). Molina bears the burden of persuasion with respect to this showing. United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 82, 124 S.Ct. 2333, 159 L.Ed.2d 157 (2004). He must show a reasonable probability that, but for the error, he would not have entered the plea. Id. at 83, 124 S.Ct. 2333.
11 Prior to accepting Molina's plea of guilty, the district court was required to inform him of the maximum possible penalty. See FED.R.CRIM.P. 11(b)(1)(H). The district court advised Molina that the maximum period of imprisonment for count three (possession with intent to distribute less than 50 pounds of marijuana) was twenty years. Both Molina and the government agree that this admonition was plain error because the maximum imprisonment for count three is actually five years. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(D). 2 But they disagree as to whether Molina's convictions must be set aside. 12 Molina contends that his convictions on all counts must be vacated because the incorrect admonishment rendered his guilty pleas involuntary. He posits that [i]t could well be that he pleaded guilty because he believed that the easiest case for the government to prove was on count three since, [a]fter all, 48 pounds of marijuana are much harder to hide than 414 grams of methamphetamine. Def.-Appellant's Br. 8. He opines (1) that the main evidence that led the police to him was the presence of marijuana, (2) that the police consistently developed more evidence as to the marijuana possession before the search warrant was executed, and (3) that he and his co-defendants were targeted because of obvious signs of a large marijuana growing operation. Based on this, Molina suggests that he could well have concluded that a marijuana trial was too risky if he faced twenty years' imprisonment, whereas he might have risked a trial had he known that he faced only five years' imprisonment on count three. Id. 13 Molina has not demonstrated a reasonable probability that he would not have pleaded guilty but for the improper admonition. Count three was only one of several counts to which Molina pleaded guilty, even though he was correctly admonished that three of the counts carried a maximum term of life imprisonment. Moreover, he does not direct this court to any portion of the record supporting the proposition that the maximum sentence for count three affected his plea decision. Because Molina has not satisfied his burden, we affirm his conviction on count three. We affirm his convictions on the remaining counts as well because the district court's admonishment as to those individual counts satisfied Rule 11's requirements. Cf. United States v. Still, 102 F.3d 118, 122-23 (5th Cir.1996) (vacating sentence on count one because of Rule 11 error but affirming sentence on count two because Rule 11 was satisfied as to that individual count).