Court Opinion

ID: 168900
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 16:58:08+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:59.608117
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                 United States Court of Appeals
                                                                         Tenth Circuit
                      UNITED STATES CO URT O F APPEALS
                                                                       March 13, 2007
                             FO R TH E TENTH CIRCUIT                Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                        Clerk of Court

    U N ITED STA TES O F A M ER ICA,

              Plaintiff-Appellee,

     v.                                                   No. 05-3396
                                                  (D.C. No. 03-CR-40126-SAC)
    A LEX ORO ZC O,                                         (D. Kan)

              Defendant-Appellant.

                             OR D ER AND JUDGM ENT *

Before KELLY, L UC ER O, and TYM KOVICH, Circuit Judges.

          Defendant Alex Orozco pled guilty to one count of distribution of

methamphetamine mixture in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). In his plea

agreement, defendant agreed to waive right to appeal. Nonetheless, defendant has

filed a notice of appeal. The government has now moved to enforce defendant’s

appeal waiver under United States v. Hahn, 359 F.3d 1315 (10th Cir. 2004) (en

banc). W e grant the motion and dismiss the appeal.

*
      This panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not
materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2);
10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral
argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited,
however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and
10th Cir. R. 32.1.
      Defendant’s plea agreement states that he “knowingly and voluntarily

waives any right to appeal or collaterally attack any matter in connection with this

prosecution, conviction and sentence.” Plea Agreement at 6 (filed M ay 18, 2005).

M ore specifically, it recites that defendant “knowingly waives any right to appeal

a sentence imposed which is within the guideline range determined appropriate by

the court,” reserving the right to appeal only “to the extent, if any, the court

departs upwards from the applicable sentencing guideline range determined by the

court.” Id.

      Under Hahn, we consider “(1) whether the disputed appeal falls within the

scope of the waiver of appellate rights; (2) whether the defendant knowingly and

voluntarily waived his appellate rights; and (3) whether enforcing the waiver

would result in a miscarriage of justice.” Id. at 1325. The government’s motion

addresses these considerations, explaining why none undermines defendant’s

appeal waiver here. W e agree.

      The defendant has not filed a response to the government’s motion, thus,

the m otion to enforce is unopposed. Having reviewed the pertinent materials, w e

find nothing to except this case from the consequences of the broad appeal waiver

included in defendant’s plea agreement. The district court imposed a sentence of

121 months’ imprisonment, which was w ell below the maximum statutory penalty

of forty years and below the 135-to-168 month advisory guideline range. Thus,

the sentencing issues asserted on appeal fall within the scope of the appeal

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waiver. The plea agreement and the plea colloquy demonstrate that defendant

knowingly and voluntarily entered into the plea agreement, including the waiver

of appellate rights. Further, we find nothing to suggest that enforcement of the

waiver w ould result in a miscarriage of justice.

      The government’s motion to enforce the waiver is GRANTED and the

appeal is DISM ISSED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

                                        ENTERED FOR THE COURT
                                        PER CURIAM

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