Court Opinion

ID: 9481711
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 08:29:00.4036+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:48:31.380618
License: Public Domain

REINHARDT, Circuit Judge,
concurring in the judgment.
The record of the sentencing hearing demonstrates that the government entered into a plea agreement with Ruiz knowing he would misunderstand its effect. At the time the agreement was reached, it was the government’s undisclosed intention to ask that the defendant not be sentenced in accordance with Restrepo I. Moreover, the government knew that Ruiz entered into the agreement in the belief that Restrepo I would be applicable to his case. It was only because of that belief that the defendant sought the change from 50 to 49 kilograms. In the absence of Restrepo I the change would have been of absolutely no significance — as it ultimately turned out to be. The government deliberately did not inform Ruiz that it intended to argue to the district court that Restrepo I should not apply. Instead, through its silence, it misled him as to the practical effect of the bargain he negotiated. While the government may have breached no express promise, its actions display a lack of sensitivity to the nature of the prosecutor’s role. Nonetheless, because Ruiz was given an opportunity to withdraw his plea, he was not prejudiced by the government’s conduct. Accordingly, I concur in the judgment.