Court Opinion

ID: 9386308
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-12 00:00:24.867408+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:05.605867
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-50758        Document: 00516708029             Page: 1      Date Filed: 04/11/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit
                                     ____________
                                                                               United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Fifth Circuit
                                      No. 22-50758
                                    Summary Calendar                                  FILED
                                    ____________                                  April 11, 2023
                                                                                 Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                          Clerk

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Renee Huerta Lopez,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Western District of Texas
                              USDC No. 7:21-CR-360-2
                     ______________________________

   Before Wiener, Elrod, and Engelhardt, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Renee Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to
   distribute, and to distribute, 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
   The district court sentenced her to the guideline maximum of 293 months.
   She now appeals her sentence.
         Lopez argues that her sentence was unreasonable because the district

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-50758      Document: 00516708029           Page: 2     Date Filed: 04/11/2023

                                     No. 22-50758

   court failed to provide sufficient explanation for her sentence as required un-
   der 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c). While Lopez characterizes her argument as a chal-
   lenge to the substantive reasonableness of her sentence, her argument con-
   stitutes a procedural objection. See United States v. Mondragon-Santiago, 564
   F.3d 357, 360 (5th Cir. 2009). During the sentencing hearing, Lopez did not
   object to the adequacy of the district court’s explanation. Thus, her argu-
   ment is subject to plain error review. Id. at 361; see also United States v. Coto-
   Mendoza, 986 F.3d 583, 585–86 (5th Cir. 2021).
          We apply the familiar four-past test to assess plain error. See Puckett
   v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009). Assuming arguendo that Lopez
   could meet the first two conditions, she cannot satisfy the third. Lopez has
   not demonstrated a reasonable probability that her sentence would have been
   different had the district court more thoroughly explained its reasoning.
   Thus, she fails to demonstrate that any error affected her substantial rights.
   Mondragon-Santiago, 564 F.3d at 360.
          AFFIRMED.

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