Court Opinion

ID: 159347
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 06:23:26+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:53:55.041366
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                       Tenth Circuit
                            Byron White United States Courthouse
                                     1823 Stout Street
                                  Denver, Colorado 80294
                                      (303) 844-3157
Patrick J. Fisher, Jr.                                                        Elisabeth A. Shumaker
       Clerk                                                                    Chief Deputy Clerk

                                          March 29, 2000

       TO: ALL RECIPIENTS OF THE ORDER AND JUDGMENT

       RE: 99-5133, United States v. Reyes
           Filed on March 20, 2000

              The order and judgment contains a clerical error on page 6, second line from
       the bottom, in the sentence which begins: “(Ioffense level of 31 . . . .” The sentence
       is corrected to read as follows:

               The district court eventually sentenced Mr. Reyes at the offense level
               of 31 which, under the sentencing guidelines, includes a term of
               imprisonment ranging between 188 to 235 months in prison.

       A copy of the corrected order and judgment is attached.

                                                     Sincerely,

                                                     Patrick Fisher, Clerk of Court

                                                     By:   Keith Nelson
                                                           Deputy Clerk

       encl.
                                                                           F I L E D
                                                                    United States Court of Appeals
                                                                            Tenth Circuit

                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        MAR 20 2000

                                TENTH CIRCUIT                          PATRICK FISHER
                                                                                Clerk
                           __________________________

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

          Plaintiff-Appellee,

 v.                                                        No. 99-5133
                                                           (N.D. Okla.)
 RAMON DELEON REYES,                                (D.Ct. No. 98-CV-950-H)

          Defendant-Appellant.
                        ____________________________

                                ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before BRORBY, KELLY, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.

      After examining the briefs and appellate record, 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.

      Appellant Ramon DeLeon Reyes, a prisoner appearing pro se, appeals the

      *
          This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the
citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under
the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
district court’s decision denying his motion filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255

and request for a certificate of appealability. We deny his request for a

certificate of appealability, and dismiss his appeal.

      Mr. Reyes pled guilty to four counts of distribution of cocaine and one

count of distribution of one kilogram of cocaine (i.e., Count 5). Following his

guilty plea, the district court sentenced him to 204 months in prison on each

count, to run concurrently. Mr. Reyes did not file a direct appeal.

      Mr. Reyes filed a motion to vacate, set aside or correct his sentence under

§ 2255. He alleged his guilty plea was involuntary, unintelligent and unknowing

because the district court and his counsel failed to: (1) advise him Count 5 for

distribution of cocaine carried a mandatory minimum sentence of five years; and

(2) inform him he could not withdraw his plea if the court did not accept the

government’s sentencing recommendations. He also alleged ineffective assistance

of counsel based on these claims and his claims his attorney failed to “appoint

himself with facts concerning [his] criminal history before advising him of the 5

years potential sentence,” and conducted the plea agreement in “bad faith”

knowing he would receive a sentence of more than five years.

                                          -2-
      The district court that presided over Mr. Reyes’ plea and sentencing

hearings entered an order denying the motion. It determined that because Mr.

Reyes failed to directly appeal his claims, he could not seek redress on collateral

review unless he demonstrated: (1) cause for the procedural default or actual

prejudice from the errors asserted; or (2) actual innocence. The court then looked

at Mr. Reyes’ ineffective assistance of counsel claims to determine if ineffective

assistance could excuse his failure to raise his other claims on direct appeal. The

district court found the court advised Mr. Reyes at the plea hearing: (1) of the

minimum mandatory sentence; and (2) that the court retained final authority to

impose his sentence within the United States Sentencing Guidelines. The district

court then determined no prejudice resulted from any inaccurate sentence

prediction by Mr. Reyes’ counsel because the court “specifically cured any defect

... by providing the proper information.” After determining Mr. Reyes’

ineffective assistance of counsel claims lacked merit, the court held Mr. Reyes

procedurally defaulted his involuntary plea claims.

      On appeal, Mr. Reyes renews the same claims raised in his § 2255 motion.

He also raises new issues on appeal, claiming his attorney acted ineffectively by

failing to directly appeal his conviction or negotiate a plea agreement minimizing

the charges or counts against him. He also contends the district court erroneously

                                         -3-
determined he must prove his innocence to obtain relief.

      When reviewing the denial of a § 2255 motion, we review the district

court’s legal rulings de novo and its factual findings for clear error. United States

v. Cox, 83 F.3d 336, 338 (10th Cir. 1996). We review Mr. Reyes’ ineffective

assistance of counsel claims de novo as a mixed question of law and fact. See

United States v. Prows, 118 F.3d 686, 691 (10th Cir. 1997). To establish

ineffective assistance of counsel, Mr. Reyes must show his counsel’s performance

was deficient and his performance prejudiced his defense. See Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). We review de novo, as a question of law,

the issue of whether a district court complied with Federal Rule of Criminal

Procedure 11 before accepting Mr. Reyes’ guilty plea. United States v. Gomez-

Cuevas, 917 F.2d 1521, 1524 (10th Cir. 1990)

      We begin our review by noting Fed. R. Crim P. 11 requires the district

court to address Mr. Reyes personally in open court and inform him of, and

determine he understands, the minimum and maximum possible penalties provided

by law. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1). However, a violation of Rule 11(c) does

not render his plea involuntary. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(h). Instead, we apply a

harmless error analysis in determining if any variance in the Rule 11 requirement

                                         -4-
affected his substantial rights. See United States v. Wright, 930 F.2d 808, 810

(10th Cir. 1991). Under Rule 11(h), Mr. Reyes must demonstrate “knowledge of

the omission or variance from Rule 11 ‘would have changed his decision to plead

guilty.’” Wright, 930 F.2d at 810 (quoting Gomez-Cuevas, 917 F.2d at 1527.

      In this case, the district court informed Mr. Reyes as follows:

      The maximum sentence the Court can impose upon a finding of guilty
      and a conviction on Counts one, two, three, four and five of the
      Indictment is as follows:

            Count one.... [N]ot more than 20 years imprisonment....

            Count two.... [N]ot more than 20 years imprisonment....

            Count three.... [N]ot more than 20 years imprisonment....

            Count four.... [N]ot more than 20 years imprisonment....

            Count five. Under 21 U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1), not more than
      40 years imprisonment, but not less than five years....

(Emphasis added). Because the district court began this colloquy by using the

term “maximum sentence,” Mr. Reyes claims he thought the five- to forty-year

term accounted for only the mandatory maximum sentence, and therefore, the

mandatory minimum would be less than the five years mentioned.

      We begin by noting the district court correctly recited the maximum and

minimum mandatory sentence for 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) as “not more than 40

                                        -5-
years imprisonment, but not less than five years.” However, even if we find the

district court’s precursory use of “maximum sentence” without specific reference

to the minimum mandatory sentence, is inconsistent with Rule 11, the error is

harmless. Both Mr. Reyes’ plea petition and plea agreement stated the term of

sentence for Count 5 was “not more than 40 years imprisonment, but not less than

five years.” In his plea petition, he also verified he understood his plea of guilty

may subject him to a minimum sentence. He further verbally acknowledged to the

district court in open court that his counsel fully reviewed these documents with

him and he understood their contents.

      Additionally, in his plea petition, Mr. Reyes verified he knew his sentence

would be within the sentencing guideline range. Mr. Reyes’ attorney stated, both

in certified documentation and at the plea hearing, he advised Mr. Reyes of the

possible guideline ranges, which ran between total offense levels of 31 and 34.

During the plea hearing, the district court inquired whether Mr. Reyes understood

the sentencing guidelines, and the requirement that, unless he departed from them,

he must impose a sentence within the guideline ranges. Mr. Reyes answered

affirmatively. The district court eventually sentenced Mr. Reyes at the offense

level of 31 which, under the sentencing guidelines, includes a term of

imprisonment ranging between 188 to 235 months in prison. Thus, Mr. Reyes

                                          -6-
knew, prior to his plea hearing and at the hearing, that his punishment would be

determined in accordance with the sentencing guidelines, under which the lowest

sentence would be 188 months or the equivalent of over fifteen years. Because

fifteen years is greater than the five-year statutory minimum sentence, we find the

district court’s omission in clarifying the minimum mandatory sentence had no

actual impact on his sentence. Thus, under the circumstances presented, we

believe the omission could not have had a significant influence on his decision to

plead guilty. See United States v. Barry, 895 F.2d 702, 704 (10th Cir.), cert.

denied, 496 U.S. 939 (1990). Moreover, Mr. Reyes has failed to show, under

these facts, how the district court’s omission affected his guilty plea. 1 For these

reasons, we hold any omission by the district court constituted harmless error, and

any deficiency of performance by his counsel on this issue did not prejudice Mr.

Reyes.

       We also reject Mr. Reyes’ contention his counsel and the district court

failed to inform him he could not withdraw his plea if the court did not accept the

government’s sentencing recommendation. In his plea petition and his plea

       1
          Similarly, nothing in the record or in Mr. Reyes’ summary allegations establishes
his attorney acted in “bad faith” because he somehow allegedly knew, but did not share
with Mr. Reyes, his knowledge of the five-year minimum sentence.

                                            -7-
agreement, Mr. Reyes five times verified his understanding that sentencing is a

matter left exclusively in the province of the court. His attorney also certified he

advised Mr. Reyes of the same. In addition, in his plea agreement, Mr. Reyes

verified he knew the government’s recommendations would not be binding on the

court, and if the court sentenced him to the maximum sentence, he could not, for

that reason alone, withdraw his guilty plea. Thereafter, the court asked, and Mr.

Reyes and his attorney both affirmatively answered, that his attorney reviewed

with Mr. Reyes in detail the terms and condition of the plea agreement. Mr.

Reyes also acknowledged he knew if he pled guilty he gave up all defenses, the

right to challenge the charges against him, and the claim of not guilty. His

attorney also informed the court he explained to Mr. Reyes the plea agreement

was not binding on the court and it had the ultimate decision of the sentence

imposed under the guidelines. Under these circumstances, we find Mr. Reyes was

fully aware of the court’s discretion not to accept the government’s recommended

sentence and his inability to later change his plea for that reason, and therefore,

no deficient performance by either the district court or counsel occurred.

      As to Mr. Reyes’ contention his attorney “failed to appoint himself with the

facts concerning [his] criminal history before advising him of the 5 years

potential sentence,” we find nothing in the record to show his attorney’s

                                          -8-
performance concerning his criminal history prejudiced Mr. Reyes. In fact, both

Mr. Reyes and his attorney acknowledged in open court that his sentence, as

determined under the sentencing guidelines, would depend on his criminal history,

as developed through the probation department. Thus, regardless of whether his

attorney knew of, or discussed with him, his criminal history, Mr. Reyes was

aware when he pled guilty that his criminal history would affect his sentence

under the sentencing guidelines.

      We also reject Mr. Reyes’ contention the district court improperly

determined he must prove his innocence to prevail on his § 2255 motion. Because

Mr. Reyes failed to present his claims on direct appeal, he must show: (1) cause

excusing his procedural default and actual prejudice resulting from the error of

which he complains; or (2) a fundamental miscarriage of justice will occur if his

claims are not addressed. See Medlock v. Ward, 200 F.3d 1314, 1323 (10th Cir.

2000). In order to show the latter, Mr. Reyes must make a colorable showing of

factual innocence. Id. He has not, and instead admits his involvement in the

crimes charged.

      Finally, we will not consider issues not raised before the district court.

Walker v. Mather (In re Walker), 959 F.2d 894, 896 (10th Cir. 1992). We thereby

                                         -9-
decline to address Mr. Reyes’ new contentions his attorney acted ineffectively by

failing to directly appeal his conviction or negotiate a plea agreement minimizing

the charges or counts against him.

      Thus, under the circumstances presented, we conclude Mr. Reyes fails to

make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right as required by

28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). For these reasons, and substantially the same reasons in

the district court’s May 4, 1999 Order, we deny Mr. Reyes’ application for a

certificate of appealability and DISMISS his appeal.

                                       Entered by the Court:

                                       WADE BRORBY
                                       United States Circuit Judge

                                        -10-