Court Opinion

ID: 4521379
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-01 16:00:38.619813+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:15.053787
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                             United States Court of Appeals
                                                                     Tenth Circuit

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                April 1, 2020
                                                                Christopher M. Wolpert
                                   TENTH CIRCUIT                    Clerk of Court

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

          Plaintiff - Appellee,

 v.                                                      No. 19-5093
                                              (D.C. No. 4:19-CR-00064-GKF-1)
 JOSE JESUS PARRA-LOPEZ, a/k/a                           (N.D. Okla.)
 Arturo Arceo Parra, a/k/a Jose Jesus
 Parra Lopez, a/k/a Jose Jesus Parra,
 a/k/a Jose Jesus Pavra, a/k/a Jesus
 Parra, a/k/a Jesus Parra-Lopez,

          Defendant - Appellant.

                             ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before PHILLIPS, MURPHY, and McHUGH, Circuit Judges.

      After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in 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        This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the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.
      Jose Jesus Parra-Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a

removed alien, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b)(1). The district court

sentenced Parra-Lopez to a sixty-three month term of imprisonment. Upon Parra-

Lopez’s request, counsel filed a notice of appeal. Counsel has, however, filed in

this court a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting

she could find no meritorious basis for appeal and moving to withdraw as

counsel. For those reasons set out below, this court grants counsel’s motion to

withdraw and dismisses this appeal.

      Parra-Lopez was charged by indictment in the United States District Court

for the Northern District of Oklahoma with unlawful reentry. 8 U.S.C. § 1326. 1

Aided by an interpreter, he waived his trial rights and entered an unconditional

      1
        Parra-Lopez is a citizen and national of Mexico with a lengthy history of
immigration violations. He illegally entered the United States in 1994 and was
granted voluntary removal in 1997. He reentered the United States in 1998 and
was ordered removed in 2002. Parra-Lopez continued to illegally return to the
United States and was removed in both March and May of 2006. In November
2006, he was convicted of Felony Fleeing to Elude in Florida and was sentenced
to forty-two months’ imprisonment. Upon release from prison, he was removed in
2009. Parra-Lopez reentered the United States in October 2010 without
permission; he was removed in August 2013, after being convicted of being an
Alien in the United States After Deportation. He illegally reentered the United
States in June 2014; he was removed in July 2016 after being convicted of illegal
reentry. Parra-Lopez again returned in August 2018. On January 29, 2019, he
was arrested in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol; he
was convicted of a misdemeanor.

                                        -2-
guilty plea to the illegal-reentry charge. 2 A United States Probation Officer

prepared a Presentence Investigation Report (“PSR”) utilizing the 2018 version of

the United States Sentencing Guidelines. The PSR concluded Parra-Lopez’s total

offense level was seventeen. 3 The PSR further concluded Parra-Lopez had

thirteen criminal history points, resulting in a criminal history category of VI.

U.S.S.G. ch.5 pt. A (Sentencing Table). A total offense level of seventeen,

      2
        During the pretrial hearing in which Parra-Lopez indicated an intention to
enter a guilty plea, he expressed reservations about his court-appointed attorney.
Those reservations centered around Parra-Lopez’s concern that counsel’s early
estimations of the likely advisory guidelines range was significantly longer than
previous illegal-reentry sentences imposed upon him. Ultimately, however, after
significant on-the-record discussions, Parra-Lopez withdrew his request for the
appointment of replacement counsel and elected to proceed with a guilty plea.
This sentencing-guidelines matter was also extensively discussed at the change of
plea hearing. Parra-Lopez again expressed surprise that his estimated total
offense level was significantly greater than in prior illegal-reentry convictions.
Defense counsel, the district court, and the probation officer discussed the matter
in open court, noting the likelihood of a more severe sentence appeared to be
occasioned by changes to the relevant guidelines and Parra-Lopez’s increased
criminal history. At the conclusion of the extensive hearing, Parra-Lopez entered
a guilty plea.
      3
        The base offense level for a violation of § 1326(a) is eight. U.S.S.G.
§ 2Ll.2. Four offense levels were added because Parra-Lopez committed the
instant offense after previously being convicted of a felony illegal-reentry
offense. Id. § 2L1.2(b)(1). An additional eight offense levels were added
because after Parra-Lopez was ordered removed from the United States for the
first time, he returned to the United States and engaged in criminal conduct that
resulted in a felony conviction for which the sentence imposed was at least two
years. Id. § 2Ll.2(b)(3)(B); see also supra n.1 (describing Parra-Lopez’s Florida
felony-eluding conviction). Three offense levels were subtracted because of
Parra-Lopez’s acceptance of responsibility, id. § 3E1.1(a), (b), resulting in a total
offense level of seventeen.

                                         -3-
coupled with a criminal history category of VI, resulted in an advisory sentencing

range of fifty-one to sixty-three months’ imprisonment.

      Following issuance of the PSR, defense counsel filed a motion for a

downward variance. The motion argued Parra-Lopez’s “entire criminal history is

a series of DUIs and illegal reentry cases,” and explained that the illegal reentry

convictions resulted from his desire “to live with his family and work to support

them in a safer environment with greater opportunity.” As to the DUI

convictions, the motion asserted they could be explained, though not minimized,

by cultural norms and health considerations relating to Parra-Lopez’s experiences

as a youth in a part of rural Mexico without safe drinking water. Notably, this

motion made clear that Parra-Lopez did not have any objections to any aspect of

the PSR. For its part, the government moved the district court to “vary upward to

an adjusted base offense level of 22 and impose a sentence of 105 months of

imprisonment.” According to the government, Parra-Lopez’s “unrepentant

recidivism in illegally re-entering, his extensive history of committing

alcohol-related crimes, and his demonstrated propensity to continue doing both,

all justify an upward variance as proper § 3553(a) factors.”

      Shortly before the scheduled sentencing hearing, Parra-Lopez’s counsel

filed a motion to withdraw. Counsel represented that he and Parra-Lopez were no

longer able to communicate effectively and asserted it was in Parra-Lopez’s “best

                                         -4-
interest to have alternate counsel appointed to represent him.” The district court

then took the matter up at the scheduled sentencing hearing. As was the case at

the hearings regarding Parra-Lopez’s intent to enter a guilty plea, see supra n.2,

the asserted breakdown in communications centered around Parra-Lopez’s

perception that the advisory guidelines range was unduly harsh when compared to

the previous sentences he received for illegally reentering the United States. The

district court granted counsel’s motion to withdraw, appointed alternate counsel,

and continued the sentencing hearing for two months to allow alternate counsel

“to file whatever that attorney believes [was] in [Parra-Lopez’s] best interest.”

      Alternate counsel filed a sentencing memorandum responding to the

government’s request for an upward variance and offering additional

justifications for a downward variant sentence. The sentencing memorandum

asserted Parra-Lopez’s criminal history category of VI overstated his criminal

history because it was based in part on a felony conviction for driving under a

suspended license. The memorandum noted that in only six states, none of which

are in the Tenth Circuit, could such a conviction amount to a felony. Alternate

counsel’s sentencing memorandum also argued that some of Parra-Lopez’s

convictions that factored into his criminal history category of VI also served to

drastically increase his total offense level. The sentencing memorandum

“implore[d] the [district] court to consider that both the offense level and the

                                         -5-
criminal history is enhanced by the same factors when considering sentencing.”

Importantly, however, the sentencing memorandum made clear Parra-Lopez did

not object to the accuracy of the PSR or to its determination that Parra-Lopez’s

advisory sentencing range was fifty-one to sixty-three months’ imprisonment.

      At the sentencing hearing, the district court heard statements from counsel,

Parra-Lopez, and the government. Thereafter, the district court accurately

summarized the parties’ sentencing-related arguments as set forth in their various

filings. The district court concluded, based on the parties’ oral and written

arguments, that no factors existed separating Parra-Lopez from the heartland of

similarly-situated defendants so as to justify either an upward or downward

variance. Having concluded a sentence within the advisory sentencing range was

appropriate, the district court sentenced Parra-Lopez as follows:

             The court recognizes that the United States Sentencing
      Guidelines are advisory and are not mandatory but has considered the
      sentencing guidelines, along with all of the factors set forth in Title
      18 United States Code section 3553(a), to reach an appropriate and
      reasonable sentence in this case. In determining a sentence, this
      court has considered the nature of the offense and the defendant’s
      criminal history and his personal characteristics.

             This case involved the defendant returning to the United States
      after being ordered removed on six prior occasions. The defendant
      also has one voluntary departure preceding the aforementioned
      removals. The defendant is a 41-year-old father of three children.
      His criminal history is serious and includes six prior convictions for
      driving under the influence and a conviction for public intoxication.
      The instant offense is his third federal felony immigration
      conviction.

                                         -6-
            Based on these factors, a sentence at the high end of the
      advisory guideline range will serve as an adequate deterrent to this
      defendant, as well as others, promote respect for the law, provide just
      punishment for the offense, and provide protection for the public.

             Pursuant to sentencing guideline Section 5D1.1, comment at
      note 5, the court finds that a term of supervised release is warranted
      in order to provide an added measure of deterrence and protection
      based upon the defendant’s history of habitual re-entries and the
      serious nature of the defendant’s history of repeated instances of
      driving under the influence of alcohol. Sentencing disparities among
      defendants were considered in determining an appropriate sentence in
      this case. And restitution is not a factor.

            Mr. Parra-Lopez, if you’ll please rise. In accordance with
      applicable law, this court hereby imposes the following sentence:

            It is the order and judgment of this court that the defendant,
      Jose Jesus Parra-Lopez, is hereby committed to the custody of the
      Bureau of Prisons to be imprisoned for a term of 63 months. . . .

      This appeal is before the court on counsel’s Anders brief. Pursuant to

Anders, counsel may “request permission to withdraw where counsel

conscientiously examines a case and determines that any appeal would be wholly

frivolous.” United States v. Calderon, 428 F.3d 928, 930 (10th Cir. 2005).

Counsel is required to submit an appellate brief “indicating any potential

appealable issues based on the record.” Id. Once notified of counsel’s brief, the

defendant may then submit additional arguments to this court. Id. We “must then

conduct a full examination of the record to determine whether defendant’s claims

are wholly frivolous.” Id. Parra-Lopez filed a brief in response to his counsel’s

                                        -7-
Anders brief. 4 The government declined to file a brief. Thus, our resolution of

the case is based on counsel’s Anders brief, Parra-Lopez’s response, and this

court’s independent review of the record. That independent review demonstrates

any potential issue that would be raised on appeal is wholly frivolous.

      Counsel asserts she has conscientiously reviewed the record in this case and

cannot assert a non-frivolous basis to challenge either the validity of Parra-

Lopez’s guilty plea or the propriety of his sentence. Counsel claims the district

court did not fully comply with the dictates of Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(M) in

accepting Parra-Lopez’s guilty plea. This rule requires district courts, before

accepting a guilty plea, to make sure a defendant understands the following: “in

determining a sentence, the court’s obligation to calculate the applicable

sentencing-guideline range, and to consider that range, possible departures under

the Sentencing Guidelines, and other sentencing factors under 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a).”

      It is far from clear counsel is correct in asserting the district court did not

comply with Rule 11(b)(1)(M). The district court did discuss at length the

      4
        This court notes for the record that Parra-Lopez’s response brief was filed
in Spanish. This court has, however, obtained an English translation of the
response. In her motion to withdraw, counsel attested that she sent two letters to
Parra-Lopez fully explaining the substance of her Anders brief, Parra-Lopez’s
right to respond, and the possibility the Anders brief could result in dismissal of
the appeal. See Tenth Cir. R. 46.4(b)(1).

                                         -8-
importance of the sentencing guidelines. See supra n.2. The district court also

informed Parra-Lopez his sentence would “be determined by a combination of the

advisory sentencing guidelines, possible departures from the sentencing

guidelines, and other statutory sentencing factors.” The district court then asked

Parra-Lopez whether he had talked to counsel “about how the sentencing

guidelines might apply in your case?” Parra-Lopez responded to this question in

the affirmative. This court ultimately need not resolve whether this aspect of the

plea colloquy complies with Rule 11(b)(1)(M), however, because Parra-Lopez is

not entitled to relief in any event.

      Because Parra-Lopez did not object to this asserted error, he is only entitled

to relief if he carries the heavy burden of demonstrating plain error. 5 In this

context, an appellant's substantial rights are affected only if he can “show a

reasonable probability that, but for the error, he would not have entered the plea.”

United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83 (2004). As counsel correctly

notes, there is absolutely no indication in the record that Parra-Lopez would have

abandoned his guilty plea and gone to trial if the district court had more fully

      5
        “This court reviews alleged violations of Rule 11(b) that were not objected
to in the district court under the exacting plain error standard.” United States v.
Carillo, 860 F.3d 1293, 1300 (10th Cir. 2017). “To satisfy the plain error
standard, an appellant must show (1) an error; (2) the error is plain or obvious; (3)
the error affects the appellant’s substantial rights (i.e., the error was prejudicial
and affected the outcome of the proceedings); and (4) the error seriously affects
the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id.

                                          -9-
discussed the relevance of guidelines departures and the § 3553(a) factors during

the plea colloquy. Instead, the record refutes this possibility. Parra-Lopez

entered his guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement. Even when initial

estimates indicated an advisory guidelines range substantially higher than he

expected, Parra-Lopez maintained his determination to plead guilty. And, even on

appeal, Parra-Lopez does not indicate a desire to withdraw his guilty plea. Thus,

on the record before this court, counsel is correct that any argument the district

court’s failure to fully comply with Rule 11(b)(1)(M) affected Parra-Lopez’s

substantial rights would be frivolous. 6

      Counsel is likewise correct in recognizing there exists no non-frivolous

basis for arguing that Parra-Lopez’s sentence is procedurally unreasonable.

      6
        Likewise, it cannot be reasonably argued that Parra-Lopez’s guilty plea
was not knowingly, and voluntarily entered. Through an interpreter, Parra-Lopez
confirmed he was not under the influence of medication or alcohol and had no
medical history of mental illness. Parra-Lopez was informed of all of his trial
rights and attested to his understanding that he would give up those rights if he
pleaded guilty. The district court went through the range of punishment and fines
with Parra-Lopez. The parties discussed at length the particular guidelines
sentencing factors which could drastically increase Parra-Lopez’s advisory
guidelines range. The district court walked through all elements of the charged
crime and Parra-Lopez confirmed he “returned illegally to the United States.”
Finally, the district court found, as a matter of fact, that Parra-Lopez was “fully
competent and . . . capable of entering an informed plea, that he [was] aware of
the nature of the charge and the consequences of his plea, and that his plea of
guilty [was] a knowing and voluntary plea.” Additionally, the district court
concluded Parra-Lopez’s guilty plea was “supported by an independent basis in
fact containing each of the essential elements of the offense.”

                                           -10-
Procedural reasonableness encompasses “whether the district court incorrectly

calculated or failed to calculate the Guidelines sentence, treated the Guidelines as

mandatory, failed to consider the § 3553(a) factors, relied on clearly erroneous

facts, or failed to adequately explain the sentence.” United States v. Huckins, 529
F.3d 1312, 1317 (10th Cir. 2008). This court’s independent examination of the

record demonstrates absolutely no reason to doubt the district court correctly

calculated the advisory guidelines range 7 or considered the appropriate § 3553(a)

factors and, as recited above, the district court thoroughly explained its

sentencing decision. In arriving at that sentence, the court took into account the

guideline calculations in the PSR and addressed the parties’ respective motions

for upward and downward variances.

      7
        To the extent Parra-Lopez’s response to counsel’s Anders brief could be
read as an attack on the accuracy of the advisory guidelines range set out in the
PSR, any such argument is frivolous. Furthermore, his bare assertion,
unsupported by any reference to the record or any supporting materials, that the
recitation of his history of removals set out in the PSR is inaccurate necessarily
fails to show error, let alone clear error, on the part of the district court in
formulating his sentence. Finally, to the extent Parra-Lopez’s response could be
read to assert the district court erred in failing to vary downward because the
illegal-reentry guideline is, as a categorical matter, unduly harsh, that argument is
also frivolous. United States v. Wilken, 498 F.3d 1160, 1172 (10th Cir. 2007)
(holding that a sentence is not unreasonable merely because a district court
refuses “to deviate from the advisory guidelines range based on disagreements
with the policies underlying a particular Guideline provision” (quotation
omitted)).

                                        -11-
      Nor could it be reasonably argued that the sentence imposed by the district

court is substantively unreasonable. On substantive reasonableness review, a

sentence within or below the applicable guideline range is presumed reasonable.

United States v. Balbin-Mesa, 643 F.3d 783, 788 (10th Cir. 2011). To rebut the

presumption, a defendant must demonstrate the sentence is unreasonable in light

of the sentencing factors in § 3553(a). United States v. Kristl, 437 F.3d 1050,

1055 (10th Cir. 2006). Parra-Lopez has not carried that burden. The length of his

sentence is driven by his unrelenting recidivism, both with respect to illegally

reentering the United States and as to his driving while intoxicated. In light of

that history, the district court’s decision that a within-guidelines sentence was

necessary to satisfy the sentencing factors set out in § 3553(a) is eminently

reasonable. See United States v. Sayad, 589 F.3d 1110, 1116 (10th Cir. 2009)

(“[A] district court’s sentence is substantially unreasonable only if it is arbitrary,

capricious, whimsical, or manifestly unreasonable.” (quotation omitted)).

      Pursuant to the Anders mandate, this court has undertaken an independent

review of the entire record in this case. Our review demonstrates that the

potential issue raised in counsel’s Anders brief and the sentencing complaints

raised in Parra-Lopez’s response are undeniably frivolous. Likewise, this court’s

review of the entire record reveals no other potentially meritorious issues.

                                          -12-
Accordingly, we GRANT counsel’s motion to withdraw and DISMISS this

appeal.

                                    ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                    Michael R. Murphy
                                    Circuit Judge

                                  -13-