Court Opinion

ID: 169230
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 17:14:32+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:25:00.907290
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                               United States Court of Appeals
                                                                       Tenth Circuit
                      UNITED STATES CO URT O F APPEALS
                                                                       May 17, 2007
                                   TENTH CIRCUIT                   Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                       Clerk of Court

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

          Plaintiff – Appellee,
                                                        No. 06-2362
 v.
                                                 (D.C. No. CR -06-1026-JP)
                                                         (D . N.M .)
 LO RENZO LU GO-BA LD ERAS,

          Defendant – Appellant.

                             OR DER AND JUDGM ENT *

Before L UC ER O, HA RTZ, and GORSUCH, Circuit Judges.

      Lorenzo Lugo-Balderas appeals his sentence for illegal reentry after

deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(2). W e AFFIRM

Lugo-Balderas’ sentence and DISM ISS the appeal.

                                         I

      On November 11, 2005, agents from the Bureau of Immigration and

Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) encountered Lugo-Balderas while he was in a

county detention center in Albuquerque, New M exico on a misdemeanor w arrant.

      *
        The case is unanimously ordered submitted without oral argument
pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). 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judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case,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.
Lugo-Balderas was previously convicted of felony sexual misconduct with a

minor and was deported to M exico. He is a M exican citizen and did not have

permission to reenter the United States. On February 15, 2006, Lugo-Balderas

pled guilty to the state misdemeanor and was released into ICE custody the next

day. 1 On September 1, 2006, he pled guilty to illegal reentry after deportation in

violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(2). The indictment stated that he

had been found in the United States on February 16, 2006, the day that he entered

IC E custody.

      Lugo-Balderas’ amended Presentence Report (“PSR”) correctly calculated

an offense level of 21 and a criminal history category of V. Under the

Guidelines, he received a base offense level of eight for illegal reentry and a 16-

level enhancement for a prior conviction of a crime of violence. U.S.S.G. §

2L1.2(a), (b)(1)(A). He received a three-level reduction for acceptance of

responsibility. § 3E1.1. In addition to his conviction for sexual misconduct with

a minor, Lugo-Balderas’ criminal history includes misdemeanors for driving

under the influence of alcohol, resisting law enforcement, and battery. His

criminal history totaled 12 points, placing him in criminal history category V. §

5A. An offense level of 21 combined with a criminal history category of V

resulted in an advisory Guidelines range of 70 to 87 months’ imprisonment.

      1
       Lugo-Balderas was sentenced to 182 days in jail w ith 61 days suspended.
This sentence equaled time served.

                                        -2-
Lugo-Balderas was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment. He now appeals that

sentence.

                                          II

      W e review a sentence for reasonableness. United States v. Kristl, 437 F.3d

1050, 1053 (10th Cir. 2006). A sentence that falls within a properly calculated

Guidelines range is presumptively reasonable. Id. at 1055. Legal determinations

made by the district court are reviewed de novo and factual findings are reviewed

for clear error. United States v. Serrata, 425 F.3d 886, 906 (10th Cir. 2005).

      Lugo-B alderas admits that his criminal history calculation was correct. H e

claims the sentence is unreasonable because the PSR overstated his criminal

history in two ways. First, because Lugo-Balderas technically was found in the

U nited States one day after his release from state custody, he received two

criminal history points for reentry less than two years after release for

imprisonment on a sentence. Second, he argues that the district court failed

adequately to consider his troubled childhood and problems with alcohol.

      Lugo-Balderas has done nothing to overcome the presumption of

reasonableness afforded his sentence. Kristl, 437 F.3d at 1055. Even without that

presumption, we conclude that a 70-month sentence is reasonable under the

circumstances. Even if his criminal history were reduced by two points, Lugo-

Balderas would still receive a criminal history category of V. During the

sentencing hearing, the district court took notice of his troubled past. Finally,

                                         -3-
Lugo-Balderas requested a reduced criminal history category of IV, with a

sentencing range of 57 to 71 months, and his 70-month sentence falls within that

range.

                                         III

         W e A FFIR M the district court’s sentence and DISM ISS the appeal.

                                        ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                        Carlos F. Lucero
                                        Circuit Judge

                                         -4-