Court Opinion

ID: 29735
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:44:03+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:59.406310
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                            No. 02-20429
                        Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                         Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

JOSE SANTOS RIVERA-ECHAVARRIA,

                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                        --------------------
            Appeal from the United States District Court
                 for the Southern District of Texas
                      USDC No. H-01-CR-897-ALL
                        --------------------
                          December 12, 2002

Before JOLLY, JONES, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Jose Santos Rivera-Echavarria appeals his guilty plea

conviction and sentence for being found in the United States

after deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326.     Rivera-

Echavarria argues that the sentencing provisions in 8 U.S.C.

§ 1326(b) are unconstitutional on their face and as applied in

his case.   He contends that the unconstitutional portions of

8 U.S.C. § 1326 should be severed from the statute.     He asks us

     *
       Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
                            No. 02-20429
                                 -2-

to vacate his conviction and sentence, reform the judgment to

reflect a conviction only under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), and remand

his case for resentencing under that provision.

       In Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235

(1998), the Supreme Court held that the enhanced penalties in

8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are sentencing provisions, not elements of

separate offenses.    The Court further held that the sentencing

provisions do not violate the Due Process Clause.     Id. at 239-47.

Rivera-Echavarria acknowledges that his argument is foreclosed by

Almendarez-Torres, but asserts that the decision has been called

into doubt by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 489-90

(2000).    He seeks to preserve his argument for further review.

       Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres.   See Apprendi,

530 U.S. at 489-90; United States v. Dabeit, 231 F.3d 979, 984

(5th Cir. 2000).    This court must follow Almendarez-Torres

“unless and until the Supreme Court itself determines to overrule

it.”    Id. at 984 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

       The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of

filing an appellee’s brief.    The Government asks that an

appellee’s brief not be required.    The motion is GRANTED.

       AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.