Court Opinion

ID: 145450
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-05-03 22:11:56+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:16.998247
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                            United States Court of Appeals
                                                                    Tenth Circuit

                                                                    May 3, 2010
                                                                Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                    Clerk of Court
                                 TENTH CIRCUIT

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

               Plaintiff-Appellee,                       No. 09-1437
          v.                                               (D. Colo.)
 OMAR RASCON-OTERO,                           (D.C. No. 1:08-CR-00527-MSK-1)

               Defendant-Appellant.

                           ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before HENRY, PORFILIO and BRORBY, 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.

      After Omar Rascon-Otero pleaded guilty to a controlled substance

violation, the district court sentenced him to the statutory minimum sentence of

120 months’ imprisonment. Although Mr. Rascon-Otero appeals his conviction

      *
        This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the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.
and sentence, his attorney has filed an Anders brief and moved for permission to

withdraw as counsel. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967). For

the reasons set forth hereafter, we grant counsel's motion to withdraw and dismiss

this appeal. Id.

                               I. BACKGROUND

      Omar Rascon-Otero pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess

with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of a mixture or substance

containing cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(ii) and § 846.

He also admitted that he should forfeit all property and proceeds used to commit

or facilitate the controlled substance violation. See 21 U.S.C. § 853(a)(1).

      During the change of plea hearing, the district court judge explained,

through an interpreter, that Mr. Rascon-Otero’s conviction would carry with it a

statutory minimum sentence of 120 months’ imprisonment. The government

stated that it would be willing to make a recommendation for a generous

downward departure under section 5K of United States Sentencing Guidelines, as

it believed Mr. Rascon-Otero had “information that he could share” regarding his

drug conviction and any related conspiracy. Rec. vol. 2, at 29. However, the

government and Mr. Rascon-Otero’s counsel agreed and understood that Mr.

Rascon-Otero chose not to divulge the information because he believed doing so

would endanger his family.

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      The plea transcript indicates that Mr. Rascon-Otero entered his plea

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily pursuant to the requirements of Rule 11

of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. During the plea colloquy prior to the

entry of his guilty plea, the court specifically established that Mr. Rascon-Otero

was competent, that he was satisfied with his counsel, that he was pleading

without coercion, that he was aware of the charges against him and the range of

punishment, and that he knew what trial rights he waived by pleading guilty.

      The presentence report (PSR) calculated a base offense level of 32. The

level was increased by two levels for possession of a firearm, and reduced by

three levels for acceptance of responsibility, for a total offense level of 31. With

a criminal history category of I, the PSR recommended a guidelines imprisonment

range of 120 months to 135 months.

      During the sentencing hearing, the district court confirmed that Mr.

Rascon-Otero and counsel had adequate time to review the PSR. No party raised

a factual objection, nor was there a request for a departure or variance. The

government and Mr. Rascon-Otero’s counsel urged the court to impose the 120-

month mandatory minimum sentence. The district court considered the objectives

and the factors set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), and imposed a 120-month sentence,

followed by five years’ supervised release, with the mandatory special assessment

of $100. The court opted to impose no fine.

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      Mr. Rascon-Otero filed a pro se motion for reconsideration, which was

denied, and also filed a pro se notice of appeal.

                                 II. DISCUSSION

      Mr. Rascon-Otero’s attorney has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738, and has moved for leave to withdraw as counsel.

Anders holds that “if counsel finds [an indigent defendant’s] his case to be wholly

frivolous, after a conscientious examination of it, he should so advise the court

and request permission to withdraw.” Id. at 744. Counsel’s request to withdraw

must “be accompanied by a brief referring to anything in the record that might

arguably support the appeal,” and a copy of this brief must be served on the

client. Id.

      Mr. Rascon-Otero’s appointed counsel served his Anders brief upon Mr.

Rascon-Otero, and we afforded him an opportunity to submit arguments in

response. See id. However, Mr. Rascon-Otero has not filed a pro se brief in this

court, and the government has declined to file an answer brief. Accordingly, our

duty is to “conduct a full examination of the record to determine whether [the]

defendant’s claims are wholly frivolous.” United States v. Calderon, 428 F.3d

928, 930 (10th Cir. 2005). If they are, we may grant counsel’s motion to

withdraw and dismiss the appeal.

      Our review of the Anders brief, and of the record reveals no legitimate

bases for appeal. Our review indicates that this appeal could conceivably have

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merit only if (1) Mr. Rascon-Otero’s guilty plea was involuntary or otherwise

invalid. (2) Similarly, he might allege that because his plea was involuntary, his

resulting sentence was illegal. Counsel also suggests he might (3) challenge his

sentence on other grounds, including that he should have received a downward

departure. Finally, (4) Mr. Rascon-Otero, in a pro se filing in the district court,

suggested that his counsel was ineffective. We reject all of these claims.

      (1)&(2) The plea was valid and the resulting sentence was legal.

      A court must determine that a plea “is voluntary and did not result from

force, threats, or promises (other than promises in a plea agreement).” Fed. R.

Crim. P. 11(b)(2). We have reviewed the transcripts and are satisfied that the

district court complied with Rule 11. Mr. Rascon-Otero stated that he had not

received any promises or assurances for entering the plea, and that he fully

understood the plea agreement and the mandatory minimum and maximum

penalty he might receive for entering the plea. There is no indication that Mr.

Rascon-Otero’s plea was involuntary. After fully examining the record, we agree

with counsel that there is no basis in law or fact for either of these arguments.

      (3) Mr. Rascon-Otero’s sentence was reasonable.

      Mr. Rascon-Otero pleaded guilty to violating § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(ii) and

§ 846. The district court did not err in concluding the ten-year mandatory

minimum provision applies to Mr. Rascon-Otero. See United States v. Payton,

405 F.3d 1168, 1173 (10th Cir. 2005) (holding “there was no non-constitutional

                                          -5-
Booker error in sentencing [defendant because] . . . the district court had no

discretion under the statute to do other than impose the mandatory minimum

sentence”). Mr. Rascon-Otero does not have any non-frivolous grounds to

challenge the constitutionality of § 841(b)(1)(B). We have unequivocally held

mandatory minimum sentences are constitutional. See, e.g., United States v.

Hatch, 925 F.2d 362, 363 (10th Cir. 1991) (rejecting defendant’s argument that

mandatory minimum sentences violate the Eighth Amendment or the Due Process

Clause of the Fifth Amendment).

      Additionally, Mr. Rascon-Otero was not entitled to a downward departure.

As the Anders brief explains, Mr. Rascon-Otero might only be eligible for a

downward departure if he met the “substantial assistance” and/or “safety valve”

exceptions. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e); (f). Because Mr. Rascon-Otero was

unwilling to provide information, the government did not seek a substantial

assistance downward departure under § 3553(e). And, similarly, because Mr.

Rascon-Otero did not provide information to the court related to his offense and

the related conspiracy, he could not qualify for the safety valve exception under §

3553(f)(5).

      We note that Mr. Rascon-Otero’s pro se filings in the district court

requested a “shorter sentence” because he was a first-time offender, and because

he needed to support his young children. Rec. vol. 1, at 104. At sentencing, Mr.

Rascon-Otero’s counsel urged the district court to sentence at the low end of the

                                         -6-
guideline range (which the district court did). The district court sentenced Mr.

Rascon-Otero to 120 months, the statutory minimum, which is not susceptible to

the district court’s discretionary reduction. See Payton, 405 F.3d at 1173. Thus,

Mr. Rascon-Otero can raise no meritorious challenge to his sentence for our

review.

      (4) Mr. Rascon-Otero’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim should
      be brought in a collateral proceeding.

       In his pro se filing, Mr. Rascon-Otero also suggested that his counsel was

ineffective. See Rec. vol. 1, at 106. Generally, “[i]neffective assistance of

counsel claims should be brought in collateral proceedings, not on direct appeal.”

United States v. Galloway, 56 F.3d 1239, 1240 (10th Cir. 1995). As a result, we

decline to consider Mr. Rascon-Otero’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim on

direct appeal. See Massaro v. United States, 538 U.S. 500, 504 (2003) (holding

“in most cases a motion brought under [28 U.S.C.] § 2255 is preferable to direct

appeal for deciding claims of ineffective assistance”).

                               III. CONCLUSION

      After our review of the record, we agree with Ms. Rascon-Otero’s lawyer

that there is no colorable basis for appeal. Accordingly, we GRANT counsel’s

motion to withdraw and DISMISS this appeal.

.                               Entered for the Court,

                                Robert H. Henry, Circuit Judge

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