Court Opinion

ID: 7078563
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 08:50:22.460215+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:12:52.336040
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM2
Jose Luis Alexander appeals his 70-month sentence imposed following conviction by guilty plea to a single count of being found in the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S .C. § 3742(a). Because Alexander did not object to the use of his prior aggravated felony to enhance his sentence, we review for plain error, United States v. Pacheco-Zepeda, No. 99-50720, 2000 WL 33156290, at *3 (9th Cir. Dec. 6, 2000), and affirm.
Alexander contends that the district court erred by sentencing him pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2). Specifically, he argues that Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), requires that the fact of his prior conviction for an aggravated felony be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. We disagree.
The plain language of Apprendi excludes from its holding prior convictions, thereby preserving the specific holding of Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), that subsection (b)(2) constitutes a sentence enhancement and not a separate offense. Pacheco-Zepeda, at *4. The district court, therefore, properly sentenced Alexander pursuant to subsection (b)(2). Id. at *5.
AFFIRMED.

. This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.