Court Opinion

ID: 9908439
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-08 19:00:51.338051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:12.036139
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-50375         Document: 00516994858             Page: 1      Date Filed: 12/08/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                      ____________
                                                                                United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Fifth Circuit
                                       No. 23-50375
                                     Summary Calendar                                  FILED
                                     ____________                               December 8, 2023
                                                                                  Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                           Clerk

                                                                       Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                             versus

   Jesus Barron-Bautista,

                                               Defendant—Appellant.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                           for the Western District of Texas
                               USDC No. 2:22-CR-788-1
                      ______________________________

   Before Willett, Duncan, and Wilson, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Jesus Barron-Bautista appeals the sentence imposed following his
   conviction for illegal reentry into the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C.
   § 1326(a). He contends for the first time on appeal that the sentencing
   enhancement in § 1326(b) is unconstitutional because it permits a sentence
   above the otherwise applicable statutory maximum established by § 1326(a)

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-50375     Document: 00516994858          Page: 2   Date Filed: 12/08/2023

                                   No. 23-50375

   based on facts that are neither alleged in the indictment nor found by a jury
   beyond a reasonable doubt. Barron-Bautista filed an unopposed motion for
   summary disposition, acknowledging that the Supreme Court rejected this
   argument in Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998), and
   explaining that he seeks only to preserve it for possible Supreme Court
   review.
          We have held that subsequent Supreme Court decisions, including
   Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. 99 (2013), and Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530
   U.S. 466 (2000), have not overruled Almendarez-Torres. See United States v.
   Pervis, 937 F.3d 546, 553–54 (5th Cir. 2019). Because Almendarez-Torres
   forecloses Barron-Bautista’s argument, summary disposition is appropriate.
   See Groendyke Transp. Inc. v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969).
   Accordingly, Barron-Bautista’s motion is GRANTED, and the district
   court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.

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