Court Opinion

ID: 64349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 05:12:54+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:29.516074
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                   FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
                                                  Fifth Circuit

                                                                    FILED
                                                                 December 10, 2008
                                No. 08-10430
                             Conference Calendar             Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                     Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                            Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

OSCAR LUIS DELGADO

                                            Defendant-Appellant

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Northern District of Texas
                           USDC No. 4:07-CR-135-2

Before DAVIS, WIENER, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
      Oscar Luis Delgado appeals the 168-month sentence imposed following his
jury conviction for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a
mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
He contends that the district court erred when it enhanced his sentence
pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.2 because the Government failed to present any
evidence that he recklessly created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or
death to an identifiable person during the course of his flight from law

      *
      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should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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. 08-10430

enforcement officers. Specifically, Delgado argues that the vehicular chase
alone, absent some aggravating factor, was insufficient to support the reckless
endangerment enhancement. The Government has filed a motion for summary
affirmance or, alternatively, for an extension of time in which to file a brief on
the merits.
      The district court’s factual finding that Delgado recklessly created a
substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to others during his flight from
law enforcement officers is plausible in light of the record as a whole. The
applicability of § 3C1.2 is not limited “to situations resulting in actual harm or
manifesting extremely dangerous conduct by a defendant.” United States v.
Jimenez, 323 F.3d 320, 323 (5th Cir. 2003). Further, § 3C1.2 does not require
that other vehicles actually ended up in harm’s way. Id. at 324. By leading
officers on an eight-mile high speed chase at night along Interstate 35 through
downtown Fort Worth, Texas, Delgado recklessly disregarded the safety of
persons who might have been present along the chase route, as well as the
officers involved in the chase. See id. Therefore, Delgado has not shown clear
error. See id.
      Accordingly,   the   district   court’s   judgment   is   AFFIRMED,      the
Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, and the
Government’s motion for an extension of time is DENIED.

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