Court Opinion

ID: 46158
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 22:53:03+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:34.529806
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                Fifth Circuit
                                                             F I L E D
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT               September 21, 2006

                                                         Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                 Clerk
                           No. 06-40333
                         Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                    Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

SERGIO RIVERA-CERDA, also known as Gabriel Garza
Mejia-Cerda, also known as Sergio Hernandez-Garcia,

                                    Defendant-Appellant.

                      --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Southern District of Texas
                    USDC No. 1:01-CR-249-ALL
                      --------------------

Before DeMOSS, STEWART, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Sergio Rivera-Cerda appeals from the sentence imposed

following revocation of his term of supervised release.       Rivera-

Cerda argues that his sentence was clearly unreasonable, both in

terms of its length and the fact that it was to run consecutively

to his other sentence, because:   (1) it was unfair in light of

the relevant facts; (2) the district court failed to give due

consideration to the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), as required

by United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005); (3) the district

     *
       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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 06-40333
                                -2-

court rigidly adhered to the relevant policy statements in the

Sentencing Guidelines; (4) it was grossly disproportionate to the

crime, thereby violating the Eighth Amendment; and (5) the

Sentencing Commission and the Sentencing Guidelines violate the

separation of powers doctrine and the due process clause of the

Fifth Amendment.

     The Government has moved for dismissal of the appeal or for

summary affirmance on the ground that this court lacks

jurisdiction to consider Rivera-Cerda’s appeal under 18 U.S.C.

§ 3742(a)(4).   Because Rivera-Cerda cannot prevail on the merits

of his appeal, we pretermit consideration of the jurisdictional

issue.   See United States v. Weathersby, 958 F.2d 65, 66 (5th

Cir. 1992).   The Government’s motion for dismissal of the appeal

or for summary affirmance is therefore denied.   The Government’s

alternative request for an extension of time to file an appeal

brief is also denied as unnecessary.

     The district court properly considered the 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a) factors when imposing Rivera-Cerda’s sentence.      See

United States v. Gonzalez, 250 F.3d 923, 930 (5th Cir. 2001).

Rivera-Cerda’s sentence was neither unreasonable nor plainly

unreasonable.   See United States v. Hinson, 429 F.3d 114, 120

(5th Cir. 2005).   Moreover, his sentence was not

unconstitutionally disproportionate.   See United States v.

Sullivan, 895 F.2d 1030, 1031-32 (5th Cir. 1990).
                           No. 06-40333
                                -3-

     Rivera-Cerda’s separation of powers challenge to the

Sentencing Commission and the Sentencing Guidelines is foreclosed

under Booker. 543 U.S. at 242-43.   Moreover, this court will not

consider Rivera-Cerda’s due process argument because it was

inadequately briefed.   See United States v. Torres-Aguilar, 352
F.3d 934, 936 n.2 (5th Cir. 2003); FED. R. APP. P. 28(a)(9).

     AFFIRMED; MOTION FOR DISMISSAL OR SUMMARY AFFIRMANCE DENIED;

ALTERNATIVE REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF TIME DENIED AS UNNECESSARY.