Court Opinion

ID: 4111889
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-28 21:01:13.343506+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:46:09.363413
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                            FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                         DEC 28 2016

                                                                       MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                            FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                        No.   15-10513

              Plaintiff-Appellee,                D.C. No.
                                                 4:14-cr-00449-CKJ-JR-1
 v.

HUMBERTO JOSE CASTILLO-PENA,                     MEMORANDUM*

              Defendant-Appellant.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                        No.   15-10514

              Plaintiff-Appellee,                D.C. No.
                                                 4:14-cr-50037-CKJ-JR-1
 v.

HUMBERTO JOSE PENA-CASTILLO,
AKA Erick Rene Cardona-Lajara,

              Defendant-Appellant.

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                            for the District of Arizona
                   Cindy K. Jorgenson, District Judge, Presiding

      *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
                          Submitted December 16, 2016**
                             San Francisco, California

Before: BYBEE and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges, and KOBAYASHI,*** District
Judge.

      Humberto Jose Castillo-Pena argues on appeal that his guilty plea, admission

to violating supervised release, and waiver of a revocation hearing were made

unknowingly and involuntarily, because the magistrate judge failed to comply with

Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 11 and 32.1. We review Castillo-Pena’s

challenges, which are made for the first time on appeal, for plain error. United

States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 734 (1993); see also United States v. Carter, 795
F.3d 947, 950 (9th Cir. 2015).

      1.     Castillo-Pena argues his guilty plea was made unknowingly and

involuntarily, because the magistrate judge (A) failed to advise him of the right to

counsel, (B) incorrectly stated the maximum penalty, (C) failed to inform him of

the possibility of supervised release, and (D) failed to inform him that the

sentencing guidelines applied in his case.

      **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
      ***
              The Honorable Leslie E. Kobayashi, United States District Judge for
the District of Hawaii, sitting by designation.
                                             2
      A.     The magistrate judge informed Castillo-Pena of his right to counsel;

thus, Castillo-Pena was aware of that right. See United States v.

Jimenez-Dominguez, 296 F.3d 863, 869 (9th Cir. 2002). Even assuming the

magistrate judge did not substantially comply with Federal Rule of Criminal

Procedure 11, Castillo-Pena’s claim fails because he did not demonstrate that this

error affected his substantial rights. See id. at 867.

      B.     The magistrate judge and district judge correctly informed Castillo-

Pena of the maximum penalty for his offense, and Castillo-Pena does not allege

that he believed a different maximum penalty applied. Even assuming the

magistrate judge did not substantially comply with Federal Rule of Criminal

Procedure 11, Castillo-Pena’s claim fails because he did not demonstrate that this

error affected his substantial rights. See id.

      C.     Castillo-Pena correctly alleges the magistrate judge failed to inform

him of the possibility of supervised release; however, there was no plain error. The

record reflects Castillo-Pena was aware of the possibility of supervised release

before he was sentenced, and he did not object or attempt to change his plea.

Castillo-Pena’s claim also fails because he did not demonstrate that this error

affected his substantial rights. See id.

                                            3
      D.     Castillo-Pena correctly alleges the magistrate judge failed to inform

him of the applicability of the sentencing guidelines; however, there was no plain

error. Castillo-Pena was aware the sentencing guidelines applied to his case,

because the sentencing guidelines were clearly addressed in the presentence report

and at the sentencing hearing before the district judge. Castillo-Pena again failed to

demonstrate that this error affected his substantial rights. See id.

      2.     Castillo-Pena argues his admission to violating supervised release and

waiver of a revocation hearing were made unknowingly and involuntarily, because

the magistrate judge did not advise him of the entitlements he would receive at a

revocation hearing, as outlined in Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.1(b)(2).

      At his change of plea hearing, Castillo-Pena knowingly and voluntarily

admitted to violating supervised release. The magistrate judge specifically

informed Castillo-Pena of each right he would waive by admitting this violation;

the magistrate judge inquired into Castillo-Pena’s mental status before accepting

the admission; and the magistrate judge explained to Castillo-Pena that he had the

right to continue denying the allegation and would be entitled to an evidentiary

hearing. The magistrate judge asked Castillo-Pena twice whether he intended to

make this admission. Both times Castillo-Pena told the magistrate judge that he

wished to admit the violation. The magistrate judge also asked Castillo-Pena’s

                                            4
counsel whether he believed Castillo-Pena understood the rights he was giving up

by making the admission, and counsel answered in the affirmative. At that point,

the magistrate judge found that Castillo-Pena’s admission was made knowingly,

intelligently, and voluntarily.

      Castillo-Pena also knowingly and voluntarily waived the revocation hearing

at the time he admitted to violating supervised release. Because Castillo-Pena

waived the revocation hearing, the magistrate judge was never required to advise

Castillo-Pena of the Rule 32.1(b)(2) entitlements. Thus, the magistrate judge’s

failure to advise him of these entitlements could not have somehow made his

admission and waiver of the revocation hearing unknowing and involuntary.

      Castillo-Pena’s claim also fails because he did not demonstrate that this error

affected his substantial rights. See id.

      3.     Castillo-Pena argues his admission to violating supervised release was

taken in violation of his due process rights. He fails to explain how his due process

rights were violated and the record does not reflect his rights were violated.

      AFFIRMED.

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