Court Opinion

ID: 3040488
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 23:03:05.621205+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:45.697452
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                     ___________

                                     No. 05-1987
                                     ___________

United States of America,            *
                                     *
            Appellee,                *
                                     * Appeal from the United States
     v.                              * District Court for the
                                     * District of Minnesota.
Horacio Parra-Moraza, also known as *
Shady,                               * [UNPUBLISHED]
                                     *
            Appellant.               *
                                ___________

                              Submitted: May 5, 2006
                                 Filed: May 11, 2006
                                  ___________

Before WOLLMAN, MURPHY, and COLLOTON, Circuit Judges.
                         ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Horacio Parra-Moraza pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess
with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, aiding and
abetting the distribution of more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, and
aiding and abetting the distribution of more than 5 grams of actual methamphetamine,
in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A) & (B), 846, and 18 U.S.C. § 2.
Parra-Moraza appeals his sentence arguing that (1) it was error for the district court
to treat his California second-degree burglary convictions as crimes of violence which
triggered the career-offender enhancement; (2) the district court violated the principles
in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), by holding him responsible for a
drug quantity larger than that to which he had pleaded guilty; and (3) his sentence is
unreasonable.

      Because the district court treated the Guidelines as advisory, it did not commit
Booker error by making a drug-quantity finding, see Booker, 543 U.S. at 233, 244-46,
258-60, and the court’s finding was amply supported by evidence presented at the
sentencing hearing, see United States v. Allen, 440 F.3d 449, 452 (8th Cir. 2006)
(standard of review).

       We find, however, that the district court erred in concluding that Parra-
Moraza’s two second-degree burglary convictions were crimes of violence for
purposes of the career-offender Guideline. See U.S.S.G. §§ 4B1.1, 4B1.2; United
States v. Lindquist, 421 F.3d 751, 753 (8th Cir. 2005) (standard of review). Parra-
Moraza was convicted under Cal. Penal Code §§ 459 (defining burglary) and 460(b)
(defining second-degree burglary) (2006), which criminalize the breaking into and
entering of such things as sealed cargo containers and vehicles. We therefore look to
the charging papers introduced at sentencing. These papers alleged that Parra-Moraza
had entered another person’s locked vehicle to commit theft, which we have held does
not involve a substantial risk of physical injury to another. See United States v.
Livingston, 442 F.3d 1082, 1084-87 (8th Cir. 2006) (where burglary statute
criminalizes various types of conduct, court looks at charging papers to decide
whether burglary was violent felony within meaning of “otherwise involves”
provision of Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA)1; breaking and entering vehicle

      1
       Under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii) the definition of “violent felony” includes
any felony that is “burglary, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or
otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to
another.” Under the career-offender Guideline, a “crime of violence” similarly
includes any crime that is “burglary of a dwelling, arson, or extortion, involves use of
explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of
physical injury to another.” See U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(a)(2). The parties agree that Parra-
Moraza’s offense does not constitute generic burglary.

                                          -2-
charged in indictment is not violent felony); United States v. Abernathy, 277 F.3d
1048, 1051 (8th Cir.) (noting ACCA and Guidelines define crime of violence and
violent felony in identical terms), cert. denied, 535 U.S. 1089 (2002); cf. Sareang Ye
v. INS, 214 F.3d 1128, 1133-34 (9th Cir. 2000) (California conviction for entering
locked vehicle with intent to steal was not “crime of violence” under 18 U.S.C. § 16,
because it was not offense that by its nature, involved substantial risk that physical
force against person or property of another might be used in committing offense).

      Accordingly, we remand for resentencing consistent with this opinion, and thus
we do not address Parra-Moraza’s final argument that his sentence was unreasonable.
                       ______________________________

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