Court Opinion

ID: 67848
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 06:26:17+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:25.721984
License: Public Domain

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

                                                FILED
                                                                 August 18, 2009
                                 No. 08-41071
                              Conference Calendar             Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                      Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                            Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

CELESTINO RIVERA-CASTANEDA,

                                            Defendant-Appellant

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Southern District of Texas
                         USDC No. 5:08-CR-383-ALL

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
      Celestino Rivera-Castaneda (Rivera) appeals the 70-month sentence
imposed following his guilty plea to illegal reentry following a previous
deportation. He contends that the district court reversibly erred in applying the
U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2 enhancement to his sentence based upon his prior Texas
conviction for indecency with a child-contact, a violation of Texas Penal Code
§ 21.11(a)(1). He asserts that a violation of § 21.11(a)(1) does not constitute the

      *
      Pursuant to 5 TH C IR. 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should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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 5 TH C IR. R. 47.5.4.
                                   No. 08-41071

enumerated offense of sexual abuse of a minor for purposes of the § 2L1.2
enhancement.
       As Rivera acknowledges, this court has already addressed the issue of
whether a prior Texas conviction for indecency with a child, a violation of
§   21.11(a)(1),   constitutes   sexual   abuse   of   a   minor   for   purposes   of
§ 2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(ii). See United States v. Ayala, 542 F.3d 494, 495 (5th Cir.
2008), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 1388 (2009); United States v. Najera-Najera, 519
F.3d 509, 511-12 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 139 (2008); United States v.
Zavala-Sustaita, 214 F.3d 601, 604 (5th Cir. 2000).          Because Rivera’s only
argument on appeal is foreclosed by this court’s precedent, the judgment of the
district court is AFFIRMED.

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