Court Opinion

ID: 69635
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 06:49:00+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:39:18.372847
License: Public Domain

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

                                                 FILED
                                                                         November 23, 2009
                                     No. 09-40217
                                   Summary Calendar                    Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                               Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                   Plaintiff–Appellee,

v.

DORA OLGA CANTU CHAPA,

                                                   Defendant–Appellant.

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Southern District of Texas
                            USDC No. 5:08-CR-1591-1

Before GARZA, CLEMENT, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
       Dora Olga Cantu Chapa appeals her guilty plea conviction for transporting
an undocumented alien for private financial gain by means of a motor vehicle,
in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324 and 18 U.S.C. § 2. She first argues that her guilty
plea was involuntary and unknowing because her counsel provided ineffective
assistance by failing to advise her that it was a “foregone conclusion” that she
would be deported if she pleaded guilty. Cantu Chapa does not allege that
counsel affirmatively misrepresented the deportation consequences of her guilty

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR .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. 09-40217

plea; she alleges only that counsel failed to research the deportation
consequences of her plea and to warn her that her removal was a “virtual
certainty.” She contends that the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) has rendered deportation a virtual certainty
in some cases, such as her case, and that deportation should be deemed in such
cases to be a direct consequence of pleading guilty. Cantu Chapa alternatively
requests adoption of a new rule providing that a defendant’s guilty plea is
unknowing where the defendant is unaware that deportation is a virtually
certain consequence of pleading guilty.
      These arguments are foreclosed by Santos-Sanchez v. United States, 548
F.3d 327, 333-36 (5th Cir. 2008), petition for cert. filed (Apr. 15, 2009) (No.
08-9888). “Absent an en banc or intervening Supreme Court decision, one panel
of this court may not overrule a prior panel’s decision.”         United States v.
Rodriguez-Jaimes, 481 F.3d 283, 288 (5th Cir. 2007). Because this court is
bound by its precedent absent an intervening Supreme Court case or a
subsequent en banc decision, the grant of certiorari in Padilla v. Kentucky, 129
S. Ct. 1317 (2009), has no effect on the disposition of this matter. See In re
Brown, 457 F.3d 392, 395 n.1 (5th Cir. 2006). Furthermore, Cantu Chapa was
informed by the magistrate judge (MJ) at rearraignment that Cantu Chapa
“more likely” would be deported back to Mexico.
      Cantu Chapa also contends that the MJ and district court committed
reversible error by failing to advise her of (1) her right to be represented by
counsel, appointed if necessary, at trial and every other stage of the proceedings,
see F ED. R. C RIM. P. 11(b)(1)(D), and (2) her right to be protected from compelled
self-incrimination, see F ED. R. C RIM. P. 11(b)(1)(E). Plain error review applies to
this issue. See United States v. Vonn, 535 U.S. 55, 59 (2002). Cantu Chapa has
not shown, as required by United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83
(2004), that these errors affected her substantial rights.

                                         2
                            No. 09-40217

                        *        *         *
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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