Court Opinion

ID: 586697
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-08-23 10:18:39+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:33.251520
License: Public Domain

968 F.2d 1221
NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.Margarita Marisa APALATEGUI, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 91-50511.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted July 10, 1992.*Decided July 15, 1992.

Before FLETCHER, O'SCANNLAIN and KLEINFELD, Circuit Judges.

1
MEMORANDUM**

2
* Appellant challenges the district court's decision not to depart downward on grounds that appellant's criminal history Category III, while accurately calculated, allegedly over-represented the seriousness of her criminal background.  "This court has no jurisdiction to review a sentencing court's refusal to depart downward as long as the court in fact exercised its discretion."   United States v. Robinson, 958 F.2d 268, 272 (9th Cir.1992).   The record indicates that the sentencing court here was exercising its discretion when it declined to depart.

II

3
Appellant further argues that the district court also erred in failing to give her a downward adjustment for her role in the offense, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2.   Since appellant was the sole participant in the offense to which she pleaded guilty, a downward adjustment under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 was not available.   United States v. Valdez-Gonzalez, 957 F.2d 643, 648 (9th Cir.1992).   To the extent that appellant is challenging the district court's refusal to depart downward for courier or "mule" status, as did the sentencing court in Valdez-Gonzalez, we again note that we do not review such discretionary refusals to depart downward.   See Robinson, 958 F.2d at 272.

4
AFFIRMED.

*
 The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for submission on the record and briefs and without oral argument.   Fed.R.App.P. 34(a), Ninth Circuit R. 34-4

**
 This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit R. 36-3