United States v. Vasquez-Torrez
United States v. Vasquez-Torrez
Opinion
FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT December 26, 2018 _________________________________ Elisabeth A. Shumaker Clerk of Court UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v. No. 18-2140 (D.C. No. 2:18-CR-01951-TM-1) JOSE FRANCISCO VASQUEZ-TORREZ, (D. N.M.)
Defendant - Appellant. _________________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT * _________________________________
Before MORITZ, O’BRIEN, and EID, Circuit Judges. _________________________________
After accepting a plea agreement that included a waiver of his right to appeal, Jose
Francisco Vasquez-Torrez pleaded guilty to illegal reentry to the United States in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1326. Vasquez-Torrez’s plea agreement contained a broad
waiver of his appellate rights. He was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment.
Despite his waiver, Vasquez-Torrez has filed a notice of appeal in which he seeks
to appeal his conviction and sentence. The government moves to enforce the waiver.
See United States v. Hahn, 359 F.3d 1315, 1328 (10th Cir. 2004) (en banc) (per curiam).
Vasquez-Torrez’s counsel says that he advised his client “and understands that he waived
* This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. his right to appeal in this case.” Resp. at 2. Accordingly, counsel does not oppose the
motion to enforce. We gave Vasquez-Torrez the opportunity to file a pro se response, but
the deadline for doing so has passed without any response.
We review the government’s motion under the three-prong analysis adopted in
Hahn, which requires us “to determine: (1) whether the disputed appeal falls within the
scope of the waiver of appellate rights; (2) whether the defendant knowingly and
voluntarily waived his appellate rights; and (3) whether enforcing the waiver would result
in a miscarriage of justice.” 359 F.3d at 1325.
The plea agreement contains a broad waiver of appellate rights:
The defendant is aware that 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742 afford a defendant the right to appeal a conviction and the sentence imposed. Acknowledging that, the defendant knowingly waives the right to appeal the defendant’s conviction(s) and any sentence, including any fine, at or under the maximum statutory penalty authorized by law, as well as any order of restitution, that is consistent with this agreement. Mot. to Enforce, Ex. 1 (Plea Agmt.) at 7.
First, Vasquez-Torrez’s appeal is within the scope of the waiver. Specifically, the
ten-month sentence was under the statutory maximum authorized by law. Second, the
waiver was knowing and voluntary as reflected in both the plea agreement and colloquy
at the plea hearing. Last, there is no indication in the record that enforcing the waiver
would result in a miscarriage of justice as defined in Hahn, 359 F.3d at 1327.
The motion to enforce the waiver is granted, as is the motion to withdraw as
counsel. The appeal is dismissed.
Entered for the Court Per Curiam 2
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished