United States v. Castillo-Rios
Opinion
Mario Alberto Castillo-Rios (Castillo) appeals his 70-month sentence following his guilty plea to illegal reentry after deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. For the first time on appeal, Castillo argues that the district court erroneously calculated his criminal history score by applying two-criminal history points under *356 U.S.S.G. § 4Al.l(e) because the instant offense was committed within two years from his release from custody for a California drug trafficking conviction. He asserts that he was actually released from custody five years before the instant offense.
As Castillo correctly concedes, because he did not object in the district court, review is limited to the plain error standard. See United States v. Arviso-Mata, 442 F.3d 382, 384 (5th Cir. 2006). Under the plain error standard, the appellant must show (1) that there is an error; (2) that the error is clear or obvious; and (3) that the error affects his substantial rights. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 731-37, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993). If these factors are established, the decision to correct the forfeited error is within the sound discretion of the court, and the court will not exercise that discretion unless the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id. at 735-36, 113 S.Ct. 1770.
The district court calculated Castillo’s guideline range as 70 to 87 months. The guideline range without the two additional criminal history points would have been 57 to 71 months. Thus, the district court’s sentence of 70 months was still within the guideline line range advocated by Castillo. We conclude that the sentence is thus entitled to a presumption of reasonableness and that Castillo has not met his burden of showing that his substantial rights were affected. See United States v. Medina-Argueta, 454 F.3d 479, 483 (5th Cir. 2006); see also Olano, 507 U.S. at 734, 113 S.Ct. 1770.
Castillo also challenges 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)’s treatment of prior felony and aggravated felony convictions as sentencing factors rather than elements of the offense in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Castillo’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998). Although Castillo contends that Almendarez-Torres was incorrectly decided and that a majority of the Supreme Court would overrule Almendarez-Torres in light of Apprendi, we have repeatedly rejected such arguments on the basis that Almendarez-Torres remains binding. See United States v. Garza-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 298, 163 L.Ed.2d 260 (2005). Castillo concedes that his argument is foreclosed in light of AlmendarezTorres and circuit precedent, but he raises it here to preserve it for further review.
AFFIRMED.
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.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Mario Alberto CASTILLO-RIOS, Also Known as Eduardo Castillo-Rios, Defendant-Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished