United States v. Guevara-Vielma
United States v. Guevara-Vielma
Opinion
Juan Nepumucenco Guevara-Vielma appeals the 70-month sentence imposed following his conviction for illegal reentry after deportation. Guevara-Vielma argues that his within-guidelines sentence is unreasonable because U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2 double counted his prior crime of violence and overstated the seriousness of the offense and the risk of recidivism. Guevara-Viel-ma also contends that his sentence is greater than necessary to accomplish the sentencing objectives of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). He notes that he is of advanced age and has a history of mental illness.
Because Guevara-Vielma did not object to the reasonableness of his sentence, the Government contends that Guevara-Viel-ma’s challenge to his sentence is subject to plain error review pursuant to United States v. Peltier. 1 Guevara-Vielma contends that Peltier was wrongly decided and that his sentence should be reviewed for abuse of discretion. 2 We need not determine, however, whether plain error review is appropriate in this case because Guevara-Vielma is not entitled to relief even assuming that he preserved the reasonableness issue for review. 3
Guevara-Vielma fails to establish that the district court erred by relying on § 2L1.2 to impose his sentence. 4 Guevara-Vielma’s sentence is presumptively reasonable. 5 The district court heard Guevara-Vielma’s arguments concerning his age and mental illness but elected to im *488 pose a sentence within the applicable guidelines range. The court’s statements at sentencing reflect a concern over Guevara-Vielma’s lengthy criminal history. Guevara-Vielma has not demonstrated that his sentence was an abuse of discretion by the district court or that his sentence is unreasonable. 6
The judgment of the district court is 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Pursuant to 5th Cir R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.
. 505 F.3d 389, 391-92 (5th Cir. 2007), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 128 S.Ct. 2959, 171 L.Ed.2d 892 (2008).
. This court in United States v. Ellis, 564 F.3d 370 (5th Cir. 2009) reiterated the importance of plain error review: "Not every error that increases a sentence need be corrected by a call upon plain error doctrine. It bears emphasis that all defendants’ appeals challenging a sentence rest on the practical premise that the sentence should be less. The doctrine of plain error serves powerful institutional interests, including securing the role of the United States District Court as the court of first instance, as opposed to a body charged to make recommendations to appellate courts." 564 F.3d 370, 378.
. See United States v. Rodriguez, 523 F.3d 519, 525 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 129 S.Ct. 624, 172 L.Ed.2d 616 (2008).
. See United States v. Campos-Maldonado, 531 F.3d 337, 339 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 129 S.Ct. 328, 172 L.Ed.2d 236 (2008).
. See United States v. Alonzo, 435 F.3d 551, 554 (5th Cir. 2006).
. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 128 S.Ct. 586, 597, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007); Alonzo, 435 F.3d at 554.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Juan Nepumucenco GUEVARA-VIELMA, Also Known as Juan Guevara-Vielma, Defendant-Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished