United States v. Sanchez-Birruetta
United States v. Sanchez-Birruetta
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Fernando Sanchez-Birruetta challenges his conviction for illegal reentry by a removed alien under 8 U.S.C. § 1326, arguing that the district court erred by admitting fingerprint identification testimony by Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement fingerprint specialist Thomas Liszkiewicz. Sanchez-Birruetta also challenges his sentence under United States v. Booker, — U.S. — , — U.S.-, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Because the facts of this case are known to the parties, we describe them here only as necessary.
I. Admissibility of fingerprint evidence
A. Rule 702 & Daubert
We review the district court’s ruling admitting Liszkiewicz’s expert testimony for abuse of discretion. United States v. Hankey, 203 F.3d 1160, 1167 (9th Cir. 2000).
Federal Rule of Evidence 702
In Daubert, the Court suggested several factors that often play a role in a Rule 702 inquiry, but cautioned that “[m]any factors will bear on the inquiry, and we do not presume to set out a definitive checklist or test.” Id. at 593, 113 S.Ct. 2786. The Daubert factors are: (1) “whether [a theory or technique] can be (and has been) tested;” (2) “whether the theory or technique has been subjected to peer review and publication;” (3) “the known or potential rate of error;” (4) “the existence and maintenance of standards controlling the technique’s operation;” and (5) “general acceptance ... of a relevant scientific community.” Id. at 593-94, 113 S.Ct. 2786 (quotations and citations omitted).
District courts are to apply Daubert via “case-by-case review rather than [ ] gener
B. Application to Sanchez-Birrv.etta
During the district court’s Daubert hearing, the prosecutor presented evidence showing that the fingerprint identification evidence at issue satisfied the most relevant of the Daubert factors. During that hearing, one witness testified: Stephen Meagher, a fingerprint specialist with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Meagher’s testimony, along with his written declaration, sufficiently established that the theoretical propositions of fingerprint identification — that friction ridges are unique and permanent, and that they can adequately be compared to each other — are both testable via experimentation and that various studies (which the declaration cites in detail) have, in fact, tested these propositions and found them to be accurate.
Sanchez-Birruetta cited a National Institute of Justice solicitation for further research on these propositions, arguing that this solicitation shows that the crucial propositions of fingerprint identifications have not yet been tested. The solicitation does not, however, suggest any problems with the various studies cited by Meagher’s declaration. In combination with his testimony, those studies support the district court’s ruling on this prong.
Further, Liszkiewiez based his identification of Sanchez-Birruetta on a comparison of rolled fingerprints. The evidence suggests that such comparisons are especially reliable. While fingerprint identification based on comparing latent fingerprints to rolled fingerprints has been the subject of some debate,
Additionally, Meagher testified regarding the FBI’s procedures for making fingerprint identifications. While Sanchez-Birruetta cross-examined Meagher as to whether these standards were the best possible ones, he did not introduce evidence that alternative standards were required to ensure reliability, or that the FBI’s standards were not followed in this case.
The evidence is sufficient to support the district court’s decision to admit Liszkiew-icz’s testimony. The district court did not abuse its discretion in doing so.
II. Sentencing
The district court found that Sanchez-Birruetta had been convicted in 1994 for delivery of a controlled substance, which triggered a sixteen-level enhanee
The judgment is AFFIRMED, the sentence is VACATED, and this case is REMANDED for resentencing.
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 Rule 36-3.
. Rule 702 provides:
If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise, if (1) the testimony is based upon sufficient facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods, and (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case.
. Applying a case-specific analysis, we, of course, do not express any opinion on the admissibility of latent fingerprint identification evidence.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.