United States v. Theodore Jose, Jr.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States v. Theodore Jose, Jr., 359 F. App'x 813 (9th Cir. 2009)

United States v. Theodore Jose, Jr.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM *

Appellant Theodore Mandy Jose, Jr. (Jose) challenges his conviction and sentence of fifty-one months’ imprisonment.

1. The district court did not plainly err when it allowed the government to cross-examine Jose regarding his guilty plea in tribal court. Plain-error analysis applies because the district court’s ruling on Jose’s motion in limine was not “explicit and definitive,” and Jose failed to raise a contemporaneous objection during trial. Palmerin v. City of Riverside, 794 F.2d *814 1409, 1418 (9th Cir. 1986). When Jose testified that he was in tribal custody, the government could permissibly use that opening to present evidence favorable to its case. See United States v. Sine, 493 F.3d 1021, 1037 (9th Cir. 2007), as amended. The guilty plea was an admission by a party-opponent of his having assaulted the victim. See Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(A).

2. The district court did not err when it denied Jose’s motion to suppress statements made to Detective Rosales. Detective Rosales warned Jose that his statements could be used against him in court. She was not required to specifically warn Jose that his statements could be used against him in a federal prosecution. See United States v. Male Juvenile, 280 F.3d 1008, 1022-23 (9th Cir. 2002).

3. The district court’s imposition of fifty-one months’ imprisonment was substantively reasonable. 1 Considering the totality of circumstances, the district court imposed a sentence within the applicable sentencing range and adequately explained its reasoning. See United States v. Bendtzen, 542 F.3d 722, 729 (9th Cir. 2008) (holding that a sentence within a properly calculated guideline range is usually reasonable).

AFFIRMED.

*

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

1

. Jose does not contend that the sentencing calculation was procedurally defective. See United States v. Grissom, 525 F.3d 691, 696 (9th Cir. 2008).

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Theodore Mandy JOSE, Jr., Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished