United States v. Eduardo Valdez-Santana

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States v. Eduardo Valdez-Santana, 651 F. App'x 675 (9th Cir. 2016)

United States v. Eduardo Valdez-Santana

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ***

Eduardo Valdez-Santana appeals from his sentence for illegal reentry, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Because the parties are familiar with the facts and procedural history of this case, we repeat only those facts necessary to resolve the issues raised on appeal. We vacate and remand for re-sentencing on a closed record.

*676 The district court — not having been put on notice of the issue by an objection— committed plain error by applying a sentencing enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(B). Under this Court’s decision in United States v. Caceres-Olla, 738 F.3d 1051 (9th Cir. 2013), Valdez-Santana’s predicate Oregon convictions for rape in the third degree and sodomy in the third degree are not categorically “forcible sex offenses,” because the relevant Oregon statutes — O.R.S. § 163.355 and O.R.S. § 163.385 — criminalize sexual conduct based entirely on the age of the victim. See Caceres-Olla, 738 F.3d at 1054-56. Similarly, Valdez-Santana’s predicate convictions do not constitute “statutory rape” under the applicable Guideline because the Oregon statutes “do[] not have an age difference element.” Id. at 1057. Finally, the predicate convictions do not constitute “sexual abuse of a minor” because they lack both an age difference element and an abuse element, and thus “sweep more broadly” than either federal definition of “sexual abuse of a minor.” Descamps v. United States, — U.S. -, 133 S.Ct. 2276, 2283, 186 L.Ed.2d 438 (2013); see also United States v. Castro, 607 F.3d 566, 568 (9th Cir. 2010) (recognizing two federal definitions of “sexual abuse of a minor”).

Because Valdez-Santana has been incarcerated for a longer period of time .than the Guidelines would have provided absent the improper enhancement, we respectfully urge the district court to resentence Valdez-Santana expeditiously. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

VACATED and REMANDED.

***

xhis disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3,

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Eduardo VALDEZ-SANTANA, AKA Eduardo Santana Valdez, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished