U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2019

United States v. Richard Sapien

United States v. Richard Sapien
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided May 28, 2019

United States v. Richard Sapien

Opinion

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAY 28 2019 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 18-10112 Plaintiff-Appellee, D.C. No. 1:15-cr-00069-DAD- BAM-1 v. RICHARD SAPIEN, AKA Richard Casarez MEMORANDUM* Sapien, AKA Richard Casarez Sapien, Jr., AKA Ricky Sapien, Defendant-Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California Dale A. Drozd, District Judge, Presiding Submitted May 21, 2019** Before: THOMAS, Chief Judge, FRIEDLAND and BENNETT, Circuit Judges.

Richard Sapien appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the 100-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). We dismiss.

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

Sapien argues that the district court erred by enhancing his base offense level under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(2), contending that his prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon under California Penal Code § 245(a)(1) are not crimes of violence. The government contends that this appeal is barred by a valid appeal waiver. We review the enforceability of an appeal waiver de novo. See United States v. Watson, 582 F.3d 974, 981 (9th Cir. 2009).

The language of the appeal waiver in Sapien’s plea agreement unambiguously encompasses the claims he seeks to raise. See id. at 986. Contrary to his contention, Sapien’s sentence is not illegal. See United States v. Bibler, 495 F.3d 621, 624 (9th Cir. 2007) (“A sentence is illegal if it exceeds the permissible statutory penalty for the crime or violates the Constitution.”); see also United States v. Vasquez-Gonzalez, 901 F.3d 1060, 1068 (9th Cir. 2018) (a conviction under California Penal Code § 245(a)(1) is categorically a crime of violence).

Moreover, the record does not support Sapien’s claim that the district court provided an unqualified advisement at the sentencing hearing that he had a right to appeal. See United States v. Arias-Espinosa, 704 F.3d 616, 619-20 (9th Cir. 2012).

Finally, we decline to reach on direct appeal Sapien’s claim that his counsel was ineffective. See United States v. Rahman, 642 F.3d 1257, 1259-60 (9th Cir. 2011).

Accordingly, we dismiss pursuant to the valid waiver. See id. at 1260.

DISMISSED.

2 18-10112

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