267 F. App'x 328

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Jose Manuel PAREDES-MENDEZ, also known as Andreas Garcia, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 07-10655

Conference Calendar.

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Feb. 20, 2008.

Juan Carlos Rodriguez, U.S. District Court, Dallas, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Charles M. Bleil, Federal Public Defender’s, Office Northern District of Texas, Dallas, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.

Before KING, WIENER, and ELROD, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM: *

Jose Manuel Paredes-Mendez (Paredes) appeals the 64-month sentence he received following his guilty plea conviction for illegal reentry, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. He contends that the sentence imposed is unreasonable because the Guidelines do not take into account the remoteness of his prior drug-trafficking conviction or the small quantity of drugs involved. Paredes further argues that the sentence imposed *329does not comport with the goals of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), especially § 3553(a)(2).

Because the sentence Paredes received fell within the correctly calculated guidelines range, it is presumptively reasonable. See United States v. Alonzo, 435 F.3d 551, 554 (5th Cir.2006). The district court’s proper consideration of the § 3553(a) factors, including § 3553(a)(2), is inferred. See United States v. Mares, 402 F.3d 511, 518-19 (5th Cir.2005). Paredes has not shown that his sentence is unreasonable. See Gall v. United States, — U.S.-, 128 S.Ct. 586, 602, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007). The true nature of his argument is that the district court erred in failing to depart downwardly from the guidelines range. However, this court lacks jurisdiction to consider the district court’s refusal to downwardly depart given that there is no indication that the district court erroneously believed that it lacked the authority to do so. See United States v. Hernandez, 457 F.3d 416, 424 & n. 5 (5th Cir.2006).

In light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), Paredes next challenges the constitutionality of § 1326(b)’s treatment of prior felony and aggravated felony convictions as sentencing factors rather than elements of the offense that must be found by a jury. This issue is foreclosed. United States v. Pineda-Arrellano, 492 F.3d 624, 625 (5th Cir.2007), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 128 S.Ct. 872, 169 L.Ed.2d 737 (2008). The district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.

United States v. Paredes-Mendez
267 F. App'x 328

Case Details

Name
United States v. Paredes-Mendez
Decision Date
Feb 20, 2008
Citations

267 F. App'x 328

Jurisdiction
United States

References

Referencing

Nothing yet... Still searching!

Referenced By

Nothing yet... Still searching!