UNITED STATES v. ESPINOZA TALAMANTES (2018)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Following his acceptance of a plea agreement that included a waiver of his right to appeal, Manuel Espinoza-Talamantes pleaded guilty to re-entry of a removed alien in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b). He was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. Despite the waiver, he appealed. The government has moved to enforce the appeal waiver. See United States v. Hahn, 359 F.3d 1315, 1328 (10th Cir. 2004) (en banc) (per curiam).

In evaluating a motion to enforce a waiver, we consider: “(1) whether the disputed appeal falls within the scope of the waiver of appellate rights; (2) whether the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his appellate rights; and (3) whether enforcing the waiver would result in a miscarriage of justice.” Id. at 1325. Espinoza-Talamantes’ counsel has filed a response in which he says that he “does not have a good faith legal or factual basis to contest the government’s [m]otion.” Resp. at 1.

Our independent review confirms that the proposed issue for appeal (identified as an appeal of his sentence in Espinoza-Talamantes’ Docketing Statement) falls within the scope of his waiver. The plea agreement clearly sets forth the waiver and states that it was knowing and voluntary, and the district court discussed the waiver and voluntariness at the plea hearing. There is no contradictory evidence indicating that Espinoza-Talamantes did not knowingly and voluntarily accept the waiver. Finally, there is no indication that enforcing the waiver would result in a miscarriage of justice as defined in Hahn, 359 F.3d at 1327.

The motion to enforce is granted and the appeal is dismissed.

Per Curiam