UNITED STATES v. RIVERA (2018)

Blanca Mirriam Sanchez Rivera seeks to appeal her conviction and sentence. On appeal, Rivera argues that her guilty plea was not knowing and voluntary because she did not understand the consequences of her plea and lacked the mental competence to enter a valid plea. She also asserts that the district court imposed an unreasonable sentence and that the appeal waiver contained in her plea agreement is invalid. The Government has sought to dismiss the appeal as barred by the waiver of the right to appeal included in the plea agreement.

“The validity of a waiver of appeal ․ is reviewed de novo, and we will enforce the waiver if it is valid and the issue appealed is within the scope of the waiver.” United States v. Adams, 814 F.3d 178, 182 (4th Cir. 2016). “In the absence of extraordinary circumstances, a properly conducted [Fed. R. Crim. P.] 11 colloquy establishes the validity of the waiver.” Id. The transcript of the Rule 11 hearing reveals no extraordinary circumstances, that the district court correctly found that Rivera was competent to enter a guilty plea, and that her plea was knowing and voluntary. Further, the district court specifically questioned Rivera about the appeal waiver, and she knowingly and voluntarily agreed to the waiver. Finally, the issues Rivera seeks to raise on appeal fall squarely within the compass of her waiver of appellate rights. We therefore dismiss the appeal.

We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

DISMISSED

PER CURIAM:

Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.