UNITED STATES v. REYES MARTINEZ (2019)

Pursuant to a written plea agreement, Adan Reyes-Martinez pleaded guilty to failure to depart the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1253(a)(1), and he was sentenced above the advisory guidelines range to 48 months of imprisonment. Reyes-Martinez waived his right to appeal, but he reserved the right to appeal a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. On appeal, Reyes-Martinez argues that his above-guidelines sentence was substantively unreasonable. In lieu of filing a brief, the Government filed a motion for summary dismissal, seeking enforcement of the appeal waiver.

A defendant may waive the statutory right to appeal in a valid plea agreement. United States v. McKinney, 406 F.3d 744, 746 (5th Cir. 2005). “This court reviews de novo whether an appeal waiver bars an appeal.” United States v. Keele, 755 F.3d 752, 754 (5th Cir. 2014). In so doing, “we conduct a two-step inquiry: (1) whether the waiver was knowing and voluntary and (2) whether the waiver applies to the circumstances at hand, based on the plain language of the agreement.” United States v. Bond, 414 F.3d 542, 544 (5th Cir. 2005). In this case, the record demonstrates that Reyes-Martinez knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal, and the appellate waiver applies in this circumstance. See McKinney, 406 F.3d at 746; United States v. Portillo, 18 F.3d 290, 292 (5th Cir. 1994); United States v. Melancon, 972 F.2d 566, 567-68 (5th Cir. 1992).

Accordingly, the Government’s motion for summary dismissal is GRANTED, and the appeal is DISMISSED.

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.  

PER CURIAM:* FN* Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.