UNITED STATES v. GARCIA GONZALEZ (2019)

MEMORANDUM **

Martin Garcia-Gonzalez appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges his guilty-plea conviction and 20-month sentence for illegal reentry after deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), Garcia-Gonzalez’s counsel has filed a brief stating that there are no grounds for relief, along with a motion to withdraw as counsel of record. We have provided Garcia-Gonzalez the opportunity to file a pro se supplemental brief. No pro se supplemental brief or answering brief has been filed.

Garcia-Gonzalez waived his right to appeal his conviction and sentence. Our independent review of the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988), discloses no arguable issue as to the validity of the waiver. See United States v. Watson, 582 F.3d 974, 986-88 (9th Cir. 2009). We accordingly dismiss the appeal. See id. at 988.

We decline to address on direct appeal Garcia-Gonzalez’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. See United States v. Rahman, 642 F.3d 1257, 1259-60 (9th Cir. 2011).

In accordance with United States v. Rivera-Sanchez, 222 F.3d 1057, 1062 (9th Cir. 2000), we remand the case to the district court with instructions to correct the judgment to exclude the reference to 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1). See United States v. Herrera-Blanco, 232 F.3d 715, 719 (9th Cir. 2000) (remanding sua sponte to delete from judgment reference to section 1326(b) ).

Counsel’s motion to withdraw is GRANTED.

DISMISSED; REMANDED to correct the judgment.