United States v. Lugo ( 1999 )

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
MAR 11 1999
PUBLISH
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
TENTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs. No. 98-4020
CLAUDIO LUGO, aka Lugo Mano,
Joel Logue-Lugo, Joel Lugo Luke,
Defendant-Appellant.
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
(D.C. No. 96-CR-271-C)
Richard G. McDougall, Assistant United States Attorney, (Paul M. Warner, United
States Attorney, Leshia M. Lee-Dixon, Assistant United States Attorney with him
on the brief), Salt Lake City, Utah, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Robert L. Booker, Booker & Associates, (David H. Tolk of Booker & Associates,
with him on the brief), Salt Lake City, Utah, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before BRORBY, MCWILLIAMS, and KELLY, Circuit Judges.
KELLY, Circuit Judge.
Defendant-Appellant Claudio Lugo appeals his conviction in federal district
court for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and
re-entry of a deported alien, 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Mr. Lugo appeals, asserting that the
district court erred by: (1) denying his right to a speedy trial, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 3161(c)(1) and the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution;
(2) denying his motion to suppress evidence obtained as the result of an illegal
detention and search of the automobile he was driving; (3) admitting his
confession into evidence; (4) admitting evidence of his prior criminal history; and
(5) improperly applying a sentencing enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. 2L1.2.
Our jurisdiction arises under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a), and we
affirm.
Background
On October 27, 1996, at approximately 12:00 a.m., Trooper Shields of the
Utah Highway Patrol was patrolling a section of I-15 in Southern Millard County,
Utah, when he observed a vehicle traveling northbound at a high rate of speed.
The officer followed the vehicle, which was clocked at a speed of ninety-one miles
per hour, learned that the vehicle was registered to Jorge Lopez of Salt Lake City,
Utah, and pulled over the vehicle near Fillmore, Utah.
Three individuals were inside the automobile–two males in the front and a
female passenger in the back seat. The officer approached the vehicle, informed
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the occupants that they were being stopped for speeding, and asked Mr. Lugo, who
was the driver, for his license. At this time, the male passenger offered
identification and stated that Mr. Lugo did not have a driver’s license. After
asking Mr. Lugo for identification several times, the officer told him that he would
be arrested and taken to jail if he could not produce any identification.
A check of motor vehicle records revealed that there was no record of a
driver’s license issued to Claudio Lugo in California or Utah and that the vehicle
had not been reported stolen. The officer returned to the vehicle and conducted a
“pat down” search of Mr. Lugo. Mr. Lugo said that the owner, Jorge Lopez, was
his father’s cousin. When asked about the whereabouts of Mr. Lopez, Mr. Lugo
responded that Mr. Lopez was in Mexico with his father.
During a search of the passenger compartment, the officer found a wallet in
the front seat containing $1,600 in cash and no identification. The officer also
noticed a strange odor emanating from the vehicle, and suspected it was a masking
agent or black tar heroin. The odor was stronger toward the rear of the car. When
the officer initially stopped the vehicle and shined his flashlight into the car’s
interior, he had noted that the floor near the back seat appeared to be altered.
While searching the area around the back seat, a compartment was discovered
under the carpet. After backup arrived, the officer pulled back the carpet and
found several objects wrapped in duct tape within the compartment. At this point,
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Mr. Lugo was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance. The
packages were left wrapped in duct tape, and the vehicle was taken into police
custody where a complete search was conducted. The packages were later found
to contain cocaine.
At approximately 5:45 a.m., Mr. Lugo was advised of his Miranda rights in
English. He advised the officer that he was willing to waive his rights and answer
questions. Mr. Lugo admitted that the drugs belonged to him and that he was paid
to drive the car with the cocaine between California and Utah.
On November 20, 1996, a federal grand jury indicted Mr. Lugo on the drug
and reentry charges described above. On March 25, 1997, Mr. Lugo made his
initial appearance in federal court. His arraignment took place on March 28, 1997.
Mr. Lugo filed a motion to suppress evidence on April 23, 1997, and an
evidentiary hearing on that motion was held on April 25, 1997. A second
evidentiary hearing on Mr. Lugo’s motion to suppress was held on June 26, 1997
to address issues that had not been raised in the first hearing. The court denied
Mr. Lugo’s motion to suppress on September 8, 1997.
The government filed notice of a sentencing enhancement on October 20,
1997, and a jury trial commenced on October 21, 1997. On October 22, 1997, the
jury found Mr. Lugo guilty on both counts of the indictment. On January 27,
1998, the district court sentenced Mr. Lugo to 120 months in prison and eight
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years of supervised release.
Discussion
A. Speedy Trial
Mr. Lugo’s first argument on appeal is that he was denied his statutory and
constitutional right to a speedy trial. We review de novo the district court’s
compliance with the requirements of the Speedy Trial Act and the alleged
constitutional violation of the right to a speedy trial. See United States v. Gomez,
67 F.3d 1515, 1519 (10th Cir. 1995). We accept the district court’s factual
findings unless clearly erroneous. See id.
1. Speedy Trial Act
The Speedy Trial Act is designed to protect a defendant’s constitutional
right to a speedy trial and serve the public interest of adjudicating criminal
proceedings promptly. See United States v. Mora, 135 F.3d 1351, 1354 (10th Cir.
1998). The Act requires that a criminal defendant’s trial commence within seventy
days of the filing of the indictment or from the date the defendant first appears
before a judicial officer of the court, whichever is later. See 18 U.S.C. §
3161(c)(1). Certain periods of delay are excluded and do not count as part of the
seventy day limit. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)-(9). In addition, “[f]ailure of the
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defendant to move for dismissal prior to trial . . . shall constitute waiver of the
right to dismissal.” 18 U.S.C. § 3162(a)(2).
The government argues that Mr. Lugo waived his right to raise the Speedy
Trial Act issue because he never filed a formal motion to dismiss with the district
court. On March 28, 1997, at his arraignment, Mr. Lugo indicated that he might
file a motion to dismiss on speedy trial grounds and there was some discussion on
the issue. The magistrate judge never suggested that Mr. Lugo was relieved of the
necessity of formally raising the issue, stating that Mr. Lugo could “go ahead and
file [his] motion” if he wished to pursue the matter. On April 1, 1997, Mr. Lugo
advised the district court that he had just begun research with respect to the speedy
trial issue and again indicated that he might file a motion to dismiss. The court set
a briefing schedule in the event Mr. Lugo decided to file such a motion, but a
motion was never filed.
We agree that Mr. Lugo failed to file a motion to dismiss on Speedy Trial
Act grounds prior to trial and has therefore waived his right to dismissal under 18
U.S.C. § 3162(a)(2). Although this court in United States v. Arnold, 113 F.3d
1146 (10th Cir. 1997), found that raising the issue orally in a chambers conference
could constitute a motion as required by 18 U.S.C. § 3162(a)(2), Arnold is
distinguishable from the case at bar. In Arnold, when the defendant brought up
the Speedy Trial Act issue in chambers conference, the district court explicitly
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acknowledged that it would accept the discussion as a formal motion to dismiss.
See id. at 1149. In Mr. Lugo’s case, however, neither the district nor the
magistrate judge ever indicated that any discussion about the Speedy Trial Act
issue would be deemed a motion to dismiss as required by 18 U.S.C. § 3162(a)(2);
see also Fed. R. Crim P. 12(b). Unlike Arnold, the record reflects that the district
court in Mr. Lugo’s case indicated that it would consider the motion only after it
was properly filed. Thus, Mr. Lugo did not validly raise a Speedy Trial Act claim
before trial and has therefore waived the right to dismissal under the plain
language of 18 U.S.C. § 3162(a)(2). See Gomez, 67 F.3d at 1520 (“[J]ust as the
Act provides a remedy for violation of its speedy trial mandate, so too it
unequivocally provides that the failure of a defendant to move for dismissal prior
to trial constitutes a waiver of any right to that remedy.”).
In any event, Mr. Lugo’s arguments fail because his trial took place within
the time required by the Speedy Trial Act. In this case, the Speedy Trial Act clock
began to run on March 25, 1997, the date of Mr. Lugo’s first appearance in federal
court. Mr. Lugo’s trial did not begin until October 21, 1997, 210 days or
approximately seven months after the tolling period began. However, Mr. Lugo
filed a motion to suppress on April 1, 1997, which constitutes an excludable delay
under the Speedy Trial Act. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)(F); Mora, 135 F.3d at
1355 (“Subsection (h)(1)(F) excludes all time, regardless of reasonableness,
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between the filing of the pretrial motion and the hearing thereon, as well as all
time following the hearing during which the court awaits the filing of additional
materials by the parties that are needed for proper disposition of the motion.”)
(citing Henderson v. United States, 476 U.S. 321, 326-31 (1986)). Hearings on
Mr. Lugo’s motion were held on April 25, 1997, and on June 26, 1997, and the
final supplemental brief requested by the district court was filed on August 12,
1997. Once the court receives all such materials, it has thirty days to decide the
matter, which is also excludable. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)(J); Mora, 135 F.3d
at 1355. Thus, the district court had until September 11, 1997, to decide the
motion. The district court denied the motion to suppress on September 8, 1997,
within the thirty-day period.
Mr. Lugo argues that the district court erred by raising sua sponte issues for
the government which were not pled in the briefs leading to a subsequent
evidentiary hearing on the motion to suppress and causing unfair delay. After the
initial hearing on the motion to suppress on April 25, 1997, the district court
determined that it needed further briefing and another hearing on whether Mr.
Lugo had standing to question the search of the vehicle. The hearing took place
on June 26, 1997, and the additional briefing was not completed until August 12,
1997.
We find that it was within the district court’s discretion to request the
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additional briefing. Where parties have not raised an issue, the court ordinarily
should not address that issue sua sponte. See Hardiman v. Reynolds, 971 F.2d
500, 502 (10th Cir. 1992). However, there are at least two exception to this
general rule. First, a court should raise a defense sua sponte when that defense
implicates that court’s subject matter jurisdiction. See id. Second, where a
defense implicates important nonjurisdictional concerns that transcend the interests
of the parties, a court may raise the defense sua sponte. See id. Here, the issue of
whether Mr. Lugo had standing to object, while not implicating the district court’s
subject matter jurisdiction, does address substantial nonjurisdictional issues
relevant to the proper disposition of Mr. Lugo’s motion to suppress. Therefore,
we hold that the additional delay was properly excludable. Deducting the 161 days
of excludable time from the 210 days between arraignment and trial reveals that
Mr. Lugo’s trial commenced within forty-nine countable days, well within the
seventy days required by the Speedy Trial Act.
2. Sixth Amendment Right to a Speedy Trial
Mr. Lugo also claims that the delay rises to the level of a constitutional
violation. In determining whether a defendant has been deprived of his
constitutional right to a speedy trial under the Sixth Amendment, a court should
consider and balance the following factors: (1) the length of the delay; (2) the
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reason for the delay; (3) the defendant’s assertion of his right to a speedy trial; and
(4) prejudice to the defendant. See Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530 (1972);
United States v. Dirden, 38 F.3d 1131, 1137 (10th Cir. 1994).
The threshold factor to consider is the length of the delay. We need only
inquire into the other factors if the period of delay is “presumptively prejudicial.”
See Dirden, 38 F.3d at 1137. Here we find that the delay of approximately seven
months, even if not excusable, is not “presumptively prejudicial” and, therefore, a
Barker analysis is not necessary. See Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 652
n.1 (1992) (“[T]he lower courts have generally found postaccusation delay
‘presumptively prejudicial’ at least as it approaches one year.”); Dirden, 38 F.3d at
1138 (seven-and-one-half-month delay between arraignment and trial not
“presumptively prejudicial”); United States v. Kalady, 941 F.2d 1090, 1095-96
(10th Cir. 1991) (eight-month delay between indictment and trial nonprejudicial);
United States v. Bagster, 915 F.2d 607, 611 (10th Cir. 1990) (delay of thirty
months insufficient to trigger Barker analysis). But see Gomez, 67 F.3d at 1521(twelve-and-one-half-month delay triggered Barker analysis); Perez v. Sullivan,
793 F.2d 249, 255 (10th Cir. 1986) (delay of fifteen months triggered Barker
analysis).
In any event, given that the reason for the delay was brought about by Mr.
Lugo’s motion to suppress, plus the fact that the right to a speedy trial was never
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asserted and there has been no showing of prejudice, we conclude that there has
been no violation of Mr. Lugo’s Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial.
B. Denial of Mr. Lugo’s Motion to Suppress
Mr. Lugo contends that the district court erred by denying his motion to
suppress evidence seized during a warrantless search of the vehicle he was driving.
After conducting a suppression hearing, the district court determined that the
cocaine found during the search of the vehicle was seized pursuant to a valid
automobile search incident to arrest. See New York v. Belton, 453 U.S. 454(1981). As an alternative basis for its ultimate determination of reasonableness,
the district court determined that the search was valid because the cocaine would
have been inevitably discovered during a lawful inventory search. See United
States v. Haro-Salcedo, 107 F.3d 769, 772 (10th Cir. 1997). Because we agree
with the district court’s conclusion that the search was proper under the standards
set forth in Belton, we need not address the court’s alternative basis for its
determination.
In reviewing the denial of a motion to suppress, we view the evidence in the
light most favorable to the government, and accept the district court’s factual
findings unless they are clearly erroneous. See United States v. Lacey, 86 F.3d
956, 971 (10th Cir. 1996). However, the ultimate determination of reasonableness
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under the Fourth Amendment is a question of law which we review de novo. Id.In Belton , the Supreme Court held that the police may conduct a
contemporaneous warrantless search of a vehicle’s passenger compartment
incident to a lawful arrest. Belton , 453 U.S. at 460. The Court deliberately
created a bright line rule because “[a] single, familiar standard is essential to guide
police officers, who have only limited time and expertise to reflect on and balance
the social and individual interests involved in the specific circumstances they
confront.” Id. at 458 (quoting Dunaway v. New York , 442 U.S. 200, 213-14
(1979)); see United States v. Olguin-Rivera , No. 98-1164, 1999 WL 79378 (10th
Cir. 1999). A warrantless search incident to arrest is valid so long as: (1) there
existed a legitimate basis for the arrest before the search; and (2) the arrest took
place shortly after the search. See United States v. Anchondo, 156 F.3d 1043,
1045 (10th Cir. 1998).
First, we determine whether the officer had a legitimate basis to arrest Mr.
Lugo at the time of the search. Here, the officer observed that Mr. Lugo was
speeding and operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license. Under Utah law,
these offenses are class C misdemeanors, see Utah Code Ann. §§ 41-6-12, 41-6-
47, 53-3-202 (1998) & § 53-3-230 (1995), and the officer had the authority to
lawfully arrest Mr. Lugo for committing these offenses. See Utah Code Ann. §
77-7-2 (1995). Thus, probable cause and a legitimate basis to arrest Mr. Lugo
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existed.
Second, we inquire as to whether the actual arrest was too remote from the
search. It is unclear from the record precisely when Mr. Lugo was formally
arrested, and whether the search began before the arrest. Mr. Lugo was told that
he would be arrested if he did not produce any identification and that he was not
free to go. Nevertheless, the record indicates that, at the very latest, the arrest
took place shortly after the search was completed. A legitimate “search incident to
arrest” need not take place after the arrest. See Anchondo, 156 F.3d at 1045; see
also Rawlings v. Kentucky, 448 U.S. 98, 111 (1980) (“Where the formal arrest
followed quickly on the heels of the challenged search of [defendant’s] person, we
do not believe it particularly important that the search preceded the arrest rather
than vice versa.”). Where, as here, the arrest took place shortly after the search,
the search is not too remote in time from the arrest to render it invalid. Therefore,
Trooper Shields validly discovered the cocaine in the vehicle driven by Mr. Lugo
pursuant to a legitimate “search incident to arrest.”
C. Mr. Lugo’s Confession
Mr. Lugo alleges that the district court erroneously admitted his confession
into evidence, claiming that it was obtained involuntarily. The voluntariness of a
confession is a question of law which this court reviews de novo. See Lucero v.
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Kerby, 133 F.3d 1299, 1310 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 1684 (1998).
However, “we accept the district court’s underlying factual findings unless they
are clearly erroneous.” United States v. Nguyen, 155 F.3d 1219, 1222 (10th Cir.
1998), cert. denied, -- S. Ct. --, 1999 WL 25143 (1999).
During trial and outside the presence of the jury, the district court held an
evidentiary hearing pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3501 to determine whether the
statement Mr. Lugo made after his arrest was sufficiently voluntary so as to be
admitted. After the hearing, the district court found that the statement was
voluntary and ruled that it would be admitted.
We base a determination of voluntariness on the totality of the
circumstances, examining several factors including: (1) the defendant’s age,
intelligence, and education; (2) the length of the detention and interrogation; (3)
the length and nature of the questioning; (4) whether the defendant was advised of
his constitutional rights; and (5) whether the defendant was subjected to or
threatened with any physical punishment. See Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412
U.S. 218, 226 (1973); Nguyen, 155 F.3d at 1222; United States v. Glover, 104
F.3d 1570, 1579 (10th Cir. 1997). No single factor is determinative. See Glover,
104 F.3d at 1579. The court must “‘examine the entire record and make an
independent determination of the ultimate issue of voluntariness.’” Id. (quoting
Davis v. North Carolina, 384 U.S. 737, 741-42 (1966)). However, a confession is
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only involuntary when “the police use coercive activity to undermine the suspect’s
ability to exercise his free will.” United States v. Erving L., 147 F.3d 1240, 1249
(10th Cir. 1998); see Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 167 (1986).
At the suppression hearing, the court heard testimony from two witnesses,
Trooper Shields and Mr. Lugo. Trooper Shields testified that Mr. Lugo made the
statement at approximately 5:45 a.m. the day of his arrest, after being given his
Miranda warnings in English. According to Trooper Shields, Mr. Lugo indicated
that he wanted to talk, waived his right to an attorney, and never asked for an
attorney during the conversation. Trooper Shields also testified that Mr. Lugo
appeared to understand the Trooper’s questions even though the conversation was
in English. At the hearing, Mr. Lugo initially testified that he had a ninth grade
education from Mexico, and did not understand English well. He stated that he
recalled the conversation with Trooper Shields and did not understand what the
Trooper was asking him because the conversation was in English. On cross-
examination, however, Mr. Lugo stated that he had no recollection of the
conversation with Trooper Shields. The district court found, based on the
observation of both witnesses, Trooper Shields’ testimony to be more credible than
Mr. Lugo’s. The court particularly noted from Trooper Shields’ testimony that Mr.
Lugo appeared to understand Trooper Shields because he gave appropriate answers
to the questions asked in English.
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After an independent review of the record with appropriate deference to the
district court’s findings of fact, we conclude that the confession was voluntary.
Several factors support voluntariness. First, Mr. Lugo was not unusually
susceptible to coercion based on age, intelligence and education. While Mr.
Lugo’s first language is Spanish and he received a ninth grade education, his
responses to Trooper Shields’ questions demonstrated sufficient understanding of
the English language for purposes of the interrogation. Second, Mr. Lugo was not
subjected to an unreasonably long detention and interrogation. The delay from
1:00 a.m., when Mr. Lugo was arrested, until 5:45 a.m., when the interview took
place, is not presumptively prejudicial, see 18 U.S.C. § 3501(c) (confession not
inadmissible solely because of delay if confession made within six hours following
arrest or detention); United States v. Short, 947 F.2d 1445, 1450-51 (10th Cir.
1991), and the record does not indicate that the delay had any serious adverse
effect on Mr. Lugo. Third, Mr. Lugo was advised of his constitutional rights
before making any statement, and waived those rights. Although it would have
been preferable to give Mr. Lugo a Miranda warning in Spanish, the record
indicates that Mr. Lugo indicated to Trooper Shields that he understood those
rights as they were being read to him in English, and responded to all questions in
English. Furthermore, the fact that Mr. Lugo’s Miranda waiver was oral and not
written does not render it invalid. See United States v. Gell-Iren, 146 F.3d 827,
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830 (10th Cir. 1998) (upholding the validity of an oral Miranda waiver and finding
that the failure to sign a waiver of rights form does not render the waiver
involuntary). Finally, Mr. Lugo was neither threatened with nor subjected to any
physical punishment.
In light of these facts, we find that Mr. Lugo’s will was not overborne and
his confession was voluntary. Therefore, the district court did not err in admitting
Mr. Lugo’s confession at trial.
D. Prior Criminal History Evidence
Mr. Lugo contends that the district court erred in allowing the government
to admit evidence of his prior conviction of attempted possession of a controlled
substance. We review evidentiary challenges for an abuse of discretion, see
United States v. Begay, 144 F.3d 1336, 1338 (10th Cir. 1998), and uphold the
district court’s ruling.
While testifying at his trial, Mr. Lugo denied any knowledge of drugs being
in the vehicle or that he used drugs. He stated: “With the education that my father
gave me not to get involved with drugs, I never did.” VII R. at 146. The district
court ruled that evidence of Mr. Lugo’s 1995 drug conviction was then admissible
under Fed. R. Evid. 609 because the prior conviction was relevant to Mr. Lugo’s
credibility and its probative value outweighed any prejudicial effect. Additionally,
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the district court found that the conviction was probative of Mr. Lugo’s intent
under Fed. R. Evid. 404(b). The court gave the jury a limiting instruction as to the
use of this evidence when it ruled on defense counsel's objection, and again at the
end of the trial.
Mr. Lugo contends that the requirements of Rule 609 were not met for the
admission of this evidence. He also asserts that the district court’s alternative
application of Rule 404(b) was inappropriate because Mr. Lugo’s prior conviction
for attempted possession of a controlled substance is totally irrelevant to a jury
finding intent for the federal drug charge at issue. Because we agree with the
district court’s admission of the prior conviction under Rule 609, we will not
address the court’s alternative basis for its admission under Rule 404(b).
Rule 609 states:
(a) General rule. For the purpose of attacking the credibility of a
witness,
(1) evidence that a witness other than an accused has been convicted
of a crime shall be admitted, subject to Rule 403, if the crime was
punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year under the
law under which the witness was convicted, and evidence that an
accused has been convicted of such a crime shall be admitted if the
court determines that the probative value of admitting this evidence
outweighs its prejudicial effect to the accused . . . .
Fed. R. Evid. 609 (emphasis added). Mr. Lugo claims that the district court erred
in applying Rule 609 because the plain language of Rule 609(a)(1) indicates that it
does not apply to the accused. However, Mr. Lugo fails to read the latter part of
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Rule 609(a)(1) that clearly states that evidence of a defendant’s prior felony
conviction will be admitted for impeachment purposes if it survives a balancing of
probativeness versus prejudice.
After a thorough review of the record, we are satisfied that the district court
did not abuse its discretion in allowing the government to introduce evidence of
Mr. Lugo’s prior conviction under Rule 609. The court balanced the probative
value of the evidence against the prejudicial effect to Mr. Lugo, and determined
that the probative value justified admission of the evidence. The prior conviction
certainly undercuts Mr. Lugo’s claimed lack of involvement with drugs based on
the admonitions of his father. We afford the district court substantial deference in
its balancing under Rule 609, see Begay, 144 F.3d at 1338, and we find no error in
this case. In addition, the district court gave an appropriate limiting instruction to
the jury. Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this
evidence under Rule 609.
E. Sentencing Enhancement
Mr. Lugo’s final allegation of error lies in the district court’s enhancement
of his sentence under U.S.S.G. 2L1.2(b)(1)(A) based on his prior conviction. The
enhancement resulted in a sixteen point increase in Mr. Lugo’s offense level. Mr.
Lugo claims that: (1) the government’s notice of enhancement was deficient and
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misleading; (2) Mr. Lugo’s prior conviction was a misdemeanor under Utah law;
and (3) the sixteen level increase was inappropriate because the underlying offense
was not an aggravated felony as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43). We review the
district court’s interpretation of the sentencing guidelines de novo. See United
States v. Cabrera-Sosa, 81 F.3d 998, 999 (10th Cir. 1996).
The day before trial, the government filed a notice of the enhancement
pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 851(a)(1), notifying Mr. Lugo that he may be subjected to
increased punishment based on his prior conviction for Attempted Possession of a
Controlled Substance, a third degree felony. See I R. doc. 32. Mr. Lugo
challenges the adequacy of the information. 21 U.S.C. § 851(a)(1) provides:
No person who stands convicted of an offense under this part shall be
sentenced to increased punishment by reason of one or more prior
convictions, unless before trial, or before entry of a plea of guilty,
the United States attorney files an information with the court (and
serves a copy of such information on the person or counsel for the
person) stating in writing the previous convictions to be relied upon.
The government filed the information the day before trial, which was timely under
the statute. See United States v. Gonzalez-Lerma, 14 F.3d 1479, 1484 (10th Cir.
1994) (holding that “before trial” under § 851 means any time before jury selection
begins). Furthermore, we find nothing else about the government’s notice to be
deficient or misleading.
In 1995, Mr. Lugo was convicted of Attempted Possession of a Controlled
Substance, a third degree felony, in the Third Judicial District Court in Salt Lake
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City, Utah. See I R. doc. 52; Utah Code Ann. § 58-37-8(1)(a)(ii) (1998). On
January 27, 1998, at Mr. Lugo’s sentencing hearing, the district court found that
this offense was a third degree felony. See VIII R. at 8, 15-16; see also I R. doc.
52; IX R. at 4. Mr. Lugo claims that this prior conviction was a misdemeanor
under Utah law. This claim, however, is not supported by the record which clearly
shows that Mr. Lugo pled guilty to a third degree felony. See I R. doc. 52; IX R.
at 4; Gov’t Resp. Exh. B filed Jan. 20, 1998 (Judgment from the 1995 conviction
stating that attempted possession of a controlled substance is a third degree
felony); see also Utah Code Ann. § 58-37-8(1)(a)(ii) (1998) (Utah statute under
which Mr. Lugo was convicted). Therefore, the district court did not err in finding
that Mr. Lugo had pled guilty to attempted possession of a controlled substance
with intent to distribute, a third degree felony. See VIII R. at 15-16.
Mr. Lugo also claims that this offense was not an aggravated felony under 8
U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43). Section 1101(a)(43)(B) defines an “Aggravated Felony” as
“illicit trafficking in a controlled substance (as defined in section 802 of Title 21),
including a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 924(c) of Title 18).” Mr.
Lugo contends that he was not charged with nor did he have any intent to
distribute a controlled substance. We disagree. First, we have already found that
the district court properly determined that Mr. Lugo was convicted of attempted
possession with intent to distribute, a third degree felony that on its face indicates
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intent. Second, the record reflects that the offense involved “knowingly and
intentionally” attempting to distribute cocaine. See Gov’t Resp. Exh. A filed Jan.
20, 1998 (Information from conviction); Utah Code Ann. § 58-37-8(1)(a)(ii)
(1998). Third, this court has held that a defendant’s state court conviction for
felony possession of a controlled substance constitutes an aggravated felony within
the meaning of § 1101(a)(43). See United States v. Valenzuela-Escalante, 130
F.3d 944, 946-47 (10th Cir. 1997); Cabrera-Sosa, 81 F.3d at 1000 & n.2.
Therefore, Mr. Lugo’s arguments are without merit.
Accordingly, we find no error in the district court’s application of U.S.S.G.
2L1.2(b)(1)(A) to enhance Mr. Lugo’s sentence.
AFFIRMED.
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