United States v. Martinez-Rodriguez ( 2003 )

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 02-20144
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
AMADO MARTINEZ-RODRIGUEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. H-01-CR-654-1
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February 20, 2003
Before WIENER, EMILIO M. GARZA, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Amado Martinez-Rodriguez appeals his guilty plea conviction
and sentence for being found in the United States after
deportation/removal in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. He argues
that the sentencing provisions in 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are
unconstitutional on their face and as applied in his case. He
asks us to vacate his conviction and sentence, reform the
*
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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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.
No. 02-20144
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judgment to reflect a conviction only under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a),
and remand his case for resentencing under that provision.
In Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235
(1998), the Supreme Court held that the enhanced penalties in
8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are sentencing provisions, not elements of
separate offenses. The Court further held that the sentencing
provisions do not violate the Due Process Clause. Id. at 239-47.
Martinez-Rodriguez acknowledges that his argument is foreclosed
by Almendarez-Torres, but asserts that the decision has been
called into doubt by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 489-90
(2000). He seeks to preserve his argument for further review.
Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres. See Apprendi,
530 U.S. at 489-90; United States v. Dabeit, 231 F.3d 979, 984
(5th Cir. 2000). This court must follow Almendarez-Torres
“unless and until the Supreme Court itself determines to overrule
it.” Dabeit, 231 F.3d at 984 (internal quotation marks and
citation omitted). The judgment of the district court is
AFFIRMED. The Government’s motion for a summary affirmance in
lieu of filing an appellee’s brief is GRANTED. The Government
need not file a brief.
However, as the Government concedes, the district court's
amended judgment erroneously indicates that Martinez-Rodriguez
pleaded guilty of violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b)(2) when
he in fact pleaded guilty of violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and
(b)(1). The case is therefore REMANDED for correction of this
No. 02-20144
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clerical error. See FED. R. CRIM. P. 36; United States v. Sapp,
439 F.2d 817, 821 (5th Cir. 1971).
AFFIRMED; MOTION FOR SUMMARY AFFIRMANCE GRANTED; REMANDED
FOR CORRECTION OF CLERICAL ERROR IN JUDGMENT.