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FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION MAR 17 2014 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 12-10671 Plaintiff - Appellee, D.C. No. 3:11-cr-00081-HDM v. MEMORANDUM* PEDRO ZAMORA-OCHOA, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Nevada Howard D. McKibben, District Judge, Presiding Submitted March 10, 2014** Before: PREGERSON, LEAVY, and MURGUIA, Circuit Judges. Pedro Zamora-Ochoa appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges his guilty-plea conviction and 120-month sentence for distribution of a controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)(viii). Pursuant to Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738(1967), Zamora-Ochoa’s counsel * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). 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 Zamora-Ochoa the opportunity to file a pro se supplemental brief. No pro se supplemental brief or answering brief has been filed. Zamora-Ochoa has 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 (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.Appellate counsel argues that trial counsel was ineffective because he stipulated that Zamora-Ochoa’s possession of a firearm rendered him ineligible for safety valve relief, but the record reflects the parties’ understanding that the gun belonged to Zamora-Ochoa’s co-defendant. This claim is not precluded by the appeal waiver, but its resolution requires further development of the record and we, therefore, decline to order it briefed on direct appeal. See United States v. Rahman,
642 F.3d 1257, 1259-60 (9th Cir. 2011). Zamora-Ochoa may, however, raise the claim in collateral proceedings through a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion. See
id. at 1260.Counsel’s motion to withdraw is GRANTED. 2 12-10671 DISMISSED. 3 12-10671
Document Info
Docket Number: 12-10671
Citation Numbers: 563 F. App'x 562
Judges: Pregerson, Leavy, Murguia
Filed Date: 3/17/2014
Precedential Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 11/6/2024