F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
DEC 4 2002
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
No. 02-5081
v. D.C. No. 99-CR-66-C
(N.D. Oklahoma)
ARMANDO PADILLA,
Defendant - Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before PORFILIO and BALDOCK, Circuit Judges, and BRORBY, Senior
Circuit Judge.
Appellant Armando Padilla pled guilty to one count of distribution of an
unspecified amount of methamphetamine. Based on its findings regarding the
quantity of drugs involved, the district court sentenced Mr. Padilla to over
twenty-four years’ imprisonment, in excess of the statutory maximum. Mr.
*
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously to grant the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral
argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding
precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and
collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and
judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and
conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
Padilla appealed his initial sentence to this court. Relying on Apprendi v. New
Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490 (2000), we reversed and remanded for re-sentencing.
At re-sentencing, it was determined that the sentencing guidelines range
was 292-365 months, and the statutory maximum sentence was 240 months. Since
there were no grounds for a downward departure, the district court’s only option
was to sentence Mr. Padilla to 240 months’ imprisonment. Mr. Padilla had
previously waived his right to appeal his sentence unless it exceeded the statutory
maximum. Nonetheless, Mr. Padilla proceeded to file a pro se notice of appeal.
Pursuant to 10th Cir. R. 46.3, the counsel representing Mr. Padilla at re-
sentencing were required to continue their representation on appeal. Counsel
filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and have
moved for leave to withdraw. Mr. Padilla did not file a response to the Anders
brief and the government did not file a reply brief.
In their Anders brief counsel raised the issue of whether Mr. Padilla’s trial
attorney was ineffective in failing to advise him of the effects of relevant conduct
when pleading to a lesser amount of drugs. By allowing Mr. Padilla to testify
without advising him regarding relevant conduct, trial counsel allegedly caused an
increase in his offense level, and accordingly, his guideline range. Ineffective
assistance of counsel claims should be brought in collateral proceedings, not on
direct appeal.” United States v. Galloway, 56 F.3d 1239, 1240 (10th Cir. 1995).
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Appellate counsel concedes this point. Counsel also notes that, in his plea
agreement, Mr. Padilla waived all appellate rights, except his right to appeal if the
sentence exceeded the statutory maximum.
To avoid dismissal of his appeal, Mr. Padilla must show why we should not
enforce the waiver provision of the plea agreement. United States v. Rubio,
231 F.3d 709, 711 (10th Cir. 2000). Whether a defendant’s waiver was knowing
and voluntary is reviewed de novo. Id. at 712. Mr. Padilla has offered no
argument as to the validity of the waiver, and nothing in the record suggests that
Mr. Padilla’s decision to consent to the waiver was unknowing or involuntary. “If
the waiver is effective, we would certainly overreach our jurisdiction to entertain
this appeal when the plea agreement deprived Defendant of the right to appeal.”
Id. at 711.
Accordingly, we DISMISS this appeal and GRANT counsels’ motions to
withdraw.
Entered for the Court
Wade Brorby
Senior Circuit Judge
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