United States v. Saul Aguilar-Sagun

FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION JUL 15 2011 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 10-30191 Plaintiff - Appellee, D.C. No. 3:09-cr-05601-BHS v. MEMORANDUM * SAUL AGUILAR-SAGUN, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Benjamin H. Settle, District Judge, Presiding Submitted July 12, 2011 ** Before: SCHROEDER, ALARCÓN, and LEAVY, Circuit Judges. Saul Aguilar-Sagun appeals from the 120-month sentence imposed following his guilty plea conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A). We have jurisdiction under * 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). 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we dismiss. Aguilar-Sagun pleaded guilty pursuant to a written agreement that included an appeal waiver. He contends that his appeal waiver was not knowing and voluntary because his attorney was ineffective for allowing him to enter a guilty plea that did not preserve his ability to appeal the district court’s denial of his motion to suppress. As a general rule, we do not review challenges to the effectiveness of defense counsel on direct appeal unless (1) the record on appeal is sufficiently developed to permit determination of the issue, or (2) the legal representation is so inadequate that it obviously denies a defendant his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. See United States v. Jeronimo, 398 F.3d 1149, 1155- 56 (9th Cir. 2005). Neither exception applies to this case. Based on the record before this court on direct appeal, we conclude that Aguilar-Sagun’s appeal waiver, which waived any challenge to the district court’s denial of his motion to suppress, was voluntary and enforceable. See id. at 1156-57. DISMISSED. 2 10-30191