United States v. Baca

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 01-50228 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus ELOY JULIAN CARDENAS BACA, Defendant-Appellant. ___________________ Consolidated with 01-50229 ___________________ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JOSE OBED ESPARZA-GONZALEZ, Defendant-Appellant, ____________________ Consolidated with No. 01-50237 ____________________ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus VICTOR SANCHEZ-MUNOZ, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC Nos. EP-00-CR-1891-ALL-H, 00-CR-1497-ALL & 00-CR-607-ALL -------------------- December 12, 2001 No. 01-50228 c/w Nos. 01-50229 & 01-50237 -2- Before HIGGINBOTHAM, BARKSDALE, and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Elroy Julian Cardenas Baca, Jose Obed Esparza-Gonzalez, and Victor Sanchez-Munoz all argue that they are entitled to be resentenced because the district court failed to verify that their counsel had read and discussed their presentence reports (PSRs) with them prior to sentencing in violation of Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(c)(3)(A). We agree that the district court failed to comply with Rule 32(c)(3)(A) in each of the appellants’ cases. However, because the appellants did not raise the issue of noncompliance in the district court, the court will correct the error only if it was plain and affected the appellants’ substantial rights. See United States v. Esparza-Gonzalez, 268 F.3d 272, 274 (5th Cir. 2001); see also United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-34 (1993). The appellants failed to object to the Rule 32(c)(3)(A) violation in the district court. The appellants have not asserted that they did not review or discuss their PSRs with their defense counsel, but rely upon their respective records’ failure to indicate that they had reviewed and discussed the PSR with counsel. Thus, the appellants have not asserted that they were prejudiced by the court’s Rule 32(c)(3)(A) oversight. * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 01-50228 c/w Nos. 01-50229 & 01-50237 -3- Because the appellants have failed to carry their burden of demonstrating prejudice, i.e., that their substantial rights were affected, they have not demonstrated plain error. See United States v. Vasquez, 216 F.3d at 456, 459 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 972 (2000). The appellants’ convictions and sentences are AFFIRMED.