United States v. Rivas-Garcia

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT December 17, 2004 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-50612 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus HECTOR RIVAS-GARCIA, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 3:04-CR-116-ALL-PRM -------------------- Before KING, Chief Judge, and DeMOSS and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Appealing the Judgment in a Criminal Case, Hector Rivas- Garcia raises arguments that are foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998), which held that a prior conviction is a sentencing factor under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) and not a separate criminal offense. The Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, and the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.