United States v. Tellez

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED October 24, 2007 No. 07-50241 Conference Calendar Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff-Appellee v. ROSARIO MUNIZ TELLEZ Defendant-Appellant Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 7:06-CR-158-ALL Before JOLLY, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Rosario Muniz Tellez appeals his conviction following a jury trial for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3). He argues that the district court erred in denying his request for an instruction and jury charge that included the definition of “unlawful user” that this court used in United States v. Herrera, 289 F.3d 311, 323-24 (Herrera I), vacated, United States v. Herrera, 313 F.3d 882 (5th Cir. 2002) (en banc) (Herrera II). The Government moves for summary * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 07-50241 affirmance on the ground that Muniz Tellez’s argument is foreclosed by our precedent or, in the alternative, for an extension of time to file an appellate brief. We review a district court’s refusal to give a requested jury instruction for abuse of discretion. United States v. Cain, 440 F.3d 672, 674 (5th Cir. 2006). Muniz Tellez’s argument that the district court erred in refusing to give the jury a Herrera I instruction is foreclosed by our precedent, particularly our decision in United States v. Patterson, 431 F.3d 832, 837-39 (5th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 2043 (2006). See also United States v. McCowan, 469 F.3d 386, 391-92 (5th Cir. 2006); Herrera II, 313 F.3d at 883-85. Accordingly, the district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED, the Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, and the Government’s alternative motion for an extension of time to file an appellate brief is DENIED. 2