United States v. Jorge Gutierrez-Matamoros

Case: 12-41255 Document: 00512281960 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/20/2013 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED June 20, 2013 No. 12-41255 Summary Calendar Lyle W. Cayce Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. JORGE JAVIER GUTIERREZ-MATAMOROS, also known as Mario Javier Gutierrez-Matamoros, Defendant-Appellant Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 7:12-CR-993-1 Before REAVLEY, JOLLY, and DAVIS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* The Federal Public Defender appointed to represent Jorge Javier Gutierrez-Matamoros has moved for leave to withdraw and has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and United States v. Flores, 632 F.3d 229 (5th Cir. 2011). Gutierrez-Matamoros has filed a response. To the extent that Gutierrez-Matamoros challenges trial counsel’s effectiveness for failing to challenge the enhancements based on the age of his prior * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. Case: 12-41255 Document: 00512281960 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/20/2013 No. 12-41255 convictions, the issue can be addressed and presents no nonfrivolous issue. See Clark v. Collins, 19 F.3d 959, 966 (5th Cir. 1994) (counsel does not render ineffective assistance by failing to make meritless objections). To the extent that Gutierrez-Matamoros’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel go beyond that, the record is insufficiently developed to allow consideration at this time of his claims; such claims generally “cannot be resolved on direct appeal when [they have] not been raised before the district court since no opportunity existed to develop the record on the merits of the allegations.” United States v. Cantwell, 470 F.3d 1087, 1091 (5th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). We have reviewed counsel’s brief and the relevant portions of the record reflected therein, as well as Gutierrez-Matamoros’s response. We concur with counsel’s assessment that the appeal presents no nonfrivolous issue for appellate review. Accordingly, the motion for leave to withdraw is GRANTED, counsel is excused from further responsibilities herein, and the APPEAL IS DISMISSED. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. 2