USA v. Aparicio-Martinez

Filing 920060217

Opinion

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit

F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT February 17, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-41522 Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JUAN APARICIO-MARTINEZ, true name Juan Silvestre Aparicio-Martinez, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (5:04-CR-537-ALL) -------------------Before KING, WIENER, and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Defendant-Appellant Juan Silvestre Aparicio-Martinez

(Aparicio) appeals his sentence under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b) for illegal re-entry into the United States after having been deported following conviction for an aggravated felony. Aparicio maintains that the "felony" and "aggravated felony" provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) are unconstitutional. This issue

is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 235 (1998).
*

Although Aparicio contends that Almendarez-Torres was

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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.

incorrectly decided and that majority of the Supreme Court would overrule it in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), we have repeatedly rejected such arguments on the basis that Almendarez-Torres remains binding. See United States v.

Garza-Lopez, 410 F.3d 268, 276 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 298 (2005). Aparicio candidly concedes that his argument is

foreclosed in light of Almendarez-Torres and circuit precedent, raising it here solely to preserve it for further review. conviction is AFFIRMED. In addition, Aparicio asserts that the district court's His

proceeding during sentencing under the United States Sentencing Guidelines as mandatory, rather than advisory, requires us to reverse under United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005). We

apply a harmless error standard of review. United States v. Mares, 402 F.3d 511, 520 n.9 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 43 (2005). The government has not met its burden of proving that the

district judge would have imposed the same sentence under an advisory guidelines regime. See United States v. Walters, 418 F.3d 461, 463-65 (5th Cir. 2005). Aparicio's sentence is thus vacated

and his case remanded to the district court for resentencing in accordance with United States v. Booker. CONVICTION RESENTENCING. AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED AND REMANDED FOR

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