USA v. Leandro Cortes-Melendez

Filing

UNPUBLISHED OPINION FILED. [17-50143 Dismissed as Frivolous] Judge: JLW, Judge: JLD, Judge: LHS. Mandate pull date is 09/22/2017 for Appellant Leandro Perfecto Cortes-Melendez; granting motion to withdraw as counsel filed by Ms. Judy Fulmer Madewell [8493539-2]; denying motion to substitute counsel filed by Appellant Mr. Leandro Perfecto Cortes-Melendez [8582347-2] [17-50143]

Case: 17-50143

Document: 00514141385

Page: 1

Date Filed: 09/01/2017

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 17-50143
Summary Calendar

United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit

FILED
September 1, 2017
Lyle W. Cayce
Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee
v.
LEANDRO PERFECTO CORTES-MELENDEZ,
Defendant-Appellant
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. 2:16-CR-1068-1
Before WIENER, DENNIS, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *

The Federal Public Defender appointed to represent Leandro Perfecto
Cortes-Melendez 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). Cortes-Melendez has filed a response,
but does not assert any grounds for appeal other than possible ineffective
assistance of counsel. Because the record is not sufficiently developed to allow

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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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: 17-50143

Document: 00514141385

Page: 2

Date Filed: 09/01/2017

No. 17-50143
us to make a fair evaluation of this claim, we therefore decline to consider it on
direct review. Our decision not to reach this issue is without prejudice to
collateral review and does not prevent Cortes-Melendez from raising his
ineffective assistance of counsel claim under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. See United
States v. Isgar, 739 F.3d 829, 841 (5th Cir. 2014).
“If counsel finds [a] case to be wholly frivolous, after a conscientious
examination of it,” she may request permission to withdraw after filling “a brief
referring to anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal.”
Anders, 386 U.S. at 744. This court “then proceeds, after a full examination of
all the proceedings, to decide whether the case is wholly frivolous.” Id. We
have reviewed counsel’s brief and the relevant portions of the record reflected
therein, as well as Cortes-Melendez’s response, and hold that the appeal
presents no non-frivolous issue for our review.
Because Cortes-Melendez declared in writing his decision not to appeal
his conviction, we consider potential challenges to his sentencing only. See
United States v. Garcia, 483 F.3d 289, 291 (5th Cir. 2007). The record presents
no non-frivolous argument that the district court erred in calculating his
Guidelines range, or that the sentence imposed was procedurally or
substantively unreasonable. 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. Cortes-Melendez’s motion for
the appointment of substitute counsel is DENIED.

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