Filed: Jan. 05, 2001
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 99-50849 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff - Appellee v. OLIVIA CANALES-PEREZ, also known as Olivia Canalez-Perez Defendant - Appellant - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. DR-98-CR-589-1 - January 5, 2001 Before KING, Chief Judge, and SMITH and PARKER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Olivia Canales-Perez appeals her conviction for importation of marijuana and posse
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 99-50849 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff - Appellee v. OLIVIA CANALES-PEREZ, also known as Olivia Canalez-Perez Defendant - Appellant - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. DR-98-CR-589-1 - January 5, 2001 Before KING, Chief Judge, and SMITH and PARKER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Olivia Canales-Perez appeals her conviction for importation of marijuana and posses..
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-50849
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
OLIVIA CANALES-PEREZ, also known as Olivia Canalez-Perez
Defendant - Appellant
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. DR-98-CR-589-1
--------------------
January 5, 2001
Before KING, Chief Judge, and SMITH and PARKER, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Olivia Canales-Perez appeals her conviction for importation
of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
She argues that the evidence was not sufficient to support her
convictions. A review of the record indicates that a rational
trier of fact could have found that the evidence established
beyond a reasonable doubt that Canales-Perez knew that the
marijuana was hidden in the compartment within the gas tank of
her vehicle, that she knowingly brought the marijuana into the
United States, and that she possessed the marijuana with the
*
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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 99-50849
-2-
intent to distribute it. See United States v. Jones,
185 F.3d
459, 464 (5th Cir. 1999), cert. denied,
121 S. Ct. 125 (2000);
United States v. Cano-Guel,
167 F.3d 900, 904 (5th Cir. 1999).
Canales-Perez argues that the district court encouraged her
to cooperate with the Government and then improperly used the
information she provided as a basis for an upward adjustment of
her sentence. Before Canales-Perez provided any information to
the Government, the district court advised her that her offense
level would be increased due to her use of a minor in the offense
and to obstruction of justice based on her perjured testimony,
and that she was not entitled to acceptance of responsibility.
The district court advised her that she might be able to reduce
her sentence if she provided substantial assistance to the
Government and the Government determined that a § 5K1.1 motion
should be filed. Canales-Perez has not shown that the district
court improperly increased her offense level based on the
additional information she provided to the Government after her
conviction.
Canales-Perez argues that the district court erroneously
believed that a reduction for acceptance of responsibility was
available only if a defendant accepts responsibility prior to
trial. In “rare situations,” a defendant who exercises his right
to trial may qualify for the adjustment, such as “where a
defendant goes to trial to assert and preserve issues that do not
relate to factual guilt.” U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, § 3E1.1,
comment. (n.2). Canales-Perez is not entitled to rely upon this
exception because a challenge to the introduction of evidence
No. 99-50849
-3-
establishing guilt is indistinguishable from a challenge to
factual guilt. See United States v. Maldonado,
42 F.3d 906, 913
(5th Cir. 1995). Canales-Perez has not shown that the district
court erred in denying a reduction in her offense level for
acceptance of responsibility.
AFFIRMED.