Filed: Apr. 19, 2006
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT April 19, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-41675 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus FRED NIMOY CEASAR, Defendant-Appellee. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 6:03-CR-45-ALL - Before HIGGINBOTHAM, BENAVIDES, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Ceasar appeals from his sentence foll
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT April 19, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-41675 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus FRED NIMOY CEASAR, Defendant-Appellee. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 6:03-CR-45-ALL - Before HIGGINBOTHAM, BENAVIDES, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Ceasar appeals from his sentence follo..
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United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT April 19, 2006
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 04-41675
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
FRED NIMOY CEASAR,
Defendant-Appellee.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. 6:03-CR-45-ALL
--------------------
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, BENAVIDES, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Ceasar appeals from his sentence following his guilty-plea,
arguing, inter alia, that the district court erred under Booker.1
The Government, while acknowledging error, argues that Ceasar
waived it, precluding review, or forfeited it, subjecting it to
*
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opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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.
1
543 U.S. 220 (2005).
No. 04-41675
-2-
plain error review,2 which he has failed to show. And it argues
that even if he preserved the error, it was harmless.3
“Waivers of constitutional rights not only must be voluntary
but must be knowing, intelligent acts done with sufficient
awareness of the relevant circumstances and likely consequences;
in other words, such a waiver must constitute an intentional
relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege.”4
Ceasar did not waive the error. His first counsel raised a
Blakely objection to the PSR and then withdrew. Although his
second counsel did not mention Blakely in his objections to the
amended response, neither Ceasar nor his second counsel withdrew
the initial objection. That Ceasar did not “renew” his challenge
at sentencing is irrelevant, for he had an outstanding objection.
Given the change of counsel in the middle of the case and that
the district court never told Ceasar he was waiving his
objection, we cannot say Ceasar knowingly waived his
Blakely/Booker5 challenge.
Moreover, we cannot say that Ceasar forfeited the challenge.
A forfeited error is one the defendant fails to make. Once
2
United States v. Mares,
402 F.3d 511, 520 (5th Cir. 2005) (holding
that unpreserved errors are subject to plain error review).
3
United States v. Pineiro,
410 F.3d 282, 285 (5th Cir. 2005) (holding
that preserved errors are subject to harmless error review).
4
United States v. Newell,
315 F.3d 510, 519 (5th Cir. 2002); see United
States v. Musquiz,
45 F.3d 927, 931-32 (5th Cir. 1995) (finding waiver where
counsel told the court, “we will withdraw the challenge”).
5
Pineiro, 410 F.3d at 285-86 (holding that a Blakely objection
preserves a Booker claim).
No. 04-41675
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Ceasar objected under Blakely, the issue was on the table and
could only be preserved for appeal or waived.
Consequently, we review for harmless error, reversing
unless the Government can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
the district court would have imposed the same sentence under an
advisory Guidelines regime.6 The Government points only to the
fact that the district court sentenced Ceasar in the middle of
the Guidelines range. In a recent unpublished opinion, we held
that insufficient to show harmlessness.7 As a result, we VACATE
Ceasar’s sentence and REMAND for resentencing.
Because we vacate Ceasar’s sentence and remand for
resentencing, we do not address Ceasar’s other claims that the
district court misapplied the Guidelines.8
6
Id.
7
See United States v. Aguirre, 155 F. App’x 145 (5 Cir. 2005).
8
See United States v. Akpan,
407 F.3d 360, 377 n.62 (5th Cir. 2005).