Filed: Apr. 16, 2002
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-41365 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff - Appellee v. ERNESTO TIJERINA Defendant - Appellant - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. C-00-CR-260-1 - April 15, 2002 Before KING, Chief Judge, and DAVIS and JONES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Ernesto Tijerina pleaded guilty to count 1 of an indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute more than
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-41365 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff - Appellee v. ERNESTO TIJERINA Defendant - Appellant - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. C-00-CR-260-1 - April 15, 2002 Before KING, Chief Judge, and DAVIS and JONES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Ernesto Tijerina pleaded guilty to count 1 of an indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute more than ..
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 00-41365
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
ERNESTO TIJERINA
Defendant - Appellant
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. C-00-CR-260-1
--------------------
April 15, 2002
Before KING, Chief Judge, and DAVIS and JONES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Ernesto Tijerina pleaded guilty to count 1 of an indictment
charging him with possession with intent to distribute more than
1,000 kilograms of marijuana and has appealed his conviction and
sentence. Tijerina contends that the district court erred in
calculating the quantity of marijuana involved in the offense.
We review this issue for plain error. The issues raised by
Tijerina respecting the district court's drug-quantity
calculation involve questions of fact capable of resolution by
the district court upon proper objection. Such questions can
*
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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 00-41365
-2-
never constitute plain error. See United States v. Sparks,
2 F.3d 574, 589 (5th Cir. 1993); United States v. Pofahl,
990 F.2d 1456, 1479 (5th Cir. 1993).
Tijerina contends that the district court erred in failing
to determine whether his attorney labored under an actual
conflict of interest and in refusing to appoint substitute
counsel. Although Tijerina objected initially that his retained
counsel labored under a conflict of interest, Tijerina waived
this issue when he reentered his guilty plea. See United States
v. Wise,
179 F.3d 184, 186 (5th Cir. 1999). Because Tijerina
failed to show good cause, the district court did not abuse its
discretion in refusing to appoint substitute counsel. United
States v. Young,
482 F.2d 993, 995 (5th Cir. 1973).
Tijerina complains that he did not receive a downward
departure under U.S.S.G. ยง 5K1.1. The district court is without
the authority to grant a downward departure without a Government
motion. See United States v. Price,
95 F.3d 364, 367 (5th Cir.
1996).
Tijerina contends that he received ineffective assistance
of counsel because his attorney failed to challenge the quantity
of drugs at sentencing. Tijerina's speculation that the drug
quantity may have been less than 1,000 kilograms does not
demonstrate that counsel was deficient in failing to challenge
the drug quantity at sentencing. See Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). The judgment is
AFFIRMED.