Filed: May 15, 2007
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 May 15, 2007 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-40853 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus DAVID SANCHEZ, Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 2:04-CR-716-ALL - Before JONES, Chief Judge, and KING and DAVIS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* David Sanchez appeals from his convict
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT May 15, 2007 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-40853 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus DAVID SANCHEZ, Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 2:04-CR-716-ALL - Before JONES, Chief Judge, and KING and DAVIS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* David Sanchez appeals from his convicti..
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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 May 15, 2007
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 05-40853
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
DAVID SANCHEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. 2:04-CR-716-ALL
--------------------
Before JONES, Chief Judge, and KING and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
David Sanchez appeals from his conviction of possession with
intent to distribute marijuana.
Sanchez contends that his guilty plea was involuntary because
it was influenced by the statements of the district court, the
prosecutor, and defense counsel that he had committed perjury in
his IFP application and during his initial appearance, and by the
prosecutor’s threat to prosecute him for perjury. He argues that
the record does not support a finding that he committed perjury or
made false statements. He asserts that the district court
*
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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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.
improperly participated in the plea negotiation process during the
pretrial hearing. He further asserts that his plea was rendered
involuntary by ineffective assistance of counsel.
Sanchez was properly chargeable with perjury. The
prosecutor’s statement that he intended to charge Sanchez with
perjury if Sanchez testified at his trial was not improper. See
Bordenkircher v. Hayes,
434 U.S. 357, 364-65 (1978). Sanchez’s
statements in his IFP application and at his initial appearance
were inconsistent with defense counsel’s theory of the case. The
statements likely would have seriously undermined that theory of
the case. Without a plausible defensive theory, a conviction was
likely on the facts articulated in support of Sanchez’s plea
agreement. Counsel was not ineffective for counseling Sanchez to
plead guilty. See Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 687
(1984). The district court’s statements regarding the evidence of
perjury were made during a discussion of the admissibility of that
evidence; there was no plea negotiation procedure in which the
district court could intervene. See United States v. Reasor,
418 F.3d 466, 478 (5th Cir. 2005).
Sanchez contends that the district court erred by adjusting
his offense level for obstruction of justice based on his financial
affidavit and/or his statements at the initial appearance and that
counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the adjustment.
The relevant guideline commentary lists “producing or attempting to
produce a false, altered, or counterfeit document or record during
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an official investigation or judicial proceeding” as a ground for
the obstruction adjustment. U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, comment. (n.4(c)).
False statements on a financial affidavit can serve as the basis
for the obstruction adjustment. See United States v. McDonald,
964 F.2d 390, 392 (5th Cir. 1992) (using an alias on financial
affidavit). Moreover, because the adjustment was appropriate,
counsel was not deficient for failing to oppose it. See Koch v.
Puckett,
907 F.2d 524, 527 (5th Cir. 1990) (counsel is not required
to make futile objections).
AFFIRMED.
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