Judges: Per Curiam
Filed: May 03, 2007
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION To be cited only in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit Chicago, Illinois 60604 Submitted May 3, 2007 Decided May 3, 2007 Before Hon. RICHARD A. POSNER, Circuit Judge Hon. MICHAEL S. KANNE, Circuit Judge Hon. DIANE P. WOOD, Circuit Judge No. 07-1058 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Appeal from the United States District Plaintiff-Appellee, Court for the Southern District of Illinois v. No. 06-30052-MJR MAURO PIÑA-GONZAL
Summary: NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION To be cited only in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit Chicago, Illinois 60604 Submitted May 3, 2007 Decided May 3, 2007 Before Hon. RICHARD A. POSNER, Circuit Judge Hon. MICHAEL S. KANNE, Circuit Judge Hon. DIANE P. WOOD, Circuit Judge No. 07-1058 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Appeal from the United States District Plaintiff-Appellee, Court for the Southern District of Illinois v. No. 06-30052-MJR MAURO PIÑA-GONZALE..
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NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION
To be cited only in accordance with
Fed. R. App. P. 32.1
United States Court of Appeals
For the Seventh Circuit
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Submitted May 3, 2007
Decided May 3, 2007
Before
Hon. RICHARD A. POSNER, Circuit Judge
Hon. MICHAEL S. KANNE, Circuit Judge
Hon. DIANE P. WOOD, Circuit Judge
No. 07-1058
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Appeal from the United States District
Plaintiff-Appellee, Court for the Southern District of Illinois
v. No. 06-30052-MJR
MAURO PIÑA-GONZALEZ, Michael J. Reagan,
Defendant-Appellant. Judge.
ORDER
Mauro Piña-Gonzalez, a Mexican citizen, pleaded guilty to being in the
United States without permission after his removal. See 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). Piña-
Gonzalez had been removed after he was convicted of the statutory rape of a 13-
year-old girl, whom he also impregnated. The district court calculated a guidelines
imprisonment range of 46 to 57 months and sentenced Piña-Gonzalez to 57 months.
The court explicitly rejected the requests of both the government and defense
counsel that he receive a sentence at the bottom of the range; the court noted that
Piña-Gonzalez was still serving probation for the statutory rape when he committed
the immigration violation, and that his young victim was with him when he was
arrested, despite a court order prohibiting him from contacting her.
As part of a written plea agreement, Piña-Gonzalez waived the right to
No. 07-1058 Page 2
appeal his conviction and any sentence within the guidelines range. Despite this
waiver, Piña-Gonzalez directed his appointed counsel to appeal his sentence, but
counsel now seeks to withdraw because he cannot discern a nonfrivolous basis for
the appeal. See Anders v. California,
386 U.S. 738 (1967). Piña-Gonzalez was
invited to respond to counsel’s motion, see Cir. R. 51(b), but his only response was to
request the appointment of new counsel. Our review of the record is thus limited to
the potential issues identified in counsel’s facially adequate brief. See United States
v. Schuh,
289 F.3d 968, 973-74 (7th Cir. 2002).
Counsel identifies two possible grounds on which Piña-Gonzalez could attack
his sentence, but the appeal waiver makes both frivolous. An appeal waiver is
enforceable if knowing and voluntary, United States v. Lockwood,
416 F.3d 604, 608
(7th Cir. 2005), so Piña-Gonzalez cannot proceed with this appeal unless he can
overcome his waiver. And Piña-Gonzalez cannot contest the waiver without
challenging his guilty plea, see United States v. Cieslowski,
410 F.3d 353, 361-62
(7th Cir. 2005); United States v. Whitlow,
287 F.3d 638, 640 (7th Cir. 2002), which
Piña-Gonzalez has not indicated that he wishes to do. Thus, any argument relating
to his sentence would be frivolous.
Counsel also considers whether Piña-Gonzalez could argue that he received
ineffective assistance of counsel. Any such claim, however, is better suited to
collateral attack, at which time a full record may be developed. See Massaro v.
United States,
538 U.S. 500, 504-05 (2003); United States v. Harris,
394 F.3d 543,
557-58 (7th Cir. 2005).
Accordingly, counsel's motion to withdraw is GRANTED, and Piña-Gonzalez’s
filing, which we construe as a motion for the appointment of substitute counsel, is
DENIED. This appeal is DISMISSED.