United States v. Higareda

206 F. App'x 687

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: November 14, 2006
• Docket: No. 05-50978
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

**

Luis Francisco Higareda appeals from his 60-month sentence for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

Higareda contends that the district court incorrectly denied him relief pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2 because the judge applied the wrong burden of proof in considering whether he was eligible for the safety valve. Additionally, Higareda contends that the district court erred in determining that he possessed a firearm ‘in connection with’ his offense for purposes of safety valve eligibility. We disagree.

A review of the record shows that the district court applied the proper preponderance of the evidence burden of proof. See United States v. Nelson, 222 F.3d 545, 551 (9th Cir.2000) (holding that a defendant seeking a safety-valve reduction bears the burden of proving eligibility by a preponderance of the evidence). The district court did not err in finding that Higareda possessed a firearm for purposes of safety valve eligibility. See United States v. Ferryman, 444 F.3d 1183, 1186 (9th Cir.2006).

AFFIRMED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.