United States v. Lucero

120 F.3d 271

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• Decided: July 29, 1997
• Docket: 20-3038
• Status: Published

Opinion

120 F.3d 271

NOTICE: Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored, unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties. See General Order of November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until December 31, 1995, or further order.

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Randy LUCERO, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 96-2263.

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

July 29, 1997.

Before SEYMOUR, Chief Judge, PORFILIO and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.

ORDER

Randy Lucero seeks a certificate of appealability to contest the denial of his pro se motion filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. We have examined the record and considered the arguments raised in Mr. Lucero's motion and conclude the district court did not err in its disposition Mr. Lucero attempts to raise a double jeopardy argument in this court that apparently was not presented to the district court, but we will not consider issues raised for the first time on appeal.

His argument is meritless nevertheless because it is premised on a contention Mr. Lucero was convicted twice for the same conduct. He argues one of the crimes of conviction is the lesser included of the other. That contention is faulty because the crimes of conviction are conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Neither of those offenses is included within the other.

Principally for the reasons given in the recommendations of the magistrate judge, we conclude Mr. Lucero has failed to demonstrate the denial of a constitutional right by showing the issues raised in his appeal are debateable among jurists; that a court could resolve the issues differently; or that the questions deserve further proceedings. The certificate of appealability is DENIED and the appeal is DISMISSED. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); Lennox v. Evans, 87 F.3d 431 (10th Cir.1996). The motion for leave to proceed without payment of fees is GRANTED.