United States v. Raul Lopez-Arroyo

472 F. App'x 679

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: April 19, 2012
• Docket: 10-10579
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Raul Christian Lopez-Arroyo appeals from the 192-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(l)(A)(vii), and 846; and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(l)(A)(vii).

Lopez-Arroyo contends that he was sentenced in violation of the Sixth Amendment because his base offense level was enhanced on the basis of facts not found by a jury. This argument fails because his sentence did not exceed the statutory maximum of life imprisonment. See United States v. Chavez, 611 F.3d 1006, 1009 (9th Cir.2010) (per curiam). Lopez-Arroyo also contends that the district court clearly erred by imposing a two-level enhancement for possession of a dangerous weapon under U.S.S.G. § 2Dl.l(b)(l) and a three-level aggravating role enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(b). In connection with this argument, he contends that the district court was required to use the standard of clear and convincing evidence in determining whether the government had carried its burden of establishing that the enhancements were warranted. Lopez-Arroyo’s arguments lack merit. The enhancements were subject to the preponderance of the evidence standard, as they did not have an “extremely disproportionate effect on the sentence relative to the offense of conviction.” See United States v. Dare, 425 F.3d 634, 642 (9th Cir.2005) (internal quotation marks omitted). Applying this standard, the district court did not cleai'ly err in imposing the enhancement for possession of a dangerous weapon. See United States v. Pitts, 6 F.3d 1366, 1372-73 (9th Cir.1993). Nor did the district court clearly err in determining that Lopez-Arroyo managed or supervised criminal activity that involved at least five participants. See United States v. Garcia, 497 F.3d 964, 969-70 (9th Cir.2007).

Lopez-Arroyo also contends that his sentence is substantively unreasonable. Lopez-Arroyo’s within-Guidelines sentence is substantively reasonable under the totality of circumstances and in light of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors. See United States v. Carty, 520 F.3d 984, 993 (9th Cir.2008) (en banc).

Lastly, Lopez-Arroyo contends that the district court violated his Sixth Amendment right to counsel by failing to continue sentencing sua sponte. The district court did not abuse its discretion by failing to continue sentencing. See United States v. Orlando, 553 F.3d 1235, 1237-38 (9th Cir. 2009). To the extent Lopez-Arroyo contends that he was denied the right to the effective assistance of counsel at sentencing, we decline to consider such a claim on direct appeal. See United States v. McKenna, 327 F.3d 830, 845 (9th Cir. 2003).

We are in receipt of Lopez-Arroyo’s pro se letter, received on January 12, 2012, withdrawing his motion to relieve counsel and proceed pro se. Accordingly, Lopez-Arroyo’s motion, received on December 19, 2011, is denied.

AFFIRMED.

** This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.