Opinion
Case No. 18-mj-3274 WVG DMS
09-10-2018
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. RAMIRO CASTRO-BERNAL, Defendant.
ORDER AFFIRMING JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION
This matter comes before the Court on Defendant Ramiro Castro-Bernal's appeal of the judgment of conviction entered by Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo following his guilty plea to a misdemeanor offense of eluding examination and inspection by immigration officers in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(2). Defendant seeks to set aside his plea based on alleged violations of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. For the following reasons, the judgment is affirmed.
I.
BACKGROUND
On June 13, 2018, a Complaint was filed charging Defendant with eluding examination and inspection by immigration officers in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(2). At the change of plea hearing on June 19, 2018, Defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. Before accepting the guilty plea, the Magistrate Judge advised Defendant of the elements of the charged offense and the factual basis for the plea. Defendant affirmed he understood the elements of the offense and admitted the factual basis for the plea. Defendant did not raise any objections to the plea. The Magistrate Judge imposed a time served sentence with no fines or special assessment. On June 20, 2018, Defendant filed a notice of appeal.
II.
LEGAL STANDARD
This appeal centers on Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, which governs the process for entering pleas and sets forth requirements for a court's acceptance of a guilty plea. "Generally, 'where, as here, the defendant failed to raise the Rule 11 violation before the trial court,'" the court "review[s] the alleged error under the plain-error standard." See United States v. Myers, 804 F.3d 1246, 1256 (9th Cir. 2015); see also United States v. Pena, 314 F.3d 1152, 1155 (9th Cir. 2003) ("Because [defendant] did not object below to the Rule 11 colloquy, his conviction may be reversed for Rule 11 error only if the district court committed plain error.") (citations omitted). While the Ninth Circuit has recognized certain exceptions to this general rule, such as "when a timely objection 'was either unlikely or futile[,]'" Myers, 804 F.3d at 1256 (quoting United States v. Kyle, 734 F.3d 956, 962 (9th Cir. 2013)), or "'where the appeal presents a pure question of law[,]'" United States v. Yijun Zhou, 838 F.3d 1007, 1011 (9th Cir. 2016) (quoting United States v. Gonzalez-Aparicio, 663 F.3d 419, 426 (9th Cir. 2011)), none of these exceptions applies here. Accordingly, the Court reviews Defendant's unpreserved Rule 11 claims for plain error. See Yijun Zhou, 838 F.3d at 1012 (applying plain error to unpreserved Rule 11(b) claim involving mixed question of law and fact).
"Under the plain error standard, relief is not warranted unless there has been: (1) error, (2) that was plain, (3) that affected substantial rights, and (4) that seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceedings." United States v. Chavez-Cuevas, 862 F.3d 729, 733-34 (9th Cir. 2017) (citing Gonzalez-Aparicio, 663 F.3d at 428). Plain error "'is error that is so clear-cut, so obvious, a competent district judge should be able to avoid it without benefit of objection.'" Gonzalez-Aparicio, 663 F.3d at 428 (quoting United States v. Turman, 122 F.3d 1167, 1170 (9th Cir. 1997)). Where, as here, a defendant "seeks reversal of his conviction after a guilty plea, on the ground that the district court committed plain error under Rule 11, [he] must show a reasonable probability that, but for the error, he would not have entered the plea." United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83 (2004).
III.
DISCUSSION
Defendant requests the Court to vacate his guilty plea on grounds that the Magistrate Judge violated Rule 11(b) by: (1) failing to determine whether there was a sufficient factual basis for the plea and (2) failing to properly inform Defendant about the nature of the charged offense.
A. Rule 11(b)(3)
Defendant initially argues the Magistrate Judge violated Rule 11(b)(3) by accepting his guilty plea even though the underlying factual basis was inadequate. Defendant contends a violation of § 1352(a)(2) can only occur at a designated place, i.e., a port of entry, but the factual basis of his plea only established that he entered at a non-designated place. Before entering judgment on a plea, a court must "determine that there is a factual basis for the plea." Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(3). "To satisfy this requirement, '[t]he judge must determine that the conduct which the defendant admits constitutes the offense charged ... to which the defendant has pleaded guilty.'" United States v. Jones, 472 F.3d 1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting McCarthy v. United States, 394 U.S. 459, 467 (1969)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Under 8 U.S.C. § 1325(a), an alien who "(1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact" is guilty of a misdemeanor. The plain language of § 1325(a)(2) does not limit the conduct of eluding examination or inspection to a port of entry. A defendant eludes inspection when he gains entry into the United States "through an unlawful point" and does not submit to examination at the time of the entry. See United States v. Rincon-Jimenez, 595 F.2d 1192, 1193-94 (9th Cir. 1979) (stating defendant entered illegally under § 1325(a)(2) when "he did not enter at an officially designated border checkpoint, he never presented himself for the medical examination and inspection required of all entering aliens."). Indeed, courts in this District have held "[t]here is no requirement in § 1325(a)(2) that the act of eluding examination or inspection by an immigration officer take place at a designated port of entry." United States v. Flores-Ramos, No. 18MJ2665 WQH, 2018 WL 3833488, at *3 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 13, 2018); see also United States v. Perez-Martinez, No. 18MJ02495RNBBAS1, 2018 WL 3816907, at *2-3 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 8, 2018) ("The Court rejects defense counsel's premise that a violation of subsection (a)(2) of § 1325 requires entry at a port of entry."); United States v. Ochoa-Delgado, No. 18MJ3457 AJB, 2018 WL 4002712, at *4 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 22, 2018) (similar). The Court finds the reasoning of these courts persuasive.
Here, Defendant's counsel proffered, and Defendant expressly agreed to, the factual basis of the plea as follows: "On June 12th, Mr. Castro entered the United States by way of Mexico, not at a port of entry. He was apprehended approximately 30 miles east of the Tecate, California, Port of Entry, and two miles north of the international border. Once apprehended, he also admitted that he is a citizen and a national of ... Mexico. With no documents to be here in the United States." (ECF No. 21 at 11-12.) That is a sufficient factual basis. The Magistrate Judge therefore did not violate Rule 11(b)(3) by accepting Defendant's plea. / / /
B. Rule 11(b)(1)(G)
Next, Defendant argues the Magistrate Judge violated Rule 11(b)(1)(G) by failing to properly inform Defendant about the nature of the charged offense because he "confusingly combined the elements of § 1325(a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) into a single offense[.]" (Opening Br. at 8.) Moreover, Defendant claims the Magistrate Judge failed to ensure Defendant understood the elements, which concerned technical legal concepts requiring greater explanation. Pursuant to Rule 11(b)(1)(G), during a plea colloquy, "the court must inform the defendant of, and determine that the defendant understands ... the nature of each charge to which the defendant is pleading." Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(G). "In order to comply with [Rule] 11(b)(1)(G), the district court must advise the defendant of the elements of the charge and must ensure that the defendant understands them." United States v. Mamea, 101 F. App'x 232, 233 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing United States v. Minore, 292 F.3d 1109, 1115 (9th Cir. 2002)).
The record indicates the Magistrate Judge recited the elements of the offense as follows:
The first fact or element is that you're an alien and not a citizen of the United States. The second fact or element is that you entered or attempted to enter the United States at a time or place not designated by immigration officials; or that you eluded examination and inspection by immigration officials; or you entered or attempted to enter the United States by making a willful and false statement of fact and -- or the willful omission of a material fact.(ECF No. 21 at 10.) The Magistrate Judge's explanation of the elements of the offense was sufficient to convey the nature of the charge. Defendant understood he was pleading guilty to eluding examination and inspection in violation of § 1325(a)(2). Defendant affirmed he understood the requisite elements and admitted the factual basis for the plea. The Magistrate Judge therefore did not violate Rule 11(b)(1)(G). See Perez-Martinez, 2018 WL 3816907, at *3 (rejecting the defendant's argument that a magistrate judge's recitation of elements for all three subsections of § 1325 when he was only pleading guilty to one subsection was confusing); see also United States v. Ochoa-Delgado, No. 18MJ3457 AJB, 2018 WL 4002712, at *5 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 22, 2018) (similar). In any event, Defendant has failed to establish a reasonable probability that, but for the error, he would not have entered the plea.
IV.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of conviction is affirmed. The Clerk of Court shall close the case.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: September 10, 2018
/s/_________
Hon. Dana M. Sabraw
United States District Judge