United States of America v. Jesus Grijalva-Martinez

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
JESUS GRIJALVA-MARTINEZ,
Defendant - Appellant.
No. 21-4119
(D.C. No. 4:19-CR-00003-DN-PK-1)
(D. Utah)
_________________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
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Before HOLMES, McHUGH, and CARSON, Circuit Judges.
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This matter is before the court on the government’s motion to enforce the
appeal waiver in Jesus Grijalva-Martinez’s plea agreement pursuant to United States
v. Hahn, 359 F.3d 1315, 1328 (10th Cir. 2004) (en banc) (per curiam), and 10th Cir.
R. 27.3(A)(1)(d). Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we grant the
motion and dismiss the appeal.
Mr. Grijalva-Martinez pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing 50 grams or
more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). In exchange for his
guilty plea, the government agreed to recommend that he be sentenced at the low end
* This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines
of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for
its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
March 22, 2022
Christopher M. Wolpert
Clerk of Court
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of the sentencing guideline range determined by the district court. As part of the plea
agreement, Mr. Grijalva-Martinez waived his right to appeal his sentence and the
manner in which it was determined unless the sentence exceeded the statutory
maximum or was “above the high-end” of the applicable guideline range. Mot. to
Enforce, Attach. A at 4. Both by signing the written plea agreement and in his
responses to the court’s questions at the change of plea hearing, he acknowledged
that he was entering his plea knowingly and voluntarily and that he understood its
consequences, including the possible sentences and the appeal waiver.
The court accepted the plea and, applying a guideline range of 121 to 151
months, sentenced Mr. Grijalva-Martinez to 120 months’ imprisonment—the
statutory minimum, see 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). Despite receiving a below-
guideline-range sentence that is well below the statutory maximum of life
imprisonment, see id., he filed a notice of appeal. His docketing statement indicates
that he intended to appeal his sentence on the ground that the district court did not
grant a sufficient variance under the facts presented at sentencing.
In response to the government’s motion to enforce the appeal waiver,
Mr. Grijalva-Martinez’s counsel cited Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744
(1967), and stated that Mr. Grijalva-Martinez has no non-frivolous argument against
enforcement of his appeal waiver. Counsel also requested permission to withdraw
from representing Mr. Grijalva-Martinez. See id. We gave Mr. Grijalva-Martinez an
opportunity to file a pro se response to the motion to enforce, but he has not done so.
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In ruling on a motion to enforce, we consider whether the appeal falls within
the scope of the waiver, whether the waiver was knowing and voluntary, and whether
enforcing it would result in a miscarriage of justice. Hahn, 359 F.3d at 1325.
Having reviewed the proceedings in accordance with our obligation under Anders,
see 386 U.S. at 744, we conclude that the Hahn factors have been met and that there
is no non-frivolous argument to make against enforcing the appeal waiver.
Accordingly, we grant the government’s motion to enforce the appeal waiver
in Mr. Grijalva-Martinez’s plea agreement and dismiss this appeal. We also grant
defense counsel’s motion to withdraw.
Entered for the Court
Per Curiam
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