United States v. Gamez-Acuna , 375 F. App'x 809 ( 2010 )

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
March 19, 2010
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
TENTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee, No. 08-4091 & 08-4122
v. (D. Utah)
CARLOS A. GAMEZ-ACUNA, (D.C. No. 2:07-CR-00156-DAK-1)
Defendant - Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before HENRY, Chief Judge, MURPHY, and O’BRIEN, Circuit Judges.
I. INTRODUCTION
During a traffic stop, police officers discovered methamphetamine in a car
driven by Carlos Gamez-Acuna. Gamez-Acuna was charged with possession with
intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and illegal reentry by a previously deported alien, in
violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a)(2). He moved to suppress the methamphetamine,
arguing the search of his vehicle was not based on voluntary and intelligent
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the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.
consent. After the district court denied the motion to suppress, the case
proceeded to trial. A jury found Gamez-Acuna guilty of both the drug-possession
and illegal-reentry charges. Gamez-Acuna appeals, challenging his convictions
on the following four grounds: (1) the district court erred in finding he voluntarily
consented to the search of his vehicle; (2) his § 841(a)(1) conviction is not
supported by sufficient evidence; (3) the district court erred in refusing to sever
the drug possession charge from the illegal reentry charge; and (4) trial counsel
provided ineffective assistance. This court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1291.
We dismiss without prejudice Gamez-Acuna’s claim of ineffective
assistance of trial counsel. United States v. Galloway, 56 F.3d 1239, 1240 (10th
Cir. 1995) (en banc) (“Ineffective assistance of counsel claims should be brought
in collateral proceedings, not on direct appeal. Such claims brought on direct
appeal are presumptively dismissible, and virtually all will be dismissed.”).
Gamez-Acuana’s remaining claims of error are without merit. Accordingly, this
court affirms his convictions.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Denial of Suppression Motion
1. Background
In reviewing a district court’s ruling on a motion to suppress, this court
considers the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party. United
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States v. Reeves, 524 F.3d 1161, 1163-64 (10th Cir. 2008). The district court
denied Gamez-Acuna’s motion to suppress, finding he freely and voluntarily
consented to the search of his car. The facts taken in the light most favorable to
the government are as follows. 1
On February 4, 2007, a Utah Highway Patrol Trooper was on patrol in San
Juan County, Utah, when he stopped a white Nissan Sentra for speeding. The
entire stop was recorded by a video recording machine in the Trooper’s vehicle. 2
After the Nissan pulled over to the side of the road, the Trooper approached the
vehicle from the driver’s side. He immediately observed a Nebraska temporary
tag affixed to the rear license plate holder. The Trooper initiated a conversation
with Gamez-Acuna. The Trooper spoke in English and Gamez-Acuna spoke in
both English and Spanish. As set out more fully below, Gamez-Acuna provided
relevant responses to the Trooper’s questions and the Trooper understood what
Gamez said.
1
In reviewing the denial of a motion to suppress, this court is “permitted to
consider evidence introduced at the suppression hearing, as well as any evidence
properly presented at trial.” United States v. Jones, 523 F.3d 1235, 1239 (10th
Cir. 2008) (quotation omitted). Consistent with Jones, this background section
summarizes relevant evidence presented at both the suppression hearing and
Gamez-Acuna’s trial.
2
The video recording and a transcript of the verbal exchanges contained in
the recording were introduced at the suppression hearing and trial. Both the video
recording and the transcript are part of the record before this court on appeal.
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Gamez-Acuna gave the Trooper a Mexican driver’s license, a sales receipt
for the Nissan, and the Nissan’s insurance information. 3 The Trooper noticed
Gamez-Acuna’s hands were shaking uncontrollably; Gamez-Acuna was quite
nervous and continued to shake throughout the entire encounter. The Trooper
observed a cell phone on Gamez-Acuna’s lap and another cell phone on the
passenger seat. The Trooper testified at trial that in his training and experience,
the presence of multiple cell phones was indicative of drug trafficking.
The Trooper asked Gamez-Acuna to exit his vehicle, accompany him back
to the patrol vehicle, and sit in the front passenger seat of the patrol car. The
video of the encounter shows that, consistent with the Trooper’s directions,
Gamez-Acuna went to the patrol vehicle and sat in the front passenger seat.
Gamez-Acuna initiated a conversation with the Trooper regarding the speed limit,
asking if the speed limit was forty miles per hour. The Trooper indicated the
speed limit was thirty miles per hour and asked Gamez-Acuna about his driver’s
license and vehicle. The Trooper asked if Gamez-Acuna had a license from either
Colorado or Arizona. Gamez-Acuna responded that he only had a Mexican
driver’s license, but that it was good for driving in Colorado. When Gamez-
Acuna asked whether the Trooper was going to ticket him, the Trooper indicated
3
The district court found that Gamez-Acuna “responded without question to
[the Trooper’s] request for documentation on the vehicle, license, and insurance
by handing him a Mexico driver’s license . . . , a sales receipt for the vehicle, and
proof of insurance.”
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he had not yet decided and first wanted to “check some things out” before getting
Gamez-Acuna “down the road.”
The Trooper asked Gamez-Acuna to clarify where and when he purchased
the Nissan. Consistent with the information on the sales receipt he previously
gave the trooper, Gamez-Acuna indicated he purchased the vehicle approximately
one month earlier in Nebraska for $2500.00. 4 Gamez-Acuna answered “no” when
the Trooper asked if he had paid cash for the Nissan. Finally, for purposes of
completing a warning citation, the trooper asked how many doors the Nissan had;
Gamez-Acuna responded that the vehicle had four doors.
The Trooper then turned the conversation to Gamez-Acuna’s travel plans.
Gamez-Acuna stated he had recently moved from Nebraska to the Aspen/Basalt
area. He further indicated he had left Aspen the previous night, had driven to
Flagstaff, Arizona, to visit his mother, and was returning to Aspen because he had
to work. 5 During this conversation, Gamez-Acuna was unable to tell the Trooper
4
The Nebraska insurance certificate for the Nissan showed the policy took
effect on January 10, 2007, the day after Gamez-Acuna purchased the vehicle, and
was set to expire on February 10, 2007, less than a week after the instant traffic
stop. The Trooper testified it is uncommon to see an insurance policy with a term
of only one month.
5
At trial, the Trooper explained why Gamez-Acuna’s story regarding his
travels was suspicious. The Trooper noted that the distance between Aspen and
Flagstaff was approximately 550 miles and that it would take an average driver
nine hours to make the trip one way. Gamez-Acuna’s statement he had left the
Aspen area the previous evening, coupled with the fact he was already halfway
back to Aspen at 7:20 p.m. the next evening, meant he would have had very little
(continued...)
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his mother’s address or telephone number, stating he did not “know the [address]
number” and did not “know the names for the streets.” Likewise, Gamez-Acuna
indicated he did not know his own address in Aspen/Basalt.
The Trooper also asked Gamez-Acuna a series of questions about his
background and physical characteristics. In response to the Trooper’s questions
about his name and birth date, Gamez-Acuna stated his name was “Boby Conejo”
and he was born on 12/04/1969. This information corresponded to the
information on the driver’s license Gamez-Acuna had previously provided to the
Trooper. The Trooper also asked Gamez-Acuna his telephone number, place of
birth, whether he had a social security number, his height and weight, mother’s
name, marital status, and the age and name of his son. The transcript of the
exchange reveals that Gamez-Acuna understood the questions and was able to
respond appropriately in English.
At this point, the Trooper gave Gamez-Acuna a warning citation and his
documents and told him he was free to go. 6 After Gamez-Acuna exited the patrol
5
(...continued)
time to visit with his mother. Instead, according to the Trooper, the trip fit the
profile of a narcotics trafficker in that Gamez-Acuna traveled to Flagstaff, “a
known drug area,” and quickly turned around and was headed home.
6
The transcript of this part of the encounter reads as follows:
Trooper: Alrighty man, here’s the paperwork on your vehicle,
ah, your Mexico driver’s license, ah this is just a . . . .
Gamez-Acuna: A ticket?
Trooper: No, no ticket. Written warning.
(continued...)
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car with his documents, the Trooper approached him again and reinitiated
conversation. 7 The Trooper asked Gamez-Acuna if he could ask him some
additional questions. When Gamez-Acuna said “Yeah. Okay,” the Trooper asked
him if he was engaged in any illegal activity. Gamez-Acuna answered no, and the
Trooper proceeded to ask permission to search the Nissan:
Trooper: Can I search the car?
Gamez-Acuna: Yeah.
Trooper: Is that okay with you?
Gamez-Acuna: Okay.
6
(...continued)
Gamez-Acuna: Okay.
Trooper: Okay. Just a written warning. No you don’t have to
pay. Okay?
Gamez-Acuna: Okay.
Trooper: You need to slow down and just be more observant
when you come into town.
Gamez-Acuna: Okay.
Trooper: And when you’re leaving town, just make sure you
follow the speed limit sign. Okay?
Gamez-Acuna: Okay.
Trooper: Okay, you’re free to go. Drive careful. Have a good
evening, okay?
Gamez-Acuna: Okay, thanks.
7
As noted by the district court in its order denying Gamez-Acuna’s motion
to suppress, the Trooper had noted multiple indicators, which considered together,
made him suspicious Gamez-Acuna was involved in illegal activity. These
included, inter alia, the following: (1) Gamez-Acuna was traveling on State Road
191, a well-known drug corridor; (2) the Nissan fit the profile of a vehicle used
for drug trafficking in that it was newly purchased with temporary tags, thus
avoiding frequent trips smuggling drugs in the same vehicle; (3) Gamez-Acuna
was exceedingly nervous for the entire duration of the stop; (4) multiple cell
phones were present in the Nissan; (5) Gamez-Acuna’s story of travel plans was
very unlikely, especially given the time-line and his inability to identify his
mother’s address in Arizona.
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Trooper: Comprende? You understand what I’m saying?
Gamez-Acuna: A little bit.
Trooper: Can I search your car? Is that okay?
Gamez-Acuna: Okay.
Trooper: Me go through and search it, okay?
Gamez-Acuna: I guess so.
Trooper: Is that okay with you?
Gamez-Acuna: That’s okay.
Trooper: No problem?
Gamez-Acuna: No problem.
The video recording of the encounter shows Gamez-Acuna repeatedly nodding
and answering the questions without hesitation. At trial, the Trooper testified he
believed Gamez-Acuna understood he was consenting to a search of the Nissan.
During a search of the Nissan, the Trooper became suspicious there were
drugs in the spare tire. The Trooper advised Gamez-Acuna he wanted to cut the
tire open to examine its contents; Gamez-Acuna’s responded “okay, no problem.”
The Trooper cut the spare tire open and discovered a package that contained
769.1 grams of methamphetamine. At trial, the Trooper testified Gamez-Acuna
did not look surprised when he observed the drugs in the tire; instead, he simply
stated the spare tire was in the Nissan when he purchased it. At booking, Gamez-
Acuna disclosed to the Trooper in English that his real name was Carlos Gamez-
Acuna and his actual date of birth was April 12, 1969. Gamez-Acuna further
stated he had an Arizona driver’s license and recited the license number from
memory.
-8-
Prior to trial, Gamez-Acuna filed a motion to suppress the evidence found
during the search of the Nissan. He argued his consent to search was invalid
because he did not speak enough English to understand the Trooper’s requests to
search. In response, the government argued the evidence relating to the traffic
stop showed Gamez-Acuna understood enough English to freely and intelligently
consent to the search. At a hearing on the suppression motion, the government
called the Trooper as its sole witness and introduced the recording and transcript
of the stop. Gamez-Acuna called a certified Spanish interpreter as his sole
witness. The interpreter testified that, based on his review of the recording of the
traffic stop, he believed Gamez-Acuna possessed a novice level ability to speak
and understand English. The interpreter qualified his opinion as “provisional,”
however, because he did not conduct an in-person interview to determine Gamez-
Acuna’s English language skills.
The district court denied Gamez-Acuna’s suppression motion, finding as
follows:
[T]he government has met its burden of proving valid consent. First,
the evidence revealed that [Gamez-Acuna] understood and was
responsive to [the Trooper’s] statements and questions in English
throughout the sixteen and one-half minute traffic stop. The
conversation ranged from topics about the speeding violation and
information about the Nissan, to topics including [Gamez-Acuna’s]
documents, family, personal information, personal characteristics,
and travel plans. When [Gamez-Acuna] was confused or did not hear
the [Trooper], he had no difficulty expressing his confusion by
asking for clarification, repeating a part of the question, or declaring
“I don’t understand, a little bit for English.” At those times, [the
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Trooper] followed-up by rephrasing or clarifying his statements or
questions until he was satisfied that [Gamez-Acuna] had understood
him and that he had understood [Gamez-Acuna].
After the initial detention ended, and the encounter became
consensual, [the Trooper] asked [Gamez-Acuna] seven times for
permission to search the Nissan, asking, “Can I search the car?,” “Is
that okay with you?,” “Comprende?,” “Can I search your car? Is that
okay?,” “Me go through and search it, okay?,” “Is that okay with
you?,” “No problem?” and each time, [Gamez-Acuna] responded
positively. Given the totality of the circumstances surrounding the
encounter between [the Trooper] and [Gamez-Acuna], it is clear that
[Gamez-Acuna] understood [the Trooper’s] requests. [Gamez-
Acuna] did not appear confused, and indicated he understood what
the trooper was requesting. [Gamez-Acuna] did not repeat [the
Trooper’s] requests or hesitate, but rather answered affirmatively
each time. [Gamez-Acuna] understood [the Trooper’s] requests and
gave unequivocal, specific, free, and intelligent consent for him to
search the Nissan.
Further, [Gamez-Acuna] did not express any surprise when
[the Trooper] approached the Nissan and began his search, and he did
not object to the search. Accordingly, although the language barrier
rendered the situation less than ideal, when considered under the
totality of the circumstances, the evidence is sufficient to find that
the government has met its burden to show that [Gamez-Acuna’s]
consent was unequivocal, specific and intelligently given.
Dist. Court Order at 9-11 (citations omitted).
2. Discussion
“[W]arrantless searches violate the Fourth Amendment unless they fall
within a specific exception to the warrant requirement.” United States v. Zubia-
Melendez, 263 F.3d 1155, 1162 (10th Cir. 2001). Voluntary consent is a well-
recognized exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement. Id.
(“[T]his court has . . . held . . . a vehicle may be searched if a person in control of
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the vehicle has given his voluntary consent to the search.”). Whether consent was
voluntary is determined by the totality of the circumstances, utilizing the
following two-part test: “First, the government must proffer clear and positive
testimony that consent was unequivocal and specific and freely given.
Furthermore, the government must prove that this consent was given without
implied or express duress or coercion.” Id. (quotations omitted).
The district court applied this two-part test and determined Gamez-Acuna’s
consent was both free and unequivocal and without coercion. On appeal, Gamez-
Acuna limits his challenge to the district court’s determination his consent was
unequivocal, specific and freely given, asserting he does not understand enough
English to give a valid consent. The district court’s determination that Gamez-
Acuna freely and voluntarily consented to the Trooper’s search of the Nissan is a
finding of fact which this court reviews for clear error. United States v.
Rosborough, 366 F.3d 1145, 1149 (10th Cir. 2004). “A finding is clearly
erroneous when, although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on
the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has
been committed.” United States v. Weed, 389 F.3d 1060, 1071 (10th Cir. 2004)
(quotation omitted). This court’s “role on clear error review is not to re-weigh
the evidence; rather, our review of the district court’s finding is significantly
deferential.” Id. at 1071-72 (quotations omitted).
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The district court’s finding that Gamez-Acuna understood enough English
to provide valid consent is fully supported by the record. Gamez-Acuna’s ability
to provide a wide range of information to the Trooper and follow the Trooper’s
directions supports the district court’s conclusion Gamez-Acuna understood the
Trooper’s request for consent to search the Nissan. Gamez-Acuna was able to
understand and respond appropriately to most of the Trooper’s questions during
the traffic stop. He accurately followed the Trooper’s directions to provide the
vehicle documents and a driver’s license, exit the Nissan, and enter the Trooper’s
patrol car. Gamez-Acuna likewise left the patrol car without question when the
Trooper said he was free to leave. He was able to communicate with the Trooper
about numerous topics, including the reason for the stop, whether the Trooper was
giving him a ticket, details about the Nissan, as well as his name, date of birth,
travel plans, employment, family situation, and biographical information. When
Gamez-Acuna did not understand, he said so and the Trooper followed up with
additional questions until Gamez-Acuna registered his understanding. This
evidence fully supports the district court’s finding that Gamez-Acuna understood
sufficient English to freely and unequivocally consent to the search of the
Nissan. 8 See, e.g., Zubia-Melendez, 263 F.3d at 1162-63 (holding consent valid
8
Gamez-Acuna asserts this court should reverse because the district court
disregarded his linguistics witness in denying the motion to suppress. “Judging
the credibility of the witnesses, determining the weight to be given to evidence,
and drawing reasonable inferences and conclusions from the evidence are within
(continued...)
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despite the defendant’s difficulty speaking and understanding English); United
States v. Corral, 899 F.2d 991, 994-95 (10th Cir. 1990) (same). Thus, the district
court did not err in denying Gamez-Acuna’s motion to suppress.
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
This court reviews de novo challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence to
support a conviction. United States v. Jameson, 478 F.3d 1204, 1208 (10th Cir.
2007). “We ask whether taking the evidence—both direct and circumstantial,
together with the reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom—in the light most
favorable to the government, a reasonable jury could find the defendant guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. (quotation omitted). In undertaking that
analysis, this court “will not weigh conflicting evidence or second-guess the fact-
finding decisions of the jury.” United States v. Summers, 414 F.3d 1287, 1293
(10th Cir. 2005).
Gamez-Acuna asserts the government failed to adduce sufficient evidence
at trial that he knowingly possessed the methamphetamine with intent to
distribute. He appears to recognize the government provided ample evidence at
8
(...continued)
the province of the district court.” United States v. Hunnicutt, 135 F.3d 1345,
1348 (10th Cir. 1998). It was certainly not clearly erroneous for the district court
to rely on evidence other than that presented by Gamez-Acuna in resolving
whether Gamez-Acuna had a sufficient grasp of English to give a valid consent to
search.
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trial from which a jury could conclude he had a guilty state of mind. 9 He argues,
however, that the vast bulk of this evidence is equally attributable to his status as
an illegal alien and that the government is under some kind of heightened burden
to demonstrate the jury relied on that evidence for the purpose of convicting him
of the drug charge. 10 The problem with this argument is that it has already been
made to, and rejected by, the jury. At trial, Gamez-Acuna admitted he was in the
United State illegally and testified to the jury that his status as an illegal
explained his nervousness and evasiveness. The jury chose to disbelieve Gamez-
Acuna’s testimony, and concluded instead that the extreme nervousness,
evasiveness, and false documentation was attributable to the presence of drugs in
the Nissan, not to his status as an illegal alien. This court cannot re-weigh the
conflicting evidence or second-guess the jury’s determination. The evidence here
was more than sufficient for a reasonable jury to conclude Gamez-Acuna
9
The government adduced the following evidence at trial relevant to the
question whether Gamez-Acuna knowingly possessed the methamphetamine with
intent to distribute it: he was extremely nervous, and that extreme nervousness
persisted throughout the entire encounter; his implausible travel plans; his lack of
surprise when the Trooper discovered the methamphetamine in the spare tire; his
use of a driver’s license and vehicle documents in another name; the short one-
month term of the vehicle insurance; the presence of two cell phones in the
vehicle; and the large value of the methamphetamine, making it unlikely anyone
would abandon it.
10
According to Gamez-Acuna, “Absent proof that the jury relied on such
circumstances as evidence of the ‘knowingly or intentionally’ mental state of the
drug charge, the attendant circumstances did nothing more than buttress the
illegal reentry of a deported alien charge.” Appellant’s Opening Brief at 21.
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knowingly possessed the methamphetamine secreted in his spare tire with the
intent to distribute.
C. Denial of Severance
Before the district court, Gamez-Acuna asserted the drug possession and
illegal reentry charges were misjoined because they were not “of the same or
similar character,” “based on the same act or transaction,” or “parts of a common
scheme or plan.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 8(a). Alternatively, he requested that the
district court exercise its discretion to sever the charges, even if properly joined,
to avoid the possibility the jury would hold his immigration status against him in
resolving the drug charge. Fed. R. Crim. P. 14(a) (granting district court
discretion to sever charges if necessary to avoid prejudice to the parties). The
district court denied the motion to sever. On appeal, Gamez-Acuna does not
contest the district court’s determination that the charges were properly joined
pursuant to Rule 8. Instead, he asserts the district court abused its discretion
when it refused to sever the charges pursuant to Rule 14(a).
“We have long recognized that the decision to grant severance under Rule
14 rests within the discretion of the district court and the burden on [the]
defendant to show an abuse of discretion in this context is a difficult one.”
United States v. Olsen, 519 F.3d 1096, 1102 (10th Cir. 2008) (quotation omitted).
To demonstrate the district court abused its broad discretion the defendant must
make a “strong showing of prejudice.” United States v. Jones, 213 F.3d 1253,
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1260 (10th Cir. 2000) (quotation omitted). To establish “real prejudice, the
defendant must demonstrate . . . the alleged prejudice he suffered outweighed the
expense and inconvenience of separate trials. United States v. Martin, 18 F.3d
1515, 1518 (10th Cir. 1994) (quotation omitted). Mere allegations a defendant
“would have a better chance of acquittal in a separate trial is not sufficient to
warrant severance.” United States v. Colonna, 360 F.3d 1169, 1178 (10th Cir.
2004) (quotation omitted).
Gamez-Acuna has not satisfied his heavy burden of showing real prejudice
flowing from the district court’s refusal to sever his illegal-reentry and drug-
possession charges. On appeal, Gamez-Acuna argues that although the two
charges contain different elements, the same evidence is relevant to both charges.
In particular, he argues that evidence of his extreme nervousness is potentially
attributable both to his status as an illegal alien and to his knowing possession of
illegal drugs. According to Gamez-Acuna, the “inability to distinguish between
how the jury perceived the evidence,” Appellant’s Brief at 22, satisfies his burden
of demonstrating real and substantial prejudice.
Gamez-Acuna’s argument is without merit. Gamez-Acuna’s strategy at
trial was clear. In an effort to negate the prosecution’s argument that his extreme
nervousness demonstrated his knowledge of the methamphetamine in his spare
tire, Gamez-Acuna testified and argued that his nervousness flowed exclusively
from his fear that officials would discover he was in the United States illegally.
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The jury disbelieved Gamez-Acuna’s testimony and convicted him on the drug-
possession charge. We see nothing about the course of these proceedings that
prejudiced, in any way, Gamez-Acuna’s right to a fair trial. Indeed, as noted by
the government, even if the charges had been severed, there is absolutely nothing
in the record to indicate Gamez-Acuna would have altered his trial strategy in any
way. That is, Gamez-Acuna would have defended the knowledge element of the
drug charges in exactly the same way whether or not the charges were severed.
Accordingly, he has completely failed to establish the alleged prejudice he
suffered, assuming there was any, “outweighed the expense and inconvenience of
separate trials.” Martin, 18 F.3d at 1518. Thus, the district court did not abuse
its broad discretion when it denied Gamez-Acuna’s Rule 14 motion to sever the
illegal-reentry and drug-possession charges.
D. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
On appeal, Gamez-Acuna asserts his trial counsel provided constitutionally
ineffective assistance when he failed to call a linguistics expert to testify at trial.
As the government correctly notes, however, “[i]neffective assistance of counsel
claims should be brought in collateral proceedings, not on direct appeal. Such
claims brought on direct appeal are presumptively dismissible, and virtually all
will be dismissed.” Galloway, 56 F.3d at 1240. This court has noted that the
reasoning behind the Galloway rule is “self-evident”:
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A factual record must be developed in and addressed by the district
court in the first instance for effective review. Even if evidence is
not necessary, at the very least counsel accused of deficient
performance can explain their reasoning and actions, and the district
court can render its opinion on the merits of the claim.
An opinion by the district court is a valuable aid to appellate
review for many reasons, not the least of which is that in most cases
the district court is familiar with the proceedings and has observed
counsel’s performance, in context, firsthand. Thus, even if the
record appears to need no further development, the claim should still
be presented first to the district court in collateral proceedings
(which can be instituted without delay) so the reviewing court can
have the benefit of the district court’s views.
Id. (footnote omitted). Accordingly, pursuant to the dictates of Galloway, we
dismiss Gamez-Acuna’s ineffective assistance claim without prejudice to the
bringing of such a claim in a timely 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion.
III. CONCLUSION
Gamez-Acuna’s ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim is
DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. The remaining claims on appeal are all
without merit. Accordingly, Gamez-Acuna’s convictions are hereby
AFFIRMED.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Michael R. Murphy
Circuit Judge
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