United States v. Hernandez , 277 F. App'x 775 ( 2008 )

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
May 7, 2008
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
TENTH CIRCUIT Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
No. 07-3166
v. (D.C. No. 04-CR-20115-JWL)
(D. Kan.)
JACINTO E. HERNANDEZ,
Defendant - Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before TACHA, KELLY, and McCONNELL, Circuit Judges. **
Defendant-Appellant Jacinto E. Hernandez appeals from the district court’s
denial of his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. Mr. Hernandez contends that his
plea, entered without a plea agreement, was coerced by the government, resulting
in an involuntary plea violative of his constitutional rights. Our jurisdiction
arises under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and we affirm.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the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.
**
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge
panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material
assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th
Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Background
Mr. Hernandez was charged in a multi-count and multi-defendant
indictment alleging drug trafficking. He pled guilty, without a plea agreement, to
one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and
more than five kilograms of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(ii),
(b)(1)(A)(vii) and 846 (count 1); three counts of distribution of cocaine, 21
U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) (counts 5, 6, 7); one count of distribution of
marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B) (count 8); and one count of use of a
communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime, 21 U.S.C. § 843(b)
(count 9). He was subsequently sentenced to a total term of 288 months’
imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release. He also agreed to the
forfeiture of real and personal property and to a $14,534,099 money judgment
jointly and severally with his co-defendants, representing proceeds of a drug
conspiracy. Although there was no plea agreement, the government agreed not to
seek forfeiture of Mr. Hernandez’s interest in the house he owned with his wife,
Maria Hernandez. Mrs. Hernandez, one of Mr. Hernandez’s co-defendants, had
been charged in counts 1 and 9.
Approximately five and one-half months after he pled guilty, but prior to
sentencing, Mr. Hernandez filed a pro se motion to withdraw his guilty plea,
stating that the only reason he pled guilty was because the government threatened
to put his wife in prison and seize his assets. The brief supporting Mr.
-2-
Hernandez’s motion argued that (1) government agents told Mr. Hernandez’s co-
defendants that Mr. Hernandez was cooperating with the government, which
resulted in his family receiving threats, (2) he only pled guilty out of concern for
the safety of his family, (3) he received assurances from the government that his
family home would not be forfeited if he pled guilty, and (4) all of this amounted
to a “package deal” that resulted in a coerced plea.
The district court denied Mr. Hernandez’s motion. The court concluded
that Mr. Hernandez’s guilty plea was knowing and voluntary and that Mr.
Hernandez did not meet his burden of showing that he was entitled to withdraw
his guilty plea. Following the entry of final judgment, Mr. Hernandez timely
filed this appeal.
Discussion
On appeal, Mr. Hernandez argues that the district court erred by denying
his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. A defendant may withdraw a plea of
guilty after the court accepts the plea but before sentence is imposed if “the
defendant can show a fair and just reason for requesting the withdrawal.” Fed. R.
Crim. P. 11(d)(2)(B). The defendant has the burden of proving a “fair and just
reason.” United States v. Hamilton, 510 F.3d 1209, 1214 (10th Cir. 2007). To
determine whether the defendant has met this burden, we consider seven factors:
“(1) whether the defendant has asserted his innocence, (2) prejudice to the
-3-
government, (3) delay in filing defendant’s motion, (4) inconvenience to the
court, (5) defendant’s assistance of counsel, (6) whether the plea is knowing and
voluntary, and (7) waste of judicial resources.” Id. We review de novo whether
the plea was knowing and voluntary but review the denial of a motion to
withdraw a guilty plea for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Black, 201
F.3d 1296, 1300 (10th Cir. 2000). We do not reverse the district court’s denial of
a motion to withdraw a guilty plea “unless the defendant can show that the court
acted unjustly or unfairly.” Hamilton, 510 F.3d at 1213-14 (quotations omitted).
Mr. Hernandez argues that these factors, save for his assistance of counsel,
weighed in favor of granting his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. We disagree
and hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion.
In particular, even if Mr. Hernandez asserted his innocence, Mr. Hernandez
delayed filing his motion some five and one-half months and the evidence of his
guilt is overwhelming. In light of these facts, coupled with the complexity of his
case, granting Mr. Hernandez’s motion would likely prejudice the government by
forcing it to repeat much of its trial preparation, substantially inconvenience the
court, and waste judicial resources. See United States v. Siedlik, 231 F.3d 744,
749-50 (10th Cir. 2000); United States v. Kramer, 168 F.3d 1196, 1202 (10th Cir.
1999); United States v. Carr, 80 F.3d 413, 420-21 (10th Cir. 1996).
In addition, nothing in the record shows that Mr. Hernandez’s guilty plea
was anything but knowing and voluntary. See Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 56
-4-
(1985); Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 755-56 (1970). To the contrary,
during Mr. Hernandez’s plea colloquy, he stated that he had received no threats or
inducements for him to plead guilty and that his plea was knowing and voluntary.
No specific evidence in the record supports his allegations that his plea was
coerced by the government.
Mr. Hernandez contends that the district court should have, sua sponte,
conducted an evidentiary hearing. We review the district court’s decision not to
conduct an evidentiary hearing sua sponte for plain error, Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b);
United States v. Dowell, 430 F.3d 1100, 1106 (10th Cir. 2005); United States v.
Carter, 109 F. App’x 296, 299 (10th Cir. 2004) (unpublished), and here we find
none. Mr. Hernandez argues that an evidentiary hearing was necessary to
determine whether a package deal was made, the extent to which the government
could have prosecuted him and his wife, and whether his guilty plea was based on
threats of reprisal for cooperating with the government. The facts alleged by Mr.
Hernandez concerning a package deal certainly do not amount to improper
coercion; he and his wife were indicted (indicative of probable cause) and there
simply is no evidence that the government told others that he was cooperating.
See United States v. Fountain, 777 F.2d 351, 358 (7th Cir. 1985) (evidentiary
hearing not required in all circumstances); see also Carter, 109 F. App’x at 299
(“No hearing need be granted when the allegations on a motion to withdraw a
guilty plea before sentencing merely contradict the record, are inherently
-5-
incredible, or are simply conclusory.”) (citation and internal quotation omitted).
The record demonstrates that Mr. Hernandez was informed of the consequences of
his plea. See Baker v. United States, 404 F.2d 787, 790 (10th Cir. 1968).
AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
Circuit Judge
-6-