United States v. Rom Bennett ( 2023 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAY 5 2023
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 22-10179
Plaintiff-Appellee, D.C. No. 3:20-cr-08109-SMB-1
v.
MEMORANDUM*
ROM LEE BENNETT,
Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Arizona
Susan M. Brnovich, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted April 17, 2023**
Before: CLIFTON, R. NELSON, and BRESS, Circuit Judges.
Rom Lee Bennett appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges
his guilty-plea conviction and 120-month sentence for sexual abuse of a minor, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1153, 2243(a), and 2246. Pursuant to Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), Bennett’s counsel has filed a brief stating that
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
there are no grounds for relief, along with a motion to withdraw as counsel of
record. We have provided Bennett the opportunity to file a pro se supplemental
brief. No pro se supplemental brief or answering brief has been filed.
Bennett waived his right to appeal his conviction and sentence. Our
independent review of the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80
(1988), discloses no arguable issue as to the validity of the waiver. See United
States v. Watson, 582 F.3d 974, 986-88 (9th Cir. 2009). We accordingly dismiss
the appeal except as to Special Condition 15, which we vacate and remand. See
United States v. Nishida, 53 F.4th 1144, 1151-55 (9th Cir. 2022); see also Watson,
582 F.3d at 977 (an appeal waiver does not bar a constitutional challenge to a
supervised release condition). On remand, the district court must reevaluate
Special Condition 15 in light of Nishida and the post-Nishida changes made in the
District of Arizona to this special condition.
Counsel’s motion to withdraw is GRANTED.
DISMISSED in part; VACATED in part; and REMANDED with
instructions.
2 22-10179