v.
Ordunez
United States Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit
____________ FILED
June 14, 2023
No. 21-50869 Lyle W. Cayce ____________ Clerk
United States of America,
Plaintiff—Appellee,
versus
Ernesto Ordunez,
Defendant—Appellant.
______________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. 7:20-CR-129-1
______________________________
Before Ho, Oldham, and Douglas, Circuit Judges.
Per Curiam: * Ernesto Ordunez was indicted in July of 2020 for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more grams of methamphetamine. At sentencing, the district court determined that Ordunez qualified as a career offender under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1. Ordunez now challenges that determination, pointing to three prior convictions: (1) a 1998 federal conviction for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in
_____________________ * This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 21-50869 Document: 00516786985 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/14/2023
No. 21-50869 violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841; (2) a 2008 conviction in state court of attempted child abuse resulting in great bodily harm in violation of New Mexico Statutes § 30-6-1(D); and (3) a 2008 conviction in state court for three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in violation of New Mexico Statutes § 30-3-2(A). He argues that none of these prior convictions qualify as crimes of violence or controlled substance offenses for purposes of § 4B1.1. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742 and 28 U.S.C. § 1291. For the reasons provided herein, we AFFIRM the district court’s application of the career offender enhancement. I. STANDARD OF REVIEW Though the parties dispute the applicable standard of review, plain error applies throughout. Ordunez failed to object to the district court’s categorization of his 1998 marijuana conviction as a controlled substance offense, instead arguing it was too old to qualify for an enhancement. See United States v. Huerra, 884 F.3d 511, 519 (5th Cir. 2018) (“[W]e subject to plain-error review arguments that are raised for the first time on appeal.”). Regarding the two remaining qualifying offenses — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and attempted child abuse resulting in great bodily harm — Ordunez argues this court should apply de novo review. In his written objections to the PSR, he stated in full that he “objects to the classification of the felonies in paragraph 19(B) [attempted child abuse] and 19(C) [aggravated assault]” because “these felonies should not be classified as violent felonies.” “To preserve an issue for appeal, the objection below ‘must fully apprise the trial judge of the grounds for the objection so that evidence can be taken and argument received on the issue.’” Huerra, 884 F.3d at 519 (quoting United States v. Musa, 45 F.3d 922, 924 n.5 (5th Cir. 1995)). “There is no bright-line rule for determining whether a matter was raised below.”
[*2]Case: 21-50869 Document: 00516786985 Page: 3 Date Filed: 06/14/2023
No. 21-50869 United States v. Soza, 874 F.3d 884, 889 (5th Cir. 2017) (cleaned up). “If a party wishes to preserve an argument for appeal, the party must press and not merely intimate the arguments during the proceedings before the district court.” Id. (cleaned up). The objection must be “sufficiently specific to alert the district court to the nature of the alleged error and provide an opportunity for correction.” United States v. Neal, 578 F.3d 270, 272 (5th Cir. 2009). Although Ordunez objected to the characterization of his remaining qualifying offenses as crimes of violence, he provided no reasons for this objection. The probation officer responded to Ordunez’s objection by stating that he “did not provide any reasons as to why the convictions should not be considered crimes of violence.” At sentencing, Ordunez’s counsel appeared to argue that the objection related to whether the underlying offenses were aggravated, but that they were unable to obtain the documents to make their argument. [1] The district court stated that it agreed with the probation officer’s response and overruled Ordunez’s objections. Because the objection was not sufficiently clear to alert the district court to the alleged error, this court reviews for plain error. To demonstrate plain error, a defendant has the burden of showing (1) an error, (2) that is clear or obvious, and (3) that affects the defendant’s substantial rights. Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009). If satisfied, this court has the discretion to remedy the error if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id. _____________________ Case: 21-50869 Document: 00516786985 Page: 4 Date Filed: 06/14/2023 Case: 21-50869 Document: 00516786985 Page: 5 Date Filed: 06/14/2023 Case: 21-50869 Document: 00516786985 Page: 6 Date Filed: 06/14/2023 Case: 21-50869 Document: 00516786985 Page: 7 Date Filed: 06/14/2023 Case: 21-50869 Document: 00516786985 Page: 8 Date Filed: 06/14/2023
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