U.S. v. Velasquez, 84-1064

• Decision Date: 17 December 1984
• Docket Number: No. 84-1064,84-1064
• Citation: 748 F.2d 972
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Juan Jose VELASQUEZ, Defendant-Appellant. Summary Calendar.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

Page 972

748 F.2d 972

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Juan Jose VELASQUEZ, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 84-1064

Summary Calendar.

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit.

Dec. 17, 1984.

Juan Jose Velasquez, pro se.

Eric D. Ryan, Dallas, Tex. (Court appointed), for defendant-appellant.

Edward C. Prado, U.S. Atty., Sidney Powell, Daniel E. Maeso, Asst. U.S. Attys., San Antonio, Tex., for plaintiff-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Before REAVLEY, POLITZ and HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judges.

REAVLEY, Circuit Judge:

Juan Velasquez appeals the district court's denial of his Fed.R.Crim.P. 35 ¹ motion to correct his sentence. Finding that the sentence was imposed in an illegal manner, we reverse the judgment, vacate the sentence, and remand for resentencing.

Velasquez pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the unlawful transportation of illegal aliens in violation of 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1324(a)(2) (1982) and 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2 (1982). On September 19, 1983, the district court sentenced Velasquez to five years, the maximum period of incarceration allowed by 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1324 (1982).

At the presentencing hearing, the district court asked Velasquez whether there were any errors in the presentence report. Velasquez replied no. Velasquez's attorney then objected to the label "notorious alien smuggler" used in the presentence report to describe Velasquez. Velasquez's attorney argued that the description implied that Velasquez was actively involved in smuggling aliens and was known by law enforcement officials for such activities when in fact Velasquez had merely knowingly allowed illegal aliens to stay in his apartment and use his car. The district court did not respond to the objection.

Velasquez subsequently filed a pro se motion under Fed.R.Crim.P. 35 seeking a correction or reduction of his sentence. The motion was filed within 120 days of sentencing. Velasquez alleged that he had been denied effective assistance of counsel at the presentencing hearing and that the presentencing report contained false statements. The ineffective assistance of counsel claim was based on charges that Velasquez's attorney failed to object to false statements of which Velasquez had informed him. The district court denied Velasquez's Rule 35 motion.

For the first time on appeal, Velasquez claims that his sentence should be corrected because the district court failed to comply with the procedural rules in imposing his sentence. The issue may now be addressed on appeal only if it involves a pure legal question and if failure to consider it would result in a miscarriage of justice. Nissho-Iwai Co. v. Occidental Crude Sales, Inc., 729 F.2d 1530, 1549 (5th Cir.1984).

A question is purely legal if no facts could have been raised to develop the issue at the hearing. Higginbotham v. Ford Motor Co., 540 F.2d 762, 768 n. 10 (5th Cir.1976). Here, the issue is only whether the district court complied with the 1983 rule amendment, Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(c)(3)(D), which states:

If the comments of the defendant and his counsel or testimony or other information introduced by them allege any factual inaccuracy in the presentence investigation report or the summary of the report or part thereof, the court shall, as to each matter controverted, make (i) a finding as to the allegation, or (ii) a determination that no such finding is necessary because the matter controverted will not be taken into account in sentencing. A written record of such findings and determinations shall be appended to and accompany any copy of the presentence investigation report thereafter made available to the Bureau of Prisons or the Parole Commission.

At the hearing, Velasquez's counsel objected to the description of Velasquez as a notorious alien smuggler, because it implied that Velasquez was actively engaged in smuggling illegal aliens and was known by law enforcement officials for such activities. Once Velasquez met his burden under the rule, the court was required to make either a finding as to the allegation or a statement that the controverted matter would not be considered. The record reveals, however, that the district court made no response to Velasquez's objection. Therefore, the district court failed to comply with Rule 32(c)(3)(D). No facts could have been raised to develop the issue. Once it is found that the district court failed to comply with a procedural rule of sentencing, a new sentencing hearing should be ordered. United States v. Sparrow, 673 F.2d 862, 866 (5th Cir.1982). Only at that time would the question whether, in fact, Velasquez was a notorious alien smuggler or whether the court did not take the controverted matter into account be determined. The issues were not for the court hearing the Rule 35 motion to decide.

Furthermore, failure to consider the Rule 32(c)(3)(D) issue would result in a miscarriage of justice. First, information in sentencing reports affects not only the length of the sentence but also the "defendant's place of incarceration, chances for parole, and relationships with social service and correctional agencies after release...