Vera-Jara

United States v. Vera-Jara

Good Law
231 F. App'x 687
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitMay 10, 2007No. 06-30426California259 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

After pleading guilty to illegally reentering the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326 , Rodrigo Vera-Jara appeals the district court’s application of a 16-point enhancement under the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“Guidelines”) based on a finding that Vera-Jara had committed a crime of violence prior to being deported. U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(l)(A)(ii). We affirm.

Vera-Jara argues that the district court erred in determining that his Washington convictions for residential burglary and attempted residential burglary qualified as “crimes of violence” because the government did not demonstrate that Vera-Jara burglarized a dwelling, as that term is construed in the Guidelines.

Because the scope of Washington’s residential burglary exceeds the federal definition of burglary of a dwelling, a conviction under R.C.W. § 9A.52.025 does not categorically constitute a conviction for a crime of violence. United States v. Wenner, 351 F.3d 969, 973 (9th Cir.2003). Nevertheless, in United States v. Guerrero-Velasquez, 434 F.3d 1193 (9th Cir.2006), we held that where a defendant pleads guilty to an indictment specifically alleging that he burglarized a residence at a…

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