United States v. Eduardo Cruz-De Jesus
663 F. App'x 296
| 5th Cir. | 2016Background
- Cruz-de Jesus pleaded guilty to 8 U.S.C. §1326(a),(b) and the district court applied a 16‑level enhancement under §2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(ii) based on a prior felony conviction.
- The prior Washington conviction was for child molestation in the third degree under RCW §9A.44.089.
- The district court classified the Washington conviction as a crime of violence and a felony for §2L1.2 purposes.
- The court used a categorical approach to determine crime of violence, concluding the Washington statute fits the generic definition of sexual abuse of a minor.
- The maximum statutory sentence for the Washington offense is five years, so it qualifies as a felony under the guideline; the sentence was affirmed for the enhancement.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether WA child-molestation third degree is a crime of violence | Cruz-de Jesus argues the statute lacks abuse element | Cruz-de Jesus contends the statute fits the generic offense | Yes, it fits the generic definition of sexual abuse of a minor |
| Whether the WA offense is a felony under §2L1.2 | Cruz-de Jesus says max term is ≤12 months, not a felony | Rodriguez requires considering maximum statutory sentence | Yes, maximum is five years; offense is a felony under §2L1.2 |
Key Cases Cited
- United States v. Munoz-Gonzalez, 812 F.3d 439 (5th Cir. 2016) (crime-of-violence determination under §2L1.2 must be de novo review)
- United States v. Rodriguez, 711 F.3d 541 (5th Cir. 2013) (en banc; use elements, not conduct, for categorical approach)
- United States v. Esparza-Perez, 681 F.3d 228 (5th Cir. 2012) (harm not element of sexual-abuse-for-violence classification)
- United States v. Fierro-Reyna, 466 F.3d 324 (5th Cir. 2006) (courts look to statutory elements to define violence)
- United States v. Albornoz-Albornoz, 770 F.3d 1139 (5th Cir. 2014) (limitations on applying state statutes to federal offenses)
- Gonzales v. Duenas-Alvarez, 549 U.S. 183 (2007) (plain-error review framework for unpreserved issues)
- Taylor v. United States, 495 U.S. 575 (1990) (categorical approach framework for prior convictions)
- United States v. Rivera-Perez, 322 F.3d 350 (5th Cir. 2003) (look to maximum statutory term, not sentencing range)
- United States v. Caicedo-Cuero, 312 F.3d 697 (5th Cir. 2002) (maximum-term standard for felony classification)
- United States v. Rodriquez, 553 U.S. 377 (2008) (maximum term determined by statute, not imposed sentence)