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United States v. Tineo-Gonzalez
893 F.3d 64
1st Cir.
2018
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Background

  • Tineo traveled from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico in a boat carrying over 210 kg of cocaine and 2 kg of heroin; he was captured hours after unloading.
  • Arresting officers allegedly gave Miranda warnings; Tineo was interviewed by Puerto Rico police and later by DEA agents, who obtained a written Miranda waiver and inculpatory statements.
  • After indictment, the district court set a pretrial-motion deadline (motions due 14 days before trial); trial was later set for March 28, 2016.
  • The government filed its evidence designation (including DEA statements) in February and amended it on March 23 to add police statements.
  • Tineo moved to suppress the police statements on March 25 (three days before trial), claiming Miranda violations and coercion; the district court denied the motion as untimely under the scheduling order.
  • On the first day of trial, after the court denied suppression as untimely, Tineo entered an unconditional guilty plea; he was sentenced to 151 months concurrent on each count.

Issues

Issue Plaintiff's Argument Defendant's Argument Held
Whether the district court abused discretion by denying Tineo's suppression motion as untimely Government: Scheduling order deadlines are enforceable; motion filed after deadline and caused no undue prejudice Tineo: Motion timely enough given late disclosure of police statements and alleged Miranda violations; merits not reached Court affirmed: denial not an abuse of discretion; scheduling deadline respected
Whether a straight guilty plea preserves the right to challenge pre-plea constitutional defects (here, Miranda claim) Government: Unconditional guilty plea forfeits challenges to pre-plea suppression rulings Tineo: Arguably could still challenge Miranda denial despite guilty plea Court: Guilty plea forfeited the suppression claim; plea extinguished the appeal on that pre-plea defect

Key Cases Cited

  • Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966) (establishes requirement to advise suspects of rights before custodial interrogation)
  • Blackledge v. Perry, 417 U.S. 21 (1974) (protects against vindictive prosecution; exception to forfeiture rule)
  • Menna v. New York, 423 U.S. 61 (1975) (double jeopardy exception to plea forfeiture)
  • Haring v. Prosise, 462 U.S. 306 (1983) (guilty plea generally forfeits pre-plea non-jurisdictional claims)
  • United States v. Gonzalez, 311 F.3d 440 (1st Cir. 2002) (unconditional plea forfeits objections and defenses)
  • United States v. Castro-Vazquez, 802 F.3d 28 (1st Cir. 2015) (defendant who pleads guilty at trial forfeits last-minute suppression challenges)
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Case Details

Case Name: United States v. Tineo-Gonzalez
Court Name: Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Date Published: Jun 25, 2018
Citation: 893 F.3d 64
Docket Number: 16-2153P
Court Abbreviation: 1st Cir.