United States of America v. Victor Santos

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent*
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision**
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). Accordingly, Santos’s
request for oral argument is denied.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
VICTOR SANTOS,
Defendant - Appellant.
No. 12-10572
D.C. No. 3:11-cr-00440-MMC
MEMORANDUM*
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of California
Maxine M. Chesney, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted August 14, 2013**
Before: SCHROEDER, GRABER, and PAEZ, Circuit Judges.
Victor Santos appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the
97-month sentence imposed following his jury-trial conviction for being a felon in
possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1);
FILED
AUG 16 2013
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U .S. C OU R T OF APPE ALS

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12-10572 2
unlawful transfer of a firearm, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(e); being a felon in
possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1); possession of
marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844; and unlawful trafficking in firearms, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291,
and we affirm.
Santos contends that the district court erred by denying him a two-level
downward adjustment for acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a).
He argues that he demonstrated acceptance of responsibility because he offered to
plead nolo contendere to some of the gun charges before trial, and expressed
remorse for that conduct in his post-trial statements. We review the district court’s
factual finding about whether a defendant has accepted responsibility for clear
error. See United States v. Cantrell, 433 F.3d 1269, 1284 (9th Cir. 2006).
Notwithstanding Santos’s offer to plead nolo contendere and his post-trial
statements, the district court did not clearly err in denying the adjustment because
Santos never admitted to the conduct underlying his drug conviction and never
expressed remorse or contrition for that conduct. See U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1 cmt.
n.1(A); United States v. Nielson, 371 F.3d 574, 582-83 (9th Cir. 2004).
AFFIRMED.

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