United States v. Jose Pineda-Tejada

Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. PER CURIAM: Jose Oscar Pineda-Tejada was convicted, pursuant to a jury trial, of unauthorized reentry by a previously deported alien, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), (b)(2) (2006). Pineda-Tejada timely appealed. We affirm. On appeal, Pineda-Tejada claims that the district court erred when it instructed the jury that a finding of illegal reentry did not require a finding of specific intent. *382 Pineda-Tejada did not object to the jury instruction at trial, and therefore, this court reviews this issue for plain error. Neder v. United States, 527 U.S. 1, 8-9, 119 S.Ct. 1827, 144 L.Ed.2d 35 (1999). To obtain a conviction under § 1326, the Government must establish only that: (1) Pineda-Tejada was an alien who was previously arrested and deported; (2) he reentered the United States voluntarily; and (3) he failed to obtain the express permission of the Attorney General to do so. See United States v. Espinoza-Leon, 873 F.2d 743, 746 (4th Cir.1989); see also 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). Because the district court’s instructions were consistent with the precedent of this Circuit, we conclude that the jury instructions were not erroneous. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process. AFFIRMED.