United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Jerry Lee Cantu, Defendant-appellant, 112 F.3d 517 (9th Cir. 1997)

Before: NOONAN and TROTT, Circuit Judges, and MOSKOWITZ, District Judge.^** 

MEMORANDUM^*** 

Jerry Lee Cantu appeals his twelve-month sentence of imprisonment, imposed after he violated the terms of his supervised release. Cantu argues that his sentence violates the Ex Post Facto Clause. We review Cantu's ex post facto challenge de novo. United States v. Canon, 66 F.3d 1073, 1077 (9th Cir. 1995).

Under 18 U.S.C. § 401(3), the district court had the power to treat Cantu's supervised release violation as a contempt of court and to sentence Cantu to a term of imprisonment. Section 401(3) does not specify any maximum term of imprisonment. See United States v. Carpenter, 91 F.3d 1282, 1283 (9th Cir. 1996). Although 18 U.S.C. § 402 provides for a six-month maximum, this limitation does not apply to contempts such as Cantu's, which are "committed in disobedience of any ... order ... entered in any suit or action brought or prosecuted in the name of, or on behalf of, the United States." 18 U.S.C. § 402.

Because 18 U.S.C. § 401(3) was effective at the time of Cantu's crimes, Cantu's sentence does not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause. Furthermore, because the length of Cantu's sentence was authorized by 18 U.S.C. § 401(3), we do not reach the question of whether the Ex Post Facto Clause precludes application of the supervised release provisions in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-570, § 1006, 100 Stat. 3207-6 to 3207-7 (1986).

AFFIRMED.