United States v. Douglas Elmo Canon, United States of America v. Robert John Delang

993 F.2d 1439, 93 Daily Journal DAR 6351, 93 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3707, 1993 U.S. App. LEXIS 11578, 1993 WL 165735
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedMay 20, 1993
Docket91-50853, 91-50854
StatusPublished
Cited by72 cases

This text of 993 F.2d 1439 (United States v. Douglas Elmo Canon, United States of America v. Robert John Delang) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Douglas Elmo Canon, United States of America v. Robert John Delang, 993 F.2d 1439, 93 Daily Journal DAR 6351, 93 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3707, 1993 U.S. App. LEXIS 11578, 1993 WL 165735 (9th Cir. 1993).

Opinion

BEEZER, Circuit Judge:

Douglas Elmo Canon and Robert John De-lang appeal their convictions for possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), their convictions for using a firearm during a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and their sentences. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We affirm Canon’s and Delang’s § 922(g) convictions, reverse their § 924(c) convictions, and vacate and remand their sentences.

I

On August 4, 1990, officers in California noticed Delang’s vehicle had a broken taillight and signalled for him to pull over. Instead, Delang led the officers on a high speed chase. One officer told his partner he *1441 thought he saw Delang hand Canon something that looked like a firearm. Canon leaned out the passenger window and fired about eight times. Although Delang argued he never possessed the weapon, the pursuing officers testified that shots were fired from the driver’s (Delang’s) side as the vehicle turned left. Shortly thereafter, Delang crashed the vehicle, and he and Canon were arrested. Their left hands were smudged with powder from a discharged firearm. In the vehicle, the officers found a pistol bearing an inscription that indicated it had been manufactured in Georgia.

Canon’s felony record included the following convictions for offenses committed on different occasions: structural burglary, armed robbery and possession of a sap, an inherently dangerous and deadly weapon similar to a blackjack. Delang’s felony record included three armed robbery convictions stemming from separate criminal episodes. Canon and Delang stipulated to felon status.

II

Possession of a firearm by a felon constituted the underlying “crime of violence” for Canon’s and Delang’s § 924(c) convictions. 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). Canon and Delang failed to argue in their joint opening brief that, for purposes of § 924(c), possession of a firearm by a felon is not a crime of violence. Only at oral argument, and apparently in response to a contrary position outlined in the government’s brief, did Canon or Delang raise the issue. To prevent manifest injustice, we address the question. United States v. Ullah, 976 F.2d 509, 514 (9th Cir.1992).

The government contended at oral argument that we cannot rule in Canon’s and Delang’s favor without overruling United States v. O’Neal, 937 F.2d 1369 (9th Cir.1990). We deem O’Neal’s interpretation of an outdated version of Guidelines § 4B1.2 irrelevant to our present inquiry. See id. at 1374-75.

We hold that possession of a firearm by a felon is not a “crime of violence” under § 924(e). Commission of the crime requires no act other than possession of the firearm nor, consistent with interpretations given similar provisions, does it pose a “substantial risk” that physical force may be used against a person or property. 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(3)(A), (B); see U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2, comment, (n.2) (Nov. 1991) (possession of firearm by felon not a “crime of violence” for purposes of career offender provisions); United States v. Garcia-Cruz, 978 F.2d 537, 542-43 (9th Cir.1992) (possession of firearm by felon not a “violent felony” for purposes of armed career criminal act). Canon’s and Delang’s § 924(c) convictions are reversed.

Ill

Canon and Delang argue the sentences for their § 922(g) convictions should not have been enhanced for career offender or armed career criminal status. U.S.S.G. §§ 4B1.1, 4B1.4. The government concedes Canon and Delang should have been sentenced without reliance upon the career offender provisions. We review de novo the legality of the armed career criminal enhancements. United States v. Hahn, 960 F.2d 903, 907 (9th Cir.1992).

Canon and Delang are armed career criminals under Guidelines § 4B1.4. Canon and Delang violated § 922(g), and each has three prior violent felony convictions. 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). Under § 924(e), Canon’s single armed robbery conviction and Delang’s three armed robbery convictions are for violent felonies. United States v. Antonie, 953 F.2d 496, 498-99 (9th Cir.1991), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 138, 121 L.Ed.2d 91 (1992). The burglary statute under which Canon was convicted substantially corresponds to “generic” burglary; thus, that conviction is for a violent felony. Tex.Penál Code § 30.02; Taylor v. United States, 495 U.S. 575, 598, 110 S.Ct. 2143, 2158, 109 L.Ed.2d 607 (1990). Because possession of a sap is “presumptive evidence of unlawful violent intentions” and necessarily entails a “serious potential risk of physical injury to another,” this felony conviction also qualifies. 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii); United States v. Dunn, 946 F.2d 615, 621 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 112 S.Ct. 401, 116 L.Ed.2d 350 (1991); see Cal.Penal Code § 12020 (statute under which Canon was convicted); People v. Johnson, 72 Cal.App.3d 52, 55, 139 Cal.Rptr. 811, 813 (1977) (proof of *1442 “possession alone” suffices to convict under § 12020). On remand, the district court shall sentence Canon and Delang as armed career criminals, but not as career offenders.

IV

Canon and Delang maintain that prosecution in federal court violated their due process and equal protection rights. They have not, however, shown prima facie that the prosecutor’s charging decision rested on an impermissible factor, such as race, gender or religion. In these circumstances, we lack authority to review the charging decision. United States v. Sitton, 968 F.2d 947, 953 (9th Cir.1992), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 1306, 122 L.Ed.2d 695 (1993).

V

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993 F.2d 1439, 93 Daily Journal DAR 6351, 93 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3707, 1993 U.S. App. LEXIS 11578, 1993 WL 165735, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-douglas-elmo-canon-united-states-of-america-v-robert-ca9-1993.