United States v. Hill

224 F. App'x 825
Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit·Decided May 18, 2007·No. No. 06-6276·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

WADE BRORBY, Circuit Judge.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

A jury convicted Appellant James Lynn Hill of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He now appeals his conviction and sentence, arguing insufficient evidence supports his conviction; the federal felon-in-possession statute, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), is unconstitutional; and his 120-month sentence is unreasonable under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). We exercise jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm Mr. Hill’s conviction and sentence.

I. Factual Background

On April 27, 2004, a police officer in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, stopped a car for failing to have a tag light. The occupants included the driver, as well as Mr. Hill, who was the front seat passenger, and Mr. Hill’s girlfriend, who occupied the back seat. After receiving each occupant’s identification, the officer got into his patrol car to run a background [827] check. At that time Mr. Hill jumped out of the car and ran away carrying a backpack. The officer followed on foot until Mr. Hill rounded a corner and the officer lost track of him. At that corner the patrol officer stopped and searched the area, including a large trash can, where he found the backpack. The backpack contained a loaded revolver, drug paraphernalia,1 and Mr. Hill’s tax return documents, together with some of his girlfriend’s papers.

At trial, a federal agent testified that based on his training and research the firearm, stamped with the words “Arms Co., Nashville, Tennessee,” was manufactured in Nashville, Tennessee, sometime between 1968 and 1978 and previously crossed state lines into Oklahoma. Prior to testifying, Mr. Hill stipulated he had previously been convicted in Oklahoma state court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Mr. Hill also testified at trial, claiming his girlfriend put the backpack in the car and he only took it when he ran because she asked him to take it. While he stated he had never seen the gun inside the backpack, Mr. Hill admitted he knew the backpack contained drug paraphernalia and that is why he put it in the trash can. Following his testimony, Mr. Hill’s girlfriend testified she saw Mr. Hill with a similar or the same firearm one or two days before the incident and denied she told him to take the backpack before he ran off.

At the conclusion of the evidence and arguments, Mr. Hill generally moved for judgment of acquittal, which the district court overruled. Following deliberations, a jury found Mr. Hill guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).

II. Procedural Background

Prior to sentencing, a probation officer prepared a presentence report calculating Mr. Hill’s sentence under the applicable United States Sentencing Guidelines (“Guidelines” or “U.S.S.G.”). The probation officer set his base offense level at twenty-four pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(2) because Mr. Hill committed the instant offense subsequent to sustaining two felony convictions for controlled substance offenses. The probation officer then increased Mr. Hill’s base level four levels pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(5) because he possessed the firearm in connection with the felony offense of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, resulting in a total offense level of twenty-eight. The presentence report also set Mr. Hill’s criminal history category at VI, which, together with an offense level of twenty-eight, resulted in an advisory Guidelines sentencing range of 140 to 175 months imprisonment. However, as the probation officer pointed out, the maximum term of imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2), for violation of § 922(g)(1), was ten years, or 120 months, which is less than the advisory Guidelines range.

Mr. Hill filed a sentencing memorandum in which he claimed he should receive a sentence of only five years probation based on the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). In support, he provided a discussion of his history and characteristics, including a general discussion of his family history.2 [828] He also acknowledged the seriousness of his offense and that he must be punished, noted his intention to be law-abiding in the future, admitted to prior serious substance abuse problems, and indicated he would benefit from substance and mental health counseling and educational and vocational training. At the sentencing hearing, Mr. Hill also acknowledged any future criminal conduct by him would have detrimental consequences and asked for leniency based on his completion of a drug program, positive attitude toward the future, desire to return to society, and new-found respect for the law.

After hearing and considering the parties’ arguments, the district court stated it had reviewed the presentence report and considered the testimony, the parties’ arguments, and Mr. Hill’s statement and submission. It further stated it had considered the sentencing factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553 and that while it understood the Guidelines are advisory, it believed they were appropriate in the instant case. The district court further stated Mr. Hill was obviously an intelligent and articulate person, but that it could not be sympathetic to his requests because he had at least nine prior arrests. It also indicated that such a background and record reflected the need for his incarceration to keep him off the streets. The district court further stated it hoped Mr. Hill would someday become a productive member of society, but pointed out that his instant offense was a dangerous one involving drugs and weapons. It then sentenced Mr. Hill to 120 months in prison.

III. Discussion

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United States v. Hill, 224 F. App'x 825 (10th Cir. 2007).

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