United States v. Joe Lanning

723 F.3d 476, 2013 WL 3770694, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 14645
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
DecidedJuly 19, 2013
Docket12-4547
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 723 F.3d 476 (United States v. Joe Lanning) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fourth 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. Joe Lanning, 723 F.3d 476, 2013 WL 3770694, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 14645 (4th Cir. 2013).

Opinions

Reversed and remanded by published opinion.

Judge WYNN wrote the majority opinion, in which Judge FLOYD joined.

Judge DUNCAN wrote a dissenting opinion.

WYNN, Circuit Judge:

In the context of a sting operation specifically targeting gay men, an undercover ranger approached Defendant, initiated a sexually suggestive conversation with him, and then expressly agreed to have sex with him. In response, Defendant backed up to the ranger and “[v]ery briefly” touched the ranger’s fully-clothed crotch. J.A. 56. That conduct gave rise to Defendant’s conviction for disorderly conduct under 36 C.F.R. § 2.34, which prohibits conduct that is “obscene,” “physically threatening or menacing,” or “likely to inflict injury or incite an immediate breach of the peace.” 36 C.F.R. § 2.34(a)(2).

Upon review, we hold that the term “obscene” is unconstitutionally vague as applied to Defendant. We further hold that no rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant’s brief touch of the ranger’s crotch, done in response to the ranger’s deliberate attempt to convince Defendant that he would have sex with him, was “physically threatening or menacing” or “likely to inflict injury or incite an immediate breach of the peace.” Accordingly, we reverse and remand for a judgment of acquittal.

I.

After receiving complaints about male-on-male sexual activity around the Sleepy Gap Overlook of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe County, North Carolina, the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service conducted a joint operation “designed to enable officers to identify and arrest men who were using the area for sexual solicitation and activity with other men.” Appellee’s Br. at 3. Joseph Darling, a thirty-three-year-old, two-hundred-pound park ranger, participated in the sting operation as an undercover officer. In November 2009, in the course of the sting operation, Darling saw Defendant, a sixty-two-year-old male retiree, on a nearby trail. As Darling walked past Defendant, Defendant grabbed his own groin and kept walking. Darling said hello and also kept walking.

[479]*479Five or ten minutes later, after walking around in the woods and talking to a few other people, Darling went looking for Defendant and found him standing by himself on an unofficial trail. Darling engaged Defendant in a casual conversation about the weather for several minutes. Darling then commented that Asheville was “an open community,” accepting of a homosexual lifestyle. J.A. 54. Defendant responded that he “wanted to be F’ed.” Id. Darling replied “okay or yes, or something to that affirmative[,]” J.A. 58, and “gave [Defendant] every reason to believe that [Darling] was good to go[,]” J.A. 85.1 At that point, Defendant-who was facing Darling and standing approximately three to five feet away from him-turned around, took one or two steps backward towards Darling, and, with his left hand, reached back and “[v]ery briefly” touched Darling’s fully-clothed crotch. J.A 56. Darling described the touch as “a fairly firm grasp” that lasted “[v]ery briefly[,] [u]ntil I could get the words out: ‘Police officer, you’re under arrest.” ’ Id.

Defendant was charged with disorderly conduct in violation of 36 C.F.R. § 2.34(a)(2). Before trial, Defendant unsuccessfully moved to dismiss the case. At trial, Darling was the only witness. And at the close of the government’s evidence, Defendant moved for judgment of acquittal. This, too, the magistrate judge denied. The magistrate judge then found Defendant guilty of disorderly conduct, giving no specific reasons for his decision and noting only that he was “convinced beyond a reasonable doubt” that Defendant had violated the statute. J.A. 121. The magistrate judge sentenced Defendant to 15 days’ imprisonment, a $1000 fine, and a two-year ban on visiting government forests and parks.

Defendant appealed to the district court. The district court affirmed Defendant’s conviction, concluding that there was sufficient evidence that his conduct was obscene and physically threatening and/or menacing. The district court, however, vacated and remanded Defendant’s sentence because the magistrate judge lacked the authority to ban Defendant from government parks. The magistrate judge resentenced Defendant to 15 days’ imprisonment and a $500 fine, and the district court affirmed. Defendant then appealed to this Court.

II.

On appeal, Defendant first argues that the government’s evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for disorderly conduct under Section 2.34(a)(2). We must construe the evidence and any inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the government and affirm if “any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime charged beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Penniegraft, 641 F.3d 566, 571 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 132 S.Ct. 564, 181 L.Ed.2d 407 (2011). Further, Defendant and the government disagree as to the meaning of Section 2.34(a)(2); that, we review de novo. United States v. Abuagla, 336 F.3d 277, 278 (4th Cir.2003).

Section 2.34 is an enactment of the Secretary of the Interior, who is authorized to promulgate regulations “necessary or proper for the use and management” of parks under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, including the Blue Ridge [480]*480Parkway. 16 U.S.C. § 3. Section 2.34 is just such a regulation and therefore has “the force and effect of law.” United States v. Fox, 60 F.3d 181, 184 (4th Cir.1995).

At Defendant’s bench trial, the magistrate judge found Defendant guilty of violating Section 2.34(a)(2), which says:

A person commits disorderly conduct when, with intent to cause public alarm, nuisance, jeopardy or violence, or knowingly or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person ... [ujses language, an utterance, or gesture, or engages in a display or act that is obscene, physically threatening or menacing, or done in a manner that is likely to inflict injury or incite an immediate breach of the peace.

36 C.F.R. § 2.34(a)(2). Accordingly, the essential elements of disorderly conduct under Section 2.34(a)(2) are: (1) using language, an utterance, or a gesture, or engaging in a display or act; (2) that is obscene, physically threatening or menacing, or done in a manner likely to inflict injury or incite an immediate breach of the peace; and (3) having the intent to cause or knowingly or recklessly creating a risk of public alarm, nuisance, jeopardy, or violence.

A.

Defendant argues that the government failed to prove the second element of disorderly conduct under Section 2.34(a)(2).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Staff Sergeant GENE R. ROUSE III
Army Court of Criminal Appeals, 2019
Cranford v. Kluttz
278 F. Supp. 3d 848 (M.D. North Carolina, 2017)
City of Chesapeake v. Evans
91 Va. Cir. 247 (Chesapeake County Circuit Court, 2015)
MJJG Restaurant LLC v. Horry County
102 F. Supp. 3d 770 (D. South Carolina, 2015)
Stephen V. Kolbe v. Martin J. O'Malley
42 F. Supp. 3d 768 (D. Maryland, 2014)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
723 F.3d 476, 2013 WL 3770694, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 14645, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-joe-lanning-ca4-2013.