United States v. Johnson

265 F. App'x 8
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit·Decided February 19, 2008·No. No. 04-5635-cr·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

Defendant-appellant Keith Johnson (“Johnson”) appeals a judgment of conviction in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (Burns, J.) for being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He was sentenced principally to 262 months’ incarceration to run concurrently with an undischarged state sentence for a prior robbery and assault. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of the case.

On appeal Johnson contends (1) that the district court erred in failing to conduct a hearing to investigate an alleged conflict with counsel from the Office of the Federal Public Defender; (2) that the jury should not have been allowed to convict him on a theory of constructive possession of a firearm; and (3) that the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction based on constructive possession of a firearm. Finally, (4) he challenges the district court’s calculation of his Guideline range.

Johnson’s “Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel includes the right to representation by conflict-free counsel.” United States v. Schwarz, 283 F.3d 76, 90 (2d Cir.2002) (internal quotation marks omitted). We review his conflict of interest claim de novo. Id. at 90-91. A defendant bringing such a claim must “establish (1) an actual conflict of interest that (2) adversely affected his counsel’s performance.” Id. at 91; see Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 348, 100 S.Ct. 1708, 64 L.Ed.2d 333 (1980). To demonstrate the existence of an “actual conflict,” Johnson must show that “during the course of the representation, [his] at[10]*10torney’s and [his own] interests diverge[d] with respect to a material factual or legal issue or to a course of action.” Schwarz, 283 F.3d at 91 (internal quotation marks omitted). Mere expressions of dissatisfaction with an attorney’s performance do not establish the existence of an actual conflict. See United States v. Moree, 220 F.3d 65, 71 (2d Cir.2000).

Johnson contends that an actual conflict existed between him and his first appointed attorney, Roger Sigal, which was imputed to the attorney who subsequently represented him at trial, Peter Avenia. He also argues that in light of his conflict, the district court’s failure to conduct a hearing pursuant to United States v. Curcio, 680 F.2d 881 (2d Cir.1982), warrants automatic reversal of his conviction. These claims are without merit. In a June 8, 2004 hearing before the district court, Johnson expressed a litany of complaints about Si-gal. These expressions of dissatisfaction fall far short of demonstrating that Johnson’s interests and those of his attorney “diverge[d] with respect to a material factual or legal issue or to a course of action.” Schwarz, 283 F.3d at 91 (citation omitted). Nor has Johnson shown that Sigal’s purported failures caused an actual lapse in either his own or Avenia’s representation. Since the record presents no evidence that the district court reasonably should have known of any actual conflict, no Curdo hearing was required.

Johnson also contends that the district court erred by permitting the jury to convict him based on a theory of constructive possession. Since he did not make this argument before the district court, we review it for plain error. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b). Johnson not only failed to object to the jury instruction on constructive possession, to the contrary, he proposed the very charge that he now contests on appeal. Accordingly, Johnson has waived any right to appellate review of the charge. United States v. Giovanelli, 464 F.3d 346, 351 (2d Cir.2006) (per curiam).

Johnson further claims that insufficient evidence supported his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In our review, “we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, drawing all inferences in the government’s favor and deferring to the jury’s assessments of the witnesses’ credibility.” United States v. Parkes, 497 F.3d 220, 225 (2d Cir.2007). “Possession” within the meaning of § 922(g)(1) may be actual or constructive. United States v. Gaines, 295 F.3d 293, 300 (2d Cir.2002). “[C]onstructive possession, exists when a person has the power and intention to exercise dominion and control over an object, [which] may be shown by direct or circumstantial evidence.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). The government may show that a defendant exercised dominion and control over an object by demonstrating that “the defendant exercised dominion and control over the premises in which the firearms are located.” United States v. Dhinsa, 243 F.3d 635, 676 (2d Cir.2001).

The government proved both actual and constructive possession. Johnson’s nephew, Joe Shannon, testified that the gun belonged to Johnson and that he had seen Johnson carry the gun and put it away in his house prior to the night in question. Shannon also testified that Johnson entered his car with the gun and placed it under his seat. Lieutenant Andrew Nelson corroborated this account by testifying that the gun was found in Johnson’s car and underneath the passenger seat where he had been sitting, and that Johnson acted oddly as Nelson pulled the car over and approached him. Agent Kurt Wheeler testified that the gun belonged to Johnson and was found in his car, which Shannon drove on the night of the robbery. Viewed [11]*11in the light most favorable to the Government, testimony by these witnesses was sufficient to permit a jury to conclude that, at a minimum, Johnson constructively possessed a firearm by “exercis[ing] dominion and control over the premises in which the firearm [was] located.” Dhinsa, 243 F.3d at 676. Johnson’s insufficiency of the evidence claim therefore fails.

Johnson challenges his sentence on a number of grounds, which this Court need not reach in light of the government’s agreement that he is entitled to a remand for resentencing pursuant to United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), and United States v. Fagans, 406 F.3d 138 (2d Cir.2005). We first address Johnson’s claim that the district court erred in enhancing his sentence pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Act (“ACCA”) because his Connecticut conviction for rioting in a correctional institution does not qualify as a predicate offense triggering application of the statute.

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