Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-04-03535/USCOURTS-ca8-04-03535-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
United States of America
Appellee
Christopher A. Welker
Appellant

Document Text:

1

The Honorable Rodney W. Sippel, United States District Judge for the Eastern

District of Missouri.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 04-3535

___________

United States of America, *

*

Appellee, * Appeal from the United States

* District Court for the Eastern 

v. * District of Missouri.

* 

* [UNPUBLISHED] 

Christopher A. Welker, *

*

Appellant. *

___________

Submitted: April 11, 2005

Filed: May 16, 2005 

___________

Before COLLOTON, McMILLIAN, BENTON, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

After admitting to stealing seven firearms, Christopher Andrew Welker pleaded

guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).

The district court1

 enhanced Welker's sentence based on the Armed Career Criminal

Act of 1984 (ACCA) of 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1). He appeals the enhancement, arguing

that the district court violated Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. ---, 124 S.Ct. 2531

Appellate Case: 04-3535 Page: 1 Date Filed: 05/16/2005 Entry ID: 1903126
-2-

(2004) by "finding" that his three prior burglary convictions were violent felonies.

This court reviews de novo whether a prior offense is a violent felony under section

924(e). United States v. Abernathy, 277 F.3d 1048, 1051 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 535

U.S. 1089 (2002). Having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms. 

The ACCA mandates a minimum15-year sentence for a violation of section

922(g)(1) when the person has three or more convictions for a "violent felony." 18

U.S.C. § 924(e)(1). A prior conviction is a sentencing factor for the court. 

Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 243-44 (1998). Whether a prior

conviction is a violent felony is a question of law for the court, not an issue submitted

to a jury. United States v. Sanders, 377 F.3d 845, 847 n.3 (8th Cir. 2004). Therefore,

a court does not engage in prohibited fact-finding when enhancing sentences under

the ACCA for prior convictions. See United States v. Painter, 400 F.3d 1111, 1111

(8th Cir. 2005).

This court has held repeatedly that a burglary conviction is a violent felony.

United States v. Nolan, 397 F.3d 665, 666 (8th Cir. 2005); United States v.

Blahowski, 324 F.3d 592, 594-95 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 934 (2003); United

States v. Hascall, 76 F.3d 902, 904 (8th Cir. 1996). Moreover, section 924(e)

includes burglary in the definition of violent felony. 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii). 

Because Welker had three burglary convictions, the district court did not err in

enhancing his sentence under the ACCA. 

The judgment of the district court is affirmed.

_____________________________

Appellate Case: 04-3535 Page: 2 Date Filed: 05/16/2005 Entry ID: 1903126