Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-05-03361/USCOURTS-ca8-05-03361-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Tracy Eugene Russell
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

*

The Honorable Dean Whipple, Chief Judge, United States District Court for

the Western District of Missouri.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 05-3361

___________

United States of America, *

*

Appellee, * Appeal from the United States

* District Court for the Western

v. * District of Missouri.

*

Tracy Eugene Russell, * [UNPUBLISHED]

*

Appellant. *

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Submitted: June 2, 2006

Filed: June 6, 2006

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Before MELLOY, FAGG, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.

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PER CURIAM.

Tracy Eugene Russell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm,

in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). At sentencing, Russell

contended he had possessed the firearm solely for sporting purposes and thus he was

entitled to a base offense level of 6 under the “sporting purposes” section of the felonin-possession Guideline, U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(2). The district court*

 rejected Russell’s

argument and assigned him a base offense level of 14 under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(2),

Appellate Case: 05-3361 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/06/2006 Entry ID: 2052714
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which applies to those who possess a firearm as a “prohibited person.” Russell argues

the district court improperly relied on subjective conclusions and speculation.

We review de novo the district court’s application of section 2K2.1 and for

clear error the court’s factual findings. See United States v. Mathijssen, 406 F.3d 496,

498 (8th Cir. 2005). Undisputed testimony offered at sentencing showed the firearm

was found immediately next to Russell inside an automobile at almost 3:00 in the

morning, with a loaded clip nearby and 380 grams of marijuana in the back seat. The

occupants of the car had just left a home at which an altercation had occurred. Based

on this testimony we agree with the district court Russell failed to discharge his

burden of showing he possessed the firearm for lawful sporting purposes or collection

within the meaning of section 2K2.1(b)(2). See United States v. Lussier, 423 F.3d

838, 842-43 (8th Cir. 2005) (affirming denial of base offense level of 6 under

§ 2K2.1(b)(2) where defendant failed to carry his burden of proving how rifle’s

positioning next to him within automobile related solely to sporting purpose), cert.

denied, 126 S. Ct. 1120 (2006).

Accordingly, we affirm.

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Appellate Case: 05-3361 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/06/2006 Entry ID: 2052714