# United States Court **of Appeals**  **f or the Fifth Circuit** 

No. 21

- 30370 Summary Calendar

**United States of America,**

Plaintiff

— Appellee **,**

versus
**Damien Justin,**

Defendant

— Appellant

**.**

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana USDC No. 2:19

- CR

- 57

- 1

Before **Wiener, Dennis,**  and **Haynes,** Circuit Judges

**. Per Curiam**  **:** *

Defendant

- Appellant Damien Justin appeals his jury

- trial conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon , in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

. He contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the conclusion that he knowingly possessed a firea rm.

* Pursuant to **5th Cir cuit**  **R ule**  47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in **5th Cir cuit**  **R ule**  47.5.4. United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit 

### FILED June 15, 2022 Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Case: 21-30370 Document: 00516358735 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/15/2022No. 21

- 30370

2 We review p roperly preserved claims of sufficiency of the evidence de

novo. United States v. Daniels , 723 F.3d 562, 569 (5th Cir.), modified in part on reh’g , 729 F.3d 496 (5th Cir. 2013). We give substantial deference to the jury verdict w hen reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence
under this standard of review

. United States v. Chon , 713 F.3d 812, 818 (5th Cir. 2013). When we view the evidence in the light most favorable t o the Government, we ask only whether a rational jury could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.

W e conclude here that based on the evidence presented at trial a rational jury could have determined that Justin knew that the two firearms at issue were in his bedroom ’s nightstand

. Special Agent Steven Rayes testified that Justin confessed to occupying the master bedroom and using the
firearms found in the nightstand for protection. This confession was
corroborat ed by independent evidence indicating that the box for one of the
firearms was in plain view in the master bedroom closet among Justin’s
clothes. See United States v. Deville , 278 F.3d 500, 506 (5th Cir. 2002). Further, independent evidence indicat ed that Justin had dominion and
control over the master bedroom in which the loaded firearms were found.
See id. ; United States v. Meza , 701 F.3d 411, 419

- 20 (5th Cir. 2012). Specifically, law enforcement agents testified that they found Justin’s cell phone, driver’s license, clothes, wallet, money, financial documents, and mail in the master bedroom, and that they provided photos of the same. See
id.

Even absent Justin’s confession, his dominion and control over the
area where the firearms were f ound is sufficient to establish that h e knowingly possessed the m

. See id . Although the firearms were not in plain view, they were located in the top draw er of the master bedroom ’s nightstand, a location “where they could hardly have escaped [Justin’s] kn owledge.” United States
v. Smith , 591 F.2d 1105, 1107 (5th Cir. 1979). I n light of the for e going, a Case: 21-30370 Document: 00516358735 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/15/2022No. 21

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3 rational jury could have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Justin knowingly possessed the firearms. See Chon , 713 F.3d at 818

. **AFFIRMED**

. Case: 21-30370 Document: 00516358735 Page: 3 Date Filed: 06/15/2022