Source: http://ia.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190226_0000178.C08.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-04-02 16:49:19
Document Index: 63467715

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 922', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 2', '§ 2']

FindACase™ | United States v. Canamore
United States v. Canamore
Oscar Canamore Defendant-Appellant
Oscar Canamore pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The district court[1] sentenced Canamore to 84 months' imprisonment. On appeal, he argues the district court incorrectly calculated the advisory guideline range by applying a two-level increase under United States Sentencing Guidelines ("U.S.S.G." or "Guidelines") § 2K2.1(b)(4)(A) for possessing a stolen firearm and U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) for possessing a firearm in connection with another felony offense. We affirm.
On October 6, 2016, an arrest warrant was issued for Canamore by the Little Rock District Court in Little Rock, Arkansas, for theft by receiving a stolen firearm. The warrant came about because of a stolen pistol that had been pawned at Pawnderosa Pawn Shop in Little Rock, Arkansas, on September 17, 2016, with Canamore's name listed on the pawn ticket. The pawned pistol was a Smith & Wesson air weight .38 caliber revolver.
When the United States Marshals Service arrested Canamore at his mother's apartment, they conducted a search of Canamore's bedroom. A deputy found an Armi-Galesi .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol, model Brevetto, inside the pocket of a pair of pants; six rounds of .22 caliber ammunition inside the pistol; 11 rounds of Hornady .357 caliber ammunition; nine rounds of Hornady .45 caliber ammunition; 4.3 grams of marijuana; and one drug scale. After advising Canamore of his Miranda rights, Canamore voluntarily spoke to law enforcement. Canamore admitted he owned the ammunition and marijuana found in his bedroom. He initially disclaimed knowledge of the pistol or pants where the pistol was found. Later in the interview, Canamore admitted he owned the pants where the pistol was found. He explained that a female acquaintance placed the pistol in his pants pocket for safekeeping because she no longer needed it to protect herself since the person she had been in an abusive relationship with was in jail.
Canamore admitted to two prior felony convictions from Pulaski County Circuit Court that prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The prior offenses included: (1) a conviction in 2013 for possession of a controlled substance with the purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing, and leaving scene of accident with injury or death; and (2) a conviction in 2015 for simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of a controlled substance with the purpose to deliver, possession of firearms by certain persons, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At sentencing, the district court determined the applicable base offense level pursuant to the Guidelines was 24. Over Canamore's objection, the court, after considering all relevant conduct, applied a two-level increase under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(4)(A) because a stolen firearm was involved and an additional four-level increase under § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) because the stolen firearm was possessed in connection with another felony offense-theft by receiving under Arkansas law. After reducing the offense level by three points under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1 for acceptance of responsibility and timely notice of intent to plead guilty, the court determined Canamore's total offense level was 27. Canamore was in criminal history category IV, yielding an advisory Guidelines range of 100 to 120 months.[2]
The court found the advisory Guidelines range was "a little too harsh" in Canamore's case. The court noted that imposing both Guidelines enhancements, while correct, was not "fair" and ought to be a consideration for a variance. The court balanced Canamore's criminal history against the particular circumstances of this offense. It noted that neither of the guns at issue were brandished, discharged, or displayed. The extra ammunition found was "odd" because it did not fit either of the pistols or any other firearm found. The court explained that since the Guidelines swept so broadly in defining relevant conduct, there must be some room for a court to evaluate "what actually happened and adjust the sentence accordingly." After weighing these factors, the court granted Canamore's motion for a variance and sentenced him to a term of 84 months' imprisonment. Canamore timely appealed.
Canamore argues the district court committed procedural error in calculating the advisory Guidelines range by "double counting" when it applied enhancements under both § 2K2.1(b)(4)(A) and § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). We have explained: "'[d]ouble counting occurs when one part of the Guidelines is applied to increase a defendant's punishment on account of a kind of harm that has already been fully accounted for by application of another part of the Guidelines,' but double counting is permissible if the Sentencing Commission so intended and each guideline section furthers an independent purpose of sentencing." United States v. Chapman, 614 F.3d 810, 812 (8th Cir. 2010) (quoting and citing United States v. Hipenbecker, 115 F.3d 581, 583 (8th Cir. 1997)). "We review the district court's application of the guidelines and the double-counting question de novo." Id.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) directs the court to increase a defendant&#39;s offense level by four if he "used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense." U.S.S.G. &sect; 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). The commentary defines "another felony offense" as "any federal, state, or local offense, other than the explosive or firearms possession or trafficking offense, punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, regardless of whether a criminal charge was brought, or a conviction obtained." Id. at comment. (n.14(C)). Theft by receiving stolen property was a felony under Arkansas ...