Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Michael Raynard RICE, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2003-06-04
Citations: 65 F. App'x 490
Docket Number: No. 02-4819
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Michael Raynard RICE, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before NIEMEYER, MICHAEL, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 65
Pages: 490–491

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Michael Raynard RICE, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 02-4819.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted April 24, 2003.
Decided June 4, 2003.
Frank W. Dunham, Jr., Federal Public Defender, Suzanne Little, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Frances H. Pratt, Research and Writing Attorney, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellant. Paul J. McNulty, United States Attorney, Patrick F. Stokes, Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellee.
Before NIEMEYER, MICHAEL, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Michael Raynard Rice appeals his conviction, for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of the misdemeanor crime of domestic violence under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9) (2000), and his sentence of twenty-one months imprisonment. On appeal, Rice alleges that the district court erred by refusing to grant him a two-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual ("USSG") § 3El.l(a) (2001), and by failing to grant his proferred jury instruction regarding the interstate commerce element of the crime. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
As he did in the district court, Rice argues that, to support the interstate commerce element of § 922, the Government must prove a present and substantial connection between the firearm and interstate commerce. We have rejected this claim. United States v. Gallimore, 247 F.3d 134, 138 (4th Cir.2001). Thus, Rice has failed to show that the district court committed prejudicial error by declining to give the jury an erroneous instruction. See United States v. Fleschner, 98 F.3d 155, 158 (4th Cir.1996) (providing review standard).
Next, Rice alleges that, even though he pled not guilty and put the Government to the burden of a trial, he should have received a two-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility under USSG § 3El.l(a). We do not find that the district court clearly erred in denying Rice the adjustment. See United States v. Castner, 50 F.3d 1267, 1279 (4th Cir.1995) (providing review standard). Rice has failed to meet his burden of establishing by a preponderence of the evidence that he was entitled to the reduction. See United States v. Urrego-Linares, 879 F.2d 1234, 1238-39 (4th Cir.1989); see also USSG § 3E.1., comment. (n.2) (stating that, where a defendant has proceeded to trial, it is rare that a defendant would receive the adjustment, absent circumstances not present in the instant appeal).
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED.