Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Daniel PATCH, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-12-22
Citations: 463 F. App'x 665
Docket Number: No. 11-30083
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Daniel PATCH, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before: GOODWIN, WALLACE, and McKEOWN, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 463
Pages: 665–666

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Daniel PATCH, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 11-30083.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Dec. 19, 2011.
Filed Dec. 22, 2011.
Douglas W. Fong, Kelly A. Zusman, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Office of the U.S. Attorney, Medford, OR, for Plaintiff-Ap-pellee.
Daniel Patch, Eugene, OR, pro se.
Before: GOODWIN, WALLACE, and McKEOWN, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Daniel Patch appeals pro se from the district court's order affirming a magistrate judge's imposition of a $285 fine on Patch for violating 36 C.F.R. § 2.32(a)(1). The magistrate judge and district court found that Patch repeatedly failed to comply with Ranger Mayer's commands to provide identification and exit his mobile-home, and that, to the extent he was detained, his resistance was not excused by an absence of reasonable suspicion to detain him. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We affirm.
A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence is reviewed de novo to determine whether, viewing "the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979) (emphasis omitted); United States v. Bucher, 375 F.3d 929, 934 (9th Cir.2004). The district court's adherence to that standard in reviewing the magistrate judge's decision was proper and therefore did not betray an impermissible bias.
Patch also argues on appeal that the evidence does not support his conviction and that his reaction was justified by fear and provocation. Mayer was justified in approaching Patch based on his belief that Patch was parked illegally. United States v. Arvizu, 534 U.S. 266, 273, 122 S.Ct. 744, 151 L.Ed.2d 740 (2002). For that reason, Patch's resistance was not justified, even if he was parked legally or was intimidated by Mayer. See United States v. Willfong, 274 F.3d 1297, 1300-01 (9th Cir.2001) (analyzing a claim under 36 C.F.R. § 261.3(a)). Nor was it excused by Mayer's allegedly provocative conduct, as the magistrate judge's contrary factual findings are not clearly erroneous. See Young v. Cnty. of L.A., 655 F.3d 1156, 1164 (9th Cir.2011); United States v. Ruiz-Gaxiola, 623 F.3d 684, 693 n. 4 (9th Cir.2010). Thus, a rational trier of fact could have determined that Patch's refusal to comply with Mayer's orders violated section 2.32(a)(1). See United States v. Bibbins, 637 F.3d 1087, 1093 (9th Cir.2011); Bucher, 375 F.3d at 934.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.