Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. David GARCIA-BELTRAN, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-10-14
Citations: 111 F. App'x 279
Docket Number: No. 04-30203
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. David GARCIA-BELTRAN, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 111
Pages: 279–280

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. David GARCIA-BELTRAN, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 04-30203.
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided Oct. 14, 2004.
Cristina Walker, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Shreveport, LA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Wayne Joseph Blanchard, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Lafayette, LA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before DAVIS, SMITH, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
David Garcia-Beltran appeals his sentences and his jury convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(3) for assault with a dangerous weapon and 18 U.S.C. § 1791(a)(2) for possession of prison contraband. Garcia-Beltran asserts that the evidence did not establish that he possessed a weapon and inflicted puncture wounds to an inmate. Garcia explains that he engaged in a "frontal fist fight assault" and could not have caused the inmate's stab wounds. Garcia argues that the weapon was found on the prison yard and could have been thrown there by any one of the many inmates who witnessed the fight. Garcia also asserts that any inmate in the yard could have caused the stab wounds.
We view "the evidence and the inferences that may be drawn from it in the light most favorable to the verdict," and we determine whether "a rational jury could have found the essential elements of the offenses beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Pruneda-Gonzalez, 953 F.2d 190, 193 (5th Cir.1992). We will not substitute our credibility determination for that of the jury. United States v. Williams, 132 F.3d 1055, 1059 (5th Cir.1998).
Section 1791(a)(2), 18 U.S.C., proscribes a prison inmate from making, possessing, obtaining, or attempting to obtain a "prohibited object." A "prohibited object" includes a weapon or an object that is designed or intended to be used as a weapon. See 18 U.S.C. § 1791(d)(1)(B). Trial testimony established that Garcia-Beltran possessed a "shank," which is a weapon and a prohibited object as that term is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1791. The evidence supports the jury's finding that Garcia-Beltran was guilty of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1791(a)(2). See Williams, 132 F.3d at 1059; Estrada-Fernandez, 150 F.3d at 494.
A violation of 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(3) requires proof that the defendant assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon and with the intent to do bodily harm; an 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(3) violation does not require proof of any physical contact. United States v. Estrado-Fernandez, 150 F.3d 491, 494-95 (5th Cir.1998). The trial testimony establishes that Garcia-Beltran committed the essential elements of an 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(3) violation. See Williams, 132 F.3d at 1059; Estrada-Fernandez, 150 F.3d at 494.
Garcia asserts that the district court sentenced him in violation of Blakely v. Washington, — U.S.-, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), by imposing a sentence based on facts that were neither admitted nor found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Garcia's argument is foreclosed by United States v. Pineiro, 377 F.3d 464, 466 (5th Cir.2004), petition for cert. filed, (U.S. July 14, 2004) (No. 04-5263). See United States v. Lipscomb, 299 F.3d 303, 313 n. 34 (5th Cir.2002). Accordingly, Garcia's convictions and sentences are AFFIRMED.
We REMAND to the district court for correction of the judgment pursuant to Fed.R.CrimP. 36 to reflect that Garcia was convicted in Count Two of a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1791(a)(2).
AFFIRMED and REMANDED with instruction.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 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. R. 47.5.4.