Opinion ID: 169276
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Trial and Benally’s Requested Instruction

Text: The Government charged Benally and Kelly with possessing a firearm in a school zone (Count I), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)(A), 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2), and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (aiding and abetting), and knowingly or recklessly discharging a firearm in a school zone (Count II), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(3)(A), 18 U.S.C. § 924 (a)(4), and 18 U.S.C. § 2. R., Vol. I, Doc. 1. Kelly pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in a school zone in exchange for the Government’s promise to drop the second count of the indictment. Benally took her chances and went to trial. At the close of the evidence, Benally submitted a proposed jury instruction on her necessity defense: Ms. Benally has asserted the affirmative defense that she is not guilty because if she knowingly possessed or discharged a firearm on school grounds, she did so out of necessity. You may not find Ms. Benally guilty of that portion of the allegations contained in Count 1 that concern the point in time Mr. Washburn approached Mr. Kelly’s vehicle with a bat to the point in time Mr. Kelly was shot or Count 2 if you find and agree that the defense proved by a preponderance of the evidence the following elements: First, that there was no legal alternative to violating the law; Second, that the harm to be prevented was imminent; and Third, that a direct, casual relationship existed between Ms. Benally’s action and the avoidance of harm. R., Vol. I, Doc. 59. According to Benally, this language instructs the jury that it may not convict her of -5- possessing a firearm in a school zone if (1) Benally possessed the gun out of necessity when she grabbed it from Kelly, and (2) the jury found that this was the only time Benally possessed the gun in the school zone. The crux of Benally’s argument to the district court was that the evidence supports the finding that Benally did not possess the firearm until she touched it. Trial Tr. at 416, 418-419 (stating that “[s]he is only in proximity [to the gun] . . . [and] didn’t really at any time ever attempt to exercise dominion and control . . .”). And since the evidence allegedly supported the finding that when she touched the gun, she then did so out of necessity, Benally concludes that the court should have given the instruction. Id. The district court gave the necessity-defense instruction as to Count II (discharging a firearm in a school zone), but refused to give the instruction as to Count I (possessing a firearm in a school zone). Id. at 430. The district court reasoned that the evidence did not support giving the instruction as to Count I. Id. The jury convicted Benally of Count I, but acquitted her of Count II. R., Vol. I, Doc. 63. The district court sentenced Benally to 63 days’ imprisonment (time served), 2 years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. R., Vol. I, Doc. 72. Benally now appeals the district court’s refusal to provide the necessity-defense instruction to the jury. We exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and AFFIRM.