Opinion ID: 158952
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Carjacking of Anne Byers

Text: 15 The defendant next argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support a conviction that the automobile was taken from the presence or person of another under Count III of the Indictment. Sufficiency of the evidence claims are reviewed de novo to determine whether, after 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[s] beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Dozal, 173 F.3d 787 (10th Cir. 1999) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). 16 Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2119, there are four elements to a charge of carjacking. In order to convict under this statute it must be proven that the defendant (1) while possessing a firearm, (2) took from the person or presence of another, (3) by force and violence or intimidation, (4) a motor vehicle which has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. See United States v. Payne, 83 F.3d 346 (10th Cir. 1996). The defendant argues that the evidence presented at trial in this matter did not support the second element of taking the vehicle from the person or presence of the victim. The defendant argues that because the victim's car was in the parking lot, and not in the victim's immediate presence when he took the keys, that this element of the crime has not been met and the conviction should be overturned. The defendant further argues that United States v. Lake, 150 F.3d 269 (3rd Cir. 1998), which is cited by the government, is factually distinguishable from the case at hand. 17 In United States v. Lake, the Third Circuit held that property is in the presence of a person if it is `so within his reach, observation or control, that he could if not overcome by violence or prevented by fear, retain his possession of it.' Id. at 272, citing United States v. Burns, 701 F.2d 840, 843 (9th Cir. 1983). In Lake the defendant took the victim's keys at gunpoint while the victim was on the beach. The vehicle was up a pathway above the beach and out of sight of the victim. The court concluded that a rational jury could have found that the victim could have prevented the taking of her vehicle if she had not been fearful that the defendant would shoot her or otherwise hurt her. This case is analogous to the case at hand. A reasonable jury could have found that the victim in this matter could have prevented the taking of her vehicle had she not been fearful of the defendant. The keys to the vehicle were in her immediate control and had she not been under the control of the defendant and fearful for her life, she could have easily walked out the door to the parking lot and driven away in her car, thus preventing the defendant from taking it. Therefore, the evidence is sufficient to support a conviction under Count III of the Indictment and the conviction is affirmed. 18