Opinion ID: 660291
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 2 The government and Mr. Lloyd dispute certain factual matters pertaining to Mr. Lloyd's arrest. According to the government, Undersheriff Tom Allen was on routine patrol eastbound on a highway just west of Sulphur, Oklahoma, on the evening of July 5, 1992. He was accompanied by Assistant District Attorney John Walton. Officer Allen testified that he observed a van in the westbound lane, driven by Mr. Lloyd, make a sudden lane change without signalling and briefly veer a few feet off the side of the road, before resuming its westbound course in the innermost lane of the highway. The officer decided to stop the vehicle to determine if the driver was intoxicated or if there was some other reason why the van was being driven erratically. Accordingly, he crossed over to the westbound lanes, pursued the van and flashed his lights, at which time the van promptly pulled over to the side of the road. 3 Officer Allen determined that Mr. Lloyd was driving the van, and that a woman, later identified to be Tracey Renee Roddy or Tracey Renee Downey, Mr. Lloyd's common-law wife, was in the front passenger seat. When Mr. Lloyd got out of the van, Officer Allen asked him to produce his driver's license, which Mr. Lloyd was unable to do. The officer then asked Mr. Lloyd his name, date of birth and social security number, to which Mr. Lloyd responded that his name was Ronald Edward Roddy. A records check under that name revealed no valid Oklahoma drivers license issued to a Ronald Edward Roddy. The check did reveal, however, that the vehicle tag had expired and that the registration decal was from another vehicle. 4 When asked where insurance documentation for the van was, Mr. Lloyd said it might be in the van's glove compartment. As Officer Allen approached the van to check the insurance information, Ms. Downey got out of the car from the passenger side, leaving the van door open. Allen testified that, while standing by the open door of the van, he observed the butt of a pistol sticking out of a brown gun case beneath the front passenger seat. The officer took custody of the pistol, which was loaded. 5 Allen then asked Ms. Downey some questions about Mr. Lloyd, and she told him that Mr. Lloyd's name was Ronald Raymond Roddy. She gave her consent for Officer Allen to search her purse, where he found a California driver's license, social security card and other documentation with the name Kenneth Lynn Lloyd on them, as well as his date of birth and, on the driver's license, his photograph. The officer then advised Mr. Lloyd of his Miranda rights after which Mr. Lloyd admitted the pistol was his and that he had it for protection. He continued to insist that his name was Raymond Roddy. Allen arrested him for various traffic violations and for carrying a loaded firearm, and took him back to the sheriff's office. 6 Mr. Lloyd continued to insist his name was Ronald Raymond Roddy, including signing the book-in card as Raymond Roddy. After computer checks revealed that he was not Raymond Roddy, he was arrested and booked for false impersonation as well. A check under his real name, Kenneth Lloyd, revealed an extensive arrest record, including three armed robbery convictions. 7 Mr. Lloyd and Ms. Downey testified to a different version of events. According to both of them, their van was initially stopped by Officer Allen for no reason, as they did not recall any lane change or erratic driving. They also both testified that, while they did insist that Mr. Lloyd's name was Raymond Roddy, when Ms. Downey exited the van she closed the passenger door behind her. Ms. Downey also testified that she had placed the pistol in the gun bag, zipped it up fully, and put it up against the back of the pedestal supporting the passenger seat of the van, some ten to twelve inches from the edge of the seat. Thus, they both vigorously disputed Officer Allen's testimony that he observed the pistol in plain view, while standing next to the van door which Ms. Downey had left open. Indeed, they both testified that Allen opened the van door and searched the car, evidently finding the pistol stored under the front seat. 8 Mr. Lloyd was thereafter indicted for possession of a firearm which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, after having been convicted of a felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 922(g). He filed a motion to suppress the pistol, on the ground that the initial stop and the seizure of the pistol were illegal. After a hearing, at which Officer Allen, Mr. Lloyd and Ms. Downey testified, the district court denied the motion. Mr. Lloyd was then tried and convicted by a jury. 9 Some six weeks after the jury trial, Mr. Lloyd filed a motion seeking dismissal of his attorney for ineffectiveness in preparing for and conducting his trial. After conducting a hearing, including permitting Mr. Lloyd to make extensive argument, the court denied the motion. The district court then held a hearing on Mr. Lloyd's objections to the Presentence Report. The court overruled the first three objections, held the fourth objection was moot, and sentenced Mr. Lloyd to 293 months imprisonment. That sentence included an enhancement under the Armed Career Criminal provisions of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(e). 1 Mr. Lloyd timely appealed.