Opinion ID: 2975989
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: A motion for judgment of acquittal pursuant to Rule 29 due to insufficient evidence is reviewed under the same standard as an insufficient evidence claim. United States v. Bowker, 372 F.3d 365, 387-88 (6th Cir. 2004). Following a conviction, a defendant “bears a very heavy burden in his sufficiency of the evidence challenge to his conviction.” United States v. Davis, 397 F.3d 340, 344 (6th Cir. 2005) (quotation omitted). For this Court, In reviewing a district court’s denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal on a claim of insufficient evidence, “the relevant question is 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 beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Lloyd, 10 F.3d 1197, 1210 (6th Cir. 1993) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). The parties stipulated that Nicholas owned the 410-gauge shotgun, and there was no evidence that Billman had actual possession of it. Thus, it must be that the jury found Billman was in constructive possession of the gun. - 10 - 06-3731 United States v. Billman In United States v. Grubbs, No. 04-5403, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 24252, (6th Cir. 2007), this Court summarized the circuit’s constructive possession law: “Constructive possession exists when a person does not have possession but instead knowingly has the power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion and control over an object, either directly or through others.” [United States v. Craven, 478 F.2d 1329, 1333 (6th Cir. 1973).] In contrast to a situation where the defendant has physical contact with a firearm . . . constructive possession may be proven if the defendant merely had “dominion over the premises where the firearm is located.” United States v. Gardner, 488 F.3d 700, 713 (6th Cir. 2007) (internal quotations and citations omitted). However, it is without question that “‘[p]resence alone’ near a gun . . . does not ‘show the requisite knowledge, power, or intention to exercise control over’ the gun to prove constructive possession.” United States v. Arnold, 486 F.3d 177, 183 (6th Cir. 2007) (quoting United States v. Birmley, 529 F.2d 103, 107-08 (6th Cir. 1976)). “[O]ther incriminating evidence, coupled with presence” is needed to “tip the scale in favor of sufficiency.” Id. Id. at -12. In this case, the evidence supporting constructive possession includes the undisputed evidence that Billman’s son owned the 410-gauge shotgun, the gun was stored in a safe in Billman’s garage, and that Billman was at times in close proximity to his ten-year-old son holding a shotgun. Given the testimony that adults must supervise minors when hunting, Billman’s testimony that he accompanied his children during hunts, and the agent’s testimony that Berring stated Billman had possession of a key to the safe, the district court’s finding that there was sufficient evidence of constructive possession was not clearly erroneous. The jury’s verdict was also supported by the evidence. - 11 - 06-3731 United States v. Billman