Opinion ID: 2801457
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mann’s Theory on Appeal

Text: Mann argues that the district court constructively amended count 5 of his indictment by not instructing the jury that, to convict, it needed to find beyond a reasonable doubt that he knowingly discharged his firearm in relation to his assault of Paula Nez. To show the first two prongs of plain error (error that was plain), he relies on the district court’s admitted Alleyne error and on Supreme Court cases prohibiting constructive amendments to indictments. To show substantial prejudice under plain-error’s third prong, he argues that the jury may not have convicted him if instructed on count 5 as it was charged because the government failed to present overwhelming evidence in support. He maintains that his mistakenly shooting Paula Nez (as he claimed in his FBI interview) is inconsistent with “knowingly” discharging his rifle “in relation to” assaulting her. He argues that the jury may have believed his mistaken-shooting account because it acquitted him of assaulting her with intent to cause bodily injury.7 To meet plain-error’s fourth prong, Mann argues that “permitting the jury to convict Mr. Mann of a broader offense than the one charged in the indictment must be said to have seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Appellant’s Br. at 22. 7 The district court instructed on assault as follows: “‘Assault’ means any intentional attempt, not because of accident or mistake, to inflict injury upon someone else, when coupled with an apparent present ability to do so, and includes any intentional display of force that would give a reasonable person cause to expect immediate bodily harm, whether or not the threat or attempt is actually carried out or the victim is injured.” R. vol. I at 160. -9-