Opinion ID: 155708
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: James Smith

Text: Mr. Smith argues, first, that the district court erred in rejecting his request for a two-level reduction of his offense level under USSG § 3B1.2(b) because he was a minor participant. The sentencing court’s determination that Mr. Smith was not a minor participant is a finding of fact which we review for clear error, giving due deference to the district court’s application of the guidelines to the facts. See - 16 - United States v. Williamson, 53 F.3d 1500, 1523 (10th Cir. 1995); Farnsworth, 92 F.3d at 1009. A defendant must prove his entitlement to an offense-level reduction by a preponderance of the evidence. See Williamson, 53 F.3d at 1523. A two-level decrease under § 3B1.2(b) is appropriate when a defendant “was a minor participant in any criminal activity.” USSG § 3B1.2(b). A minor participant is one who is “less culpable than most other participants,” USSG § 3B1.2 comment., n.3; and this lesser culpability relative to others involved in the offense is the gravamen of the reduction under § 3B1.2. See United States v. Santistevan, 39 F.3d 250, 254 (10th Cir. 1994). In rejecting Mr. Smith’s claim of minor participation, the district court found that he had travelled from California to Oklahoma for the purpose of learning to manufacture methamphetamine, and that he and Marcy Thompson lived rent-free with Messrs. Chilton and Snider and others while Mr. Smith bought ingredients for and cooked methamphetamine. The court also found that he directed Marcy Thomson to do small tasks in the drug lab. Mr. Smith contends there is absolutely no evidence to support the finding that he moved from California to Oklahoma to learn to cook methamphetamine. There is. Marcy Thompson testified that Mr. Chilton’s wife, Teresa, asked her if she knew that the reason Mr. Smith had come was to learn to make dope. See III - 17 - R. 230. Ms. Thompson further testified that she went with Mr. Smith on two occasion to buy ingredients for methamphetamine. See III R. 224-25. Mr. Smith directed her to do small tasks in the methamphetamine lab, which she did. See III R. 227-28. He told her he made dope, see III R. 229, and on one occasion showed her a baggie of methamphetamine that he had cooked, see III R. 230-31. It was not clear error for the district court to find that Mr. Smith, as compared to Ms. Thompson and the many other participants in the methamphetamine scheme, was not a minor participant. Mr. Smith argues, finally, that the district court improperly applied a twolevel enhancement under USSG § 2D1.1(b)(1), which provides: “If a dangerous weapon (including a firearm) was possessed, increase by 2 levels.” None of the guns found at the residence was registered to Mr. Smith, and his fingerprints were not found on any of them. The district court applied the enhancement based on the loaded weapons found in the lab where Mr. Smith worked, and in residence where he lived. The court found that the weapons were used to protect the drugs and the methamphetamine lab. “The [enhancement for weapon possession] should be applied if the weapon was present, unless it is clearly improbable that the weapon was connected with the offense.” USSG § 2D1.1, comment., (n.3). The government bears the initial burden of proving possession by a preponderance of the evidence, and possession - 18 - may be satisfied by showing mere proximity to the offense. See United States v. Roberts, 980 F.2d 645, 647 (10th Cir. 1992). The enhancement is then appropriate unless the defendant proves the exception—that it is clearly improbable the weapon was connected with the offense. See id. The evidence is undisputed that a loaded semiautomatic firearm was found in the garage near the entrance to the drug lab. See III R. 117-18. This proximity to the offense is enough to establish the appropriateness of the enhancement. See United States v. Roederer, 11 F.3d 973, 982-83 (10th Cir. 1993); Roberts, 980 F.2d at 647. Mr. Smith has not made a showing that it was clearly improbable the weapon was connected with his offense. Instead he argues that he did not “possess” any of the weapons because none was found in his bedroom and they all belonged either to Mr. Chilton or Mr. Snider. Personal possession of a firearm, however, is not necessary. See United States v. Underwood, 982 F.2d 426, 42829 (10th Cir. 1992). The sentencing court may “attribute to a defendant weapons possessed by his codefendants if the possession of weapons was known to the defendant or reasonably foreseeable by him.” United States v. McFarlane, 933 F.2d 898, 899 (10th Cir. 1991). The district court’s findings in this regard are not clearly erroneous, and its application of the enhancement was proper. AFFIRMED. - 19 -