Opinion ID: 2897964
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the Conviction Was a Violent Felony

Text: We now determine whether actually and intentionally touching a pregnant woman against her will constitutes a violent felony under the ACCA. The only issue before us is whether the conviction “has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another.” 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(i). This clause is often referred to as the “elements clause.” We must consider whether actually and intentionally touching a pregnant woman against her will involves the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another. In Curtis Johnson, the Supreme Court considered whether Florida battery involved the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against another. 559 U.S. at 136–37, 130 S. Ct. at 1268–69. The Court held that, because the defendant could have been convicted of merely unwanted touching, this did not involve “physical force.” The Court reasoned that “the phrase ‘physical force’ means violent force.” Id. at 140, 1271. Thus, since the same Florida statute supplies the elements of battery in this case, our only inquiry is whether the fact that the unwanted touching occurred on a pregnant woman alters the analysis. We conclude that it does not. The Supreme Court has made 13 Case: 13-15013 Date Filed: 09/08/2015 Page: 14 of 16 clear that “physical force” under the ACCA requires violent contact beyond a mere touching. And, the Government has presented no persuasive reason why the fact that the touching occurred on a pregnant woman would render an otherwise nonviolent touching violent. We hold that Braun’s conviction for aggravated battery on a pregnant woman was not a violent felony. As discussed above, all we are permitted to conclude from the Shepard documents and the statutory language is that Braun committed an unwanted touching on a pregnant woman. Thus, the Government has failed to prove that Braun’s conviction for aggravated battery on a pregnant woman was a prior violent felony.