Opinion ID: 3049918
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: We next consider whether the district court erred by concluding that insufficient evidence existed to support Stanton’s conviction on Count One. On appeal to the district court, Stanton was not entitled to a trial de novo. Rather, the appropriate scope of the district court’s review “is the same as in an appeal to the court of appeals from a judgment entered by a district judge.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 58(g)(2)(D). That standard is familiar and welldefined. Claims of insufficient evidence are reviewed de novo. United States v. Shipsey, 363 F.3d 962, 971 n.8 (9th Cir. 2004). There is sufficient evidence to support a conviction if, “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.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. As Jackson explained, this deferential standard of review protects the trier of fact’s responsibility to resolve conflicting testimony, weigh the evidence, and draw reasonable inferences from the evidence presented. Id. A reviewing court need not “ask itself whether it believes that the evidence at the trial established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. at 318-19 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Rather, the reviewing court must respect the province of the trier of fact by considering all evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the prosecution. Wright v. West, 505 U.S. 277, 296-97 (1992); United States v. Alvarez-Valenzuela, 231 F.3d 1198, 1201 (9th Cir. 2000). Finally, “a reviewing court faced with a record of historical facts that supports conflicting inferences must presume — even if it does not affirUNITED STATES v. STANTON 11159 matively appear in the record — that the trier of fact resolved any such conflicts in favor of the prosecution, and must defer to that resolution.” Wright, 505 U.S. at 296-97 (internal quotation marks omitted). To convict on Count One the magistrate was required to find beyond a reasonable doubt that Stanton: (1) was operating a vehicle; (2) while under the influence of alcohol; (3) to a degree that rendered him incapable of safe operation. 36 C.F.R. § 4.23(a)(1). The first two elements are not in dispute. Considering the evidence put on at trial in the light most favorable to the government, drawing all reasonable inferences therefrom and resolving any evidentiary conflicts in the government’s favor, we hold that a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Stanton was incapable of safely operating his vehicle. [5] First, the record reflects that over the course of three hours Stanton consumed numerous glasses of at least four different wines. After having done so, he took a nighttime drive at seventy miles an hour — twenty-five miles per hour above the posted limit — and when he was pulled over he told Koschmann he did not think he was going that fast. The reasonable inferences arising from these facts alone support the magistrate’s conclusion that Stanton “was speeding but wasn’t paying attention to what his speedometer said.” [6] Second, Koschmann’s observations of Stanton in the field significantly support the conviction. Koschmann, who had made between fifty and seventy-five stops for driving under the influence, and approximately twenty arrests, observed a “strong odor” of alcohol on Stanton’s person. She also saw that his eyes were bloodshot and watery, and that his speech was very slow and deliberate. Furthermore, Koschmann observed that Stanton’s balance was unsteady when he stepped out of the car, and that he generally swayed and wobbled during the course of her field evaluation. Although any of these factors — singly or collectively — might be 11160 UNITED STATES v. STANTON explained innocently, “the prosecution need not affirmatively rule out every hypothesis except that of guilt.” Wright, 505 U.S. at 296 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Given the uncontroverted record evidence that Stanton had consumed wine consistently from 6-9 p.m., these field observations support the reasonable inference that Stanton was under the influence of alcohol to an unsafe degree. [7] Objective evidence that Stanton failed two FSTs also supports the magistrate’s verdict. Koschmann testified that Stanton failed all four portions of the “one-leg stand test,” which the ranger ultimately stopped to ensure Stanton’s safety. The record also shows that Stanton showed six of eight possible clues of intoxication during the “walk-and-turn test,” in which evidence of two clues can generally establish impairment that makes driving unsafe. Furthermore, Koschmann explained the significance of the “walk-and-turn test” in that it tests “many of the same skills needed for driving,” such as small muscle control, information processing, reaction, balance, coordination, and short-term memory. Stanton’s admissions further support the magistrate’s verdict. He does not dispute that after drinking from 6-9 p.m. that night he rated himself a “four” on a 1-10 scale of intoxication, nor does he dispute that he told the interviewing officer: “I feel buzzed. I felt more of a buzz when you pulled me over.” Viewing this body of evidence as a whole and in the light most favorable to the government, and drawing all reasonable inferences therefrom in the government’s favor, Stanton cannot show that “no rational trier of fact could have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Garcia v. Carey, 395 F.3d 1099, 1102 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Jackson, 443 U.S. at 324). His arguments to the contrary may be disposed of quickly. Stanton first contends the magistrate ignored numerous contradictions in Koschmann’s testimony. However, to the extent any inconsistency bore on Koschmann’s credibility it UNITED STATES v. STANTON 11161 can reasonably be inferred that the magistrate chose to credit the ranger’s testimony, a function squarely within its province. Alvarez-Valenzuela, 231 F.3d at 1201-02. To the extent any inconsistency militates against a finding that the government carried its burden of proof, consideration of the evidence in this case in the light most favorable to the government, as discussed above, persuades us that a rational trier of fact could have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. Stanton also argues that the magistrate ignored evidence that the FSTs were conducted on un-level ground, and therefore are not trustworthy. However, record evidence also indicates that the tests were performed on a flat, dry, paved surface. Under binding precedent we must presume, “even if it does not affirmatively appear in the record,” that the magistrate resolved this conflict in favor of the prosecution, and we must defer to that resolution. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 326. Stanton did not object at trial to admitting the PBT results to establish probable cause, but objected to their use for any other purpose, and the magistrate admitted the results solely for the limited purpose of establishing probable cause to arrest. Even assuming that Stanton’s failure to object to admission of the evidence for this limited purpose constitutes forfeiture, rather than waiver, plain error analysis applies. United States v. Perez, 116 F.3d 840, 845 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc). Simply, Stanton has not shown how the magistrate erred, much less plainly erred. Stanton’s related argument that Koschmann did not have probable cause to arrest is similarly without merit. In addition to the PBT tests indicating his BAC was above the legal limit, Koschmann had observed Stanton’s watery and bloodshot eyes, unsteady balance, slow speech, and strong odor of alcohol. She had also observed him fail two FSTs. Given the totality of the circumstances known to Koschmann at the time, there was a “fair probability that [the suspect] had committed a crime.” Peng v. Penghu, 335 F.3d 970, 976 (9th Cir. 2003) (alteration in original). 11162 UNITED STATES v. STANTON Stanton also argues that the magistrate ignored evidence indicating that he was sober. However, as noted, we must presume that the magistrate resolved any conflict between evidence indicating sobriety and the substantial evidence indicating impairment, and resolved that conflict in favor of the prosecution. Moreover, we must defer to that resolution. Wright, 505 U.S. at 296-97. [8] Given the record evidence, and all reasonable inferences arising therefrom, considered in the light most favorable to the government, a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Stanton was impaired to the point that he could not safely operate his vehicle. Accordingly, we reverse the district court’s ruling to the contrary. On remand the district court is ordered to reinstate the magistrate’s guilty verdict. REVERSED and REMANDED.