Opinion ID: 3064565
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sentencing: Brandishing a Firearm

Text: [6] Carter contends the district court erred by sentencing Carter to a seven-year mandatory minimum sentence for brandishing a firearm in the first bank robbery because there was no finding that a firearm was “brandished.” Title 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) “provides a three-tier sentencing framework, increasing the mandatory minimum sentence in correlation to the severity of the firearm’s involvement with the crime.” United 3834 UNITED STATES v. CARTER States v. Beaudion, 416 F.3d 965, 968 (9th Cir. 2005). The statute imposes a minimum five-year sentence for “use” of a firearm during a crime of violence, and a seven-year minimum if the firearm is “brandished.” 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). A firearm is brandished if the district court finds: (1) “the open display of the firearm, or knowledge of the firearm’s presence by another in some manner” for (2) “the purpose of intimidation.” Beaudion, 416 F.3d at 968. The key difference between simple “use” of a firearm and “brandishing” the firearm is that “use” is not limited to a purpose of intimidation. Id. at 969. [7] The record in this case is not clear whether the district court found a firearm was brandished, rather than merely used by an accomplice. When asked by government counsel whether the district court “found by a preponderance of the evidence that a firearm was brandished in both robberies,” the district court responded, “Yes, a firearm was present.” The language used by the district court is ambiguous: by stating, “Yes,” the district court may have found a firearm was brandished, but by stating “a firearm was present,” the district court may have instead found a firearm was merely “used” rather than brandished. Because it is unclear whether the district court found the firearm was brandished, we must vacate the seven-year sentence and remand for re-sentencing on the charge of violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). The trial judge, rather than this court, is in a better position to make the determination whether the firearm was “used” or “brandished.” The trial judge must make this determination and state it clearly on the record. IKUTA, Circuit Judge, as to Part IV: