Opinion ID: 2978325
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: The district court’s denial of a motion for acquittal based on sufficiency of the evidence is reviewed de novo.8 United States v. Mabry, 518 F.3d 442, 447-48 (6th Cir. 2008). “In reviewing challenges regarding the sufficiency of the evidence presented to the jury, we are limited to ascertaining whether, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Carmichael, 232 F.3d 510, 519 (6th Cir. 2000) (internal quotations and citations omitted) (emphasis in original). “The appellate court must view all evidence and resolve all reasonable inferences in favor of the government.” United States v. Hughes, 505 F.3d 578, 592 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); United States v. Searan, 259 F.3d 434, 441 (6th Cir. 2001)). In doing so, however, the court cannot independently weigh the evidence nor substitute its judgment for that of the jury. Id. (citations omitted). Thus, “[a] defendant bringing such a challenge bears a ‘very heavy burden.’” United States v. Daniel, 329 F.3d 480, 485 (6th Cir. 2003) (quoting United States v. Vannerson, 786 F.2d 221, 225 (6th Cir. 1986)).
To obtain a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt “(1) that the defendant has a prior conviction for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; (2) that the defendant thereafter knowingly possessed the firearm and ammunition specified in the indictment; and (3) that the possession was in or 8 The Government contends that we should review only to determine whether there was a “manifest miscarriage of justice,” which is the appropriate standard when a defendant fails to renew a motion for judgment of acquittal pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 29 at the close of all proofs. United States v. Abdullah, 162 F.3d 897, 903 (6th Cir. 1998). “A ‘miscarriage of justice’ exists only if the record is ‘devoid of evidence pointing to guilt.’” Id. (citation omitted). However, portions of the relevant transcript are missing, and it is unclear from the record what occurred after the original Rule 29 motion, made after the close of the Government’s case, was denied. It appears that Defendant did not offer any evidence and the case went directly to the jury after the Government’s case. Nonetheless, we need not determine whether a renewed Rule 29 motion was made or whether it was even necessary, because, as discussed below, even under a de novo standard Defendant’s conviction will be upheld. No. 08-1349 United States v. Davis Page 14 affecting interstate commerce.” Schreane, 331 F.3d at 560 (citing United States v. Daniel, 134 F.3d 1259, 1263 (6th Cir. 1998)). Defendant challenges only the second element, whether there was sufficient evidence that he knowingly possessed the firearm. “Actual or constructive possession is sufficient to give rise to criminal liability under § 922(g).” Schreane, 331 F.3d at 560 (citing United States v. Murphy, 107 F.3d 1199, 1207 (6th Cir. 1997)). “Both actual and constructive possession may be proved by circumstantial evidence.” Id. (citation omitted). Defendant argues that no rational jury could find actual or constructive possession because, at most, the Government only proved that Defendant was present near the gun. It is true that “[m]ere presence on the scene plus association with illegal possessors is not enough to support a conviction for illegal possession of an unregistered firearm. Presence alone cannot show the requisite knowledge, power, or intention to exercise control over the unregistered firearms.” United States v. Birmley, 529 F.2d 103, 107-108 (6th Cir. 1976) (citations omitted). “However, other incriminating evidence, coupled with presence, . . . will serve to tip the scale in favor of sufficiency.” Id. (citations omitted). In this case, the Government produced ample evidence for the jury to find that Defendant knowingly possessed a firearm. McIntyre testified that she saw and recognized Defendant, who rode along flashing a gun. The jury could reasonably credit her testimony, especially in light of Officer Wojczynski’s testimony. Officer Wojczynksi testified that after they stopped the PT Cruiser, he saw Defendant appear to stuff something under his seat and that when he searched the car he found the gun exactly where Defendant was observed to be reaching. Defendant offers various theories about why this evidence should be discounted – for example, that any of the four occupants in the vehicle could have been responsible for the gun, and that Defendant could have been throwing only the marijuana under the seat and not the gun. While these and other possible theories may be inventive or interesting, they are unavailing since we must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the government. Hughes, 505 F.3d at 592. Indeed, “‘[s]ubstantial and competent’ circumstantial evidence by itself may support a verdict and need not ‘remove every reasonable hypothesis except No. 08-1349 United States v. Davis Page 15 that of guilt.’” United States v. Lee, 359 F.3d 412, 418 (6th Cir. 2004) (quoting United States v. Stone, 748 F.2d 361, 363 (6th Cir. 1984)). The evidence of Defendant’s guilt was abundant. Any “rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Carmichael, 232 F.3d at 519 (6th Cir. 2000) (quoting Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319).