Opinion ID: 3032527
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jury Instruction Errors

Text: Points III and IV of Gary’s appeal allege jury instruction errors by the district court. We review a district court’s denial or acceptance of a party’s proposed jury instruction under an abuse of discretion standard. United States v. Whitehead, 176 F.3d 1030, 1037 (8th Cir. 1999) (citing United States v. Tucker, 137 F.3d 1016, 1036 (8th Cir. 1998)). Gary is entitled to a proposed instruction “that conveys the substance of his request if his request is timely, it is supported by the evidence in the case, and is a correct statement of the law.” Id. However, this entitlement does not guarantee a particular formulation of the proposed instruction. Id. Reversal of a conviction, based upon an instructional error, is only warranted if the error causes prejudice. Id. In Point III, Gary claims the district court erred in refusing his proposed instruction defining “knowingly.” Instruction 19 informed the jury that conviction required proof of “knowing” possession of a firearm. Instruction 20 stated that -6- possession could be either actual or constructive, and explained that “[a] person who . . . has both power and the intention . . . to exercise dominion or control over a thing . . . is then in constructive possession of it.” Neither Instruction 19 or 20 defined the term “knowing.” Gary’s claim is without merit. We have held that the term “knowingly” is within the understanding of the lay juror. United States v. Johnson, 892 F.2d 707, 710 (8th Cir. 1989). Moreover, Instruction 20 correctly stated the law in this circuit. See Carman, 314 F.3d at 325 (holding that “constructive possession is sufficient for conviction under § 922(g)(1)”). To show constructive possession, the government had to prove both the power and intent to exercise dominion or control over the gun. This can be established “by a showing that the firearm was seized at the defendant’s residence.” United States v. Boykin, 986 F.2d 270, 274 (8th Cir. 1993)). Because the gun was seized at Gary’s home, the jury could have found that Gary constructively possessed the gun. The instructions as given correctly set out the law and the district court properly refused Gary’s proposed instruction on this issue. In Point IV, Gary contends that the district court erred by refusing to submit his proposed instruction regarding the potential unreliability of statements that are not videotaped, audiotaped, transcribed or attested-to by Gary. The requested instruction warned the jury not to give any special weight to reports simply because they were made by the police. We find no error because the district court submitted a credibility instruction which adequately addressed the subject matter of Gary’s proposed instruction. Instruction 15 specifically addressed statements to the government: “In deciding what weight to give the defendant’s statements, you should first examine whether each statement was made. I instruct you that you are to give the statements such weight as you feel they deserve in light of all the evidence.” Appellant’s Separate App. at 117. This is a fair and adequate instruction regarding statements to the government; further warning is unnecessary. -7-