Opinion ID: 6324061
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Nature of Guerrero-Narváez's Threat

Text: Finally, the district court rejected the government's reliance on the manner and content of Guerrero-Narváez's threat to Silva-Rivera. The court explained that the fact that Guerrero[- Narváez] touched his t-shirt in a manner that signaled he was armed weighs against an inference that he intended to use brute force to harm or kill Silva[-Rivera], if necessary to take the vehicle. Id. at 292. Had Guerrero[-Narváez] intended to use brute force, the court reasoned, he would have framed his threat in that fashion. But, instead, Guerrero[-Narváez] relied on faking he had a gun to obtain Silva[-Rivera]'s compliance. That is a textbook bluff. Id. (emphasis omitted). The court concluded: The evidence presented at trial tells the story of an unarmed defendant who takes a victim's vehicle after delivering an empty threat and bluffing he is carrying a weapon. . . . The evidence here is not sufficient for a reasonable factfinder to conclude that Guerrero[-Narváez] possessed the requisite mens rea. As such, Guerrero[-Narváez]'s Rule 29 motion must be granted. Id. at 293. The government appealed. - 11 -