Opinion ID: 1535578
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Appellants Jones and Washington

Text: Our conclusion is the same with respect to Jones and Washington. These two were similarly situated with respect to the government's theory that they constructively possessed the weapon so, for convenience, we treat their cases together. Both Jones and Washington had access to Apartment Four, and one even paid the rent, but neither appears to have slept there. Although they were not mere visitors to the apartment, they were not residents either. Neither had exclusive access. Accordingly, they cannot be held accountable for the apartment's illegal contents without some evidence linking them individually to the weapon as well as the drugs. The loaded pistol was not in plain view; it was found amongst women's clothing in a nightstand in the bedroom. The bedroom was occupied by Curry, who acknowledged intermittently crashing there for the two weeks leading up to the raid. Although quantities of drugs, to which Jones and Washington were connected, were seized from various locations in the bedroom, no drugs were found in the nightstand with the loaded pistol and Curry's clothing. Neither Jones nor Washington was observed in the bedroom at any time and the gun did not carry their fingerprints. Jones and Washington were found to be involved in a concert of illegal activity consisting of drug distribution. But the evidence did not show that the loaded pistol was part of that operation. Expert testimony that drug dealers typically set up a security system to protect a house does not permit a blanket inference that a gun, which could have belonged to any of several people, including the apartment's only occupant, comprised such a security system. Apart from the bedroom's absent occupant, there were three others present in the apartment when the gun was found. One of these showed signs of guilt by attempting to flee when the police arrived. This evidence, viewed in its most favorable light, does not permit a reasonable mind to fairly conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that either Jones or Washington, or both, knew of the existence of a loaded pistol in the bedroom nightstand. A reasonable mind must have a reasonable doubt because Curry, amongst whose personal belongings the weapon was apparently found, or any of the three others present during the raid could have placed the loaded pistol in the bedroom nightstand unbeknownst to the two male appellants. Having failed to present sufficient evidence as to knowledge, the government necessarily failed also to present sufficient evidence that Jones and Washington exercised a right to dominion or control over the loaded pistol. On both counts, the evidence was insufficient to sustain Jones' and Washington's convictions for possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. The evidence presented by the government was capable of a number of equally plausible interpretations, only one leading to a guilty verdict. A reasonable juror could not conclude guilt without crossing the bounds of permissible inference and entering the forbidden territory of conjecture and speculation. To some jurors it might be probable that Curry, Jones or Washington possessed the loaded pistol seized from the nightstand, but probability is not a legally sufficient basis upon which to convict of a criminal offense. The government carries the constitutional burden of persuading the factfinder, beyond a reasonable doubt, that each of the accused committed every element of the offenses with which they were charged. Because the government did not present the factfinder with evidence sufficient to reach that conclusion, the convictions for possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition cannot be sustained.