Legal Document

470 U.S. 856 105 S.Ct. 1668 84 L.Ed.2d 740 Truman Lewis BALL, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES. No. 84-5004. Argued Jan. 9, 1985. Decided March 26, Syllabus Petitioner, a previously convicted felon, was arrested when the police found him in possession of another person's revolver that reported missing; he reportedly threatened neighbor with revolver, and tried unsuccessfully to sell it. Petitioner then indicted on charges receiving firearm violation 18 U.S.C. § 922(h)(1) for possessing it U.S.C.App. 1202(a)(1). He Federal District Court both counts sentenced consecutive terms imprisonment respective counts. The Appeals remanded case instructions modify sentences make them concurrent. Held: Congress did not intend petitioner's position, be punished under 922(h) recognized felon who receives inevitably also possesses it, therefore subject person two convictions same criminal act; legislative history supports this reading congressional intent. While Government may seek multiple-count indictment against violations §§ 1202(a)(1) involving weapon where single act establishes receipt possession, defendant suffer or indictment. If jury returns guilty verdicts each count, trial court should enter judgment only one count. remedy ordering served concurrently other cannot squared Congress' intention. Pp. 859-865. 734 F.2d 965 (CA4 1984) vacated remanded. Jo S. Widener, Bristol, Va., petitioner. Andrew J. Pincus, New York City, respondent, pro hac vice, by special leave Court. Chief Justice BURGER delivered opinion 1 We granted certiorari decide whether 922(h)(1), firearm, weapon. 469 816, 82, 83 30 (1984). 2 * After driving around Honaker, Virginia, several acquaintances, including petitioner Ball, Hubert Romans discovered his .32-caliber nickel-plated Rossi missing from back seat car.1 incident Russell County Sheriff's Department. Subsequently, notified Sheriff Ball had pistol matching description Romans' revolver. Later day, located at neighbor's home When told arrest, fled but promptly apprehended possession. 3 felon,2 shipped interstate commerce, 924(a), 1202(a)(1).3 It is conceded rest conduct. counts4 Western Virginia three years' count latter sentence suspended probation. 4 On appeal challenged validity sentences. United States v. Burton, 629 975 1980), cert. denied, 450 968, 101 1487, 67 618 (1981), could imposed unlawful its receipt. accepted concession adhered statement Burton "Congress these firearms statutes created separate offenses, authorize pyramiding penalties." 965, 966 (citing supra, 977). 5 application statutes, 1202(a)(1), charging gun, has produced conflicting decisions among Courts Appeals.5 resolve conflict. reverse. II 6 This requires once again "partial redundancy" 1202(a), provisions Titles IV VII, respectively, Omnibus Crime Control Safe Streets Act 1968. E.g., Batchelder, 442 114, 118, 99 2198, 2201, 60 755 (1979); Bass, 404 336, 341-343, n. 92 515, 519-520, 488 (1971). In Act, sought control traffic availability firearms. Although purposes are obvious, courts understandably have difficulty applying overlapping Act. affords an opportunity address VII set circumstances—where relied upon establish felon's firearm.6 7 clear prosecuted simultaneously 1202(a) firearm. long acknowledged Government's broad discretion conduct prosecutions, power select brought particular case. Goodwin, 457 368, 382, 102 2485, 2493, 73 74 (1982); Confiscation Cases, Wall. 454, 457-459, 19 L.Ed. 196 (1869). 8 proscribed similar concluded 9 "each substantive statute, conjunction own sentencing provision, operates independently other." U.S., S.Ct., 2201. 10 rejected argument impliedly repealed respect acts covered provisions, noting statutory language showed were applied independently. See id., 118-121, 2201-2203.7 Under circumstances there no bar proceeding prosecution statutes.8 B 11 To say however, offenses. can read as allowing different conviction confined one. Indeed, "[a]ll guides intent," Woodward, 105, 109, 611-613, 518 (1985), show intended Ball's position offenses if incidental 12 consistently test construction stated Blockburger States, 284 299, 304, 52 180, 182, 76 306 (1932), determine punishable provisions. appropriate inquiry "whether provision proof fact which does not." See, e.g., 107, 612; Albernaz 333, 337, 1137, 1141, 275 (1981); Whalen 445 684, 691-692, 100 1432, 1437, 1438, 63 715 (1980). assumption underlying rule ordinarily punish offense statutes. 13 For setting means ascertaining intent, "punishment" must equivalent simply imposition sentence. allow conduct, even one; create having component. Hudson & Cranch 32, 34, 259 (1812); Tennessee Davis, OTTO 257, 275, 25 648 (1880) (Clifford, J., dissenting). Cf. Fed.Rule Crim.Proc. 32(b)(1), provides necessary component "judgment conviction." 14 Applying felons convictions; illegal necessarily includes "[W]hen received, possessed." Martin, 732 591, 592 (CA7 1984).9 words, seems clearly possess thus intention subjecting act. 15 enacted together components Act,10 disclose "Congress' worry about easy firearms, especially those persons pose threat community peace." 55, 66, 915, 921, 198 Accordingly, "[e]ach [Title] seeks keep 'any . been convicted' felony. ." Id., 64, 920. 16 Section 922(h), part " 'carefully constructed package gun legislation,' existence many years." 120, 2202 (quoting Scarborough 431 563, 570, 97 1963, 1966, 582 (1977) ).11 One principal purpose Title "it possible out hands legally entitled because age, background, incompetency. S.Rep. 1097, 90th Cong., 2d Sess., 28 (1968), U.S.Code Cong. Admin.News 1968, pp. 2112, 2113. 17 hand, "last-minute Senate amendment" "hastily passed, little discussion, hearings, report." 344, 520 (footnote omitted). surrounding consideration haste well explain why dovetail neatly prohibition was, time passage, already contained IV.12 supplementary legislation; filled gaps expanded coverage IV.13 short, we persuaded creating duplicative punishment limited class falling within overlap between Titles—convicted receive who, definition, them. independent "directed evils" circumstances. Albernaz, 343, 1144.14 C Having consistent intent Court, responsibility resides, exercise vacate convictions. convictions, concurrent sentence, unauthorized offense. Missouri Hunter, 459 359, 103 673, 679, 535 (1983). second conviction, whose concomitant concurrently, evaporate concurrence apart potential adverse collateral consequences ignored. example, presence record delay defendant's eligibility parole result increased recidivist statute future Moreover, used impeach credibility certainly carries societal stigma accompanying any conviction. Benton Maryland, 395 784, 790-791, 89 2056, 2060-2061, 23 707 (1969); Sibron York, 392 40, 54-56, 88 1889, 1898-1899, 20 917 (1968). Thus, results greater impermissible punishment. emphasize while accused If, trial, district judge satisfied sufficient go counts, instruct elements Should return III 21 hold 1202(a). remand 22 so ordered. MARSHALL concurs judgment. 24 POWELL took decision APPENDIX TO OPINION OF THE COURT provides: "It shall person— 26 "(1) for, of, crime term exceeding year; 27 "(2) fugitive justice; "(3) user addicted marihuana depressant stimulant drug (as defined section 201(v) Food, Drug, Cosmetic Act) narcotic 4731(a) Internal Revenue Code 1954); 29 "(4) adjudicated mental defective committed institution; "to ammunition transported foreign commerce." 31 924(a) pertinent part: 32 "Whoever violates chapter fined more than $5,000, imprisoned five years, both, become eligible Board Parole determine." 33 "Any who— 34 State political subdivision thereof felony, 35 discharged Armed Forces dishonorable conditions, 36 adjudged being mentally incompetent, 37 citizen renounced citizenship, 38 "(5) alien illegally unlawfully 39 "and receives, possesses, transports commerce affecting after date enactment $10,000 both." 40 STEVENS, concurring 41 correctly holds support either both. reaching conclusion unnecessarily volunteers "there statutes." Ante, 860; see ante, 859. Even founded, I reason way encourage prosecutors tilt scales justice employing such tactics. 42 views expressed dissent 371-372, 680-681, (1983), succinctly concur Court's today: 43 "[T]he entry justified ground legislature prescribed harsher crime. incorrectly assumes total all matters, number obtained relevance concerns Double Jeopardy Clause. 44 "When multiple brought, 'put jeopardy' charge. retain freedom, obtain acquittal charges; put prison, need verdict. prosecution's ability bring increases risk will charges. very arrested, charged, suggest least crimes. evidence weak, substantially enhance possibility that, though innocent, compromise submission rather gives 'the advantage offering choice—a situation apt induce doubtful find less serious continue debate innocence.' Cichos Indiana, 385 76, 81, 87 271, 273, 175 (1966) (Fortas, dissenting dismissal certiorari)."* 45 October 1981, Elliot Brothers South Carolina McGlothlin's Store Virginia. February 22, 1982, McGlothlin sold Romans. At outset parties stipulated state felony threatening dwelling house. App. 2-3. Appendix complete texts relevant chain sale described 1, established connection required Barrett 423 212, 96 498, 46 (1976); (1977). Tenth Circuit held cumulatively Larranaga, 614 239, 241 Fifth, Ninth, Columbia Circuits elect prosecute Larson, 625 67, 69 (1980); Conn, 716 550, 553 (CA9 1983); Girst, 207 App.D.C. 89, 92, 645 1014, 1017 (1979). Fourth decided run concurrently. 975, 977-978 Third Seventh cases order Taylor, 635 232, 233 (CA3 1980); 593 1984). occasion consider here possessed and, giving up later reacquired see, Robbins, 579 1151 1978), received weapons times various places, Vance, 724 517 (CA6 Filipponio, 702 664 1983). Several interpreted Batchelder forbid proceed supra; supra. These "when discriminate defendants," 123-124, 2203-2204, interpreting reference "either" require observation response claim permitted excessive prosecutorial effect choose penalty apply given instead other. merely reaffirmed charge restricting prosecuting offense, issue before confirmed fully enforceable [their] terms." 119, Given design, Clause imposes simultaneous prosecutions. Ohio Johnson, 467 493, 104 2536, 81 425 (1984), bars cumulative group "the prohibit [the defendant] prosecution." 500, 2541. Gaddis, 424 544, 1023, 47 222 (1976), impropriety prosecutor file information containing of" federal bank robbery charges, end stand 1027. As suggests, converse true. without "received" it; manufactured himself. Brief 13-14. Four months enacting amended reenacted Gun 82 Stat. 1213. renewed effort weapons. 1501, (1968); 114 Cong.Rec. 21784 (1968) (remarks Rep. Celler). observed 220, 502, "reflects concern keeping categories potentially irresponsible persons, felons." stemmed 2(f) Firearms 1938, made "any violence fugutive [sic] .," 1251. although maintaining 2(f)'s operative phrase, prohibited opinion. Senator Tydings, explained "Title primarily designed restrict access handguns criminals, juveniles, fugitives." 13639 13868, 14773 Sen. Long). concise review VII's surprisingly swift passage through Congress, 573-574, 1968-1969 (1977); 11, 520, Each reaches substantial groups people covers fugitives, narcotics offenders. dishonorably service, aliens, their citizenship. Long assortment ambit reflected responsible rash assassinations publicized murders "recent history," included deaths President Kennedy Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights workers South. Only groups—convicted incompetents—fall There suggestion society thought they deserved severely, i.e., appears import Taylor 624 1092 (CA3), remanded, 449 895, 260, 66 124 (1980), violating upheld identical presented Before "since almost entail agree unlikely permit here." Memorandum O.T.1980, 80-5187, following footnote appended quoted passage: true familiar procedure whereby lesser submitted along convict usual procedure, irrational reduced element distinguishes dispute. Sansone 380 85 1004, 882 (1965); Tsanas, 572 340, 345-346 (CA2), 435 995, 98 1647, 56 (1978)." 372, 4, 681, (MARSHALL,

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