Court Opinion

ID: 156544
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 04:41:08+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:25.225640
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                        United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                Tenth Circuit
                         UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                 JUL 6 1998
                                    TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                            PATRICK FISHER
                                                                                    Clerk

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

           Plaintiff-Appellee,
 v.                                                           No. 98-8006
 JAMES HERBERT MCMAHON,                                  (D.C. No. 97-CR-85)
                                                              (D. Wyo.)
           Defendant-Appellant.

                                 ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before BALDOCK, EBEL, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.**

       Defendant James Herbert McMahon was charged in a two-count indictment with

being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), and possessing

a firearm with an altered serial number in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(k). In exchange

for Defendant’s guilty plea to the § 922(g) offense, the Government dismissed the §

       *
          This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the
citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under
the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
       **
         After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously to honor the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral
argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore ordered
submitted without oral argument.
922(k) offense. At sentencing, however, the district court enhanced Defendant’s base

offense level under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(4) by two levels because the firearm he

possessed had an altered serial number. Defendant appeals, arguing that because he had

no knowledge that the serial number on the firearm was altered, the district court erred in

applying the two level enhancement. We exercise jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3742,

and affirm.

       U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1, comment. (n. 19) states that “enhancement under subsection

(b)(4) for a . . . firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number applies whether or not

the defendant knew or had reason to believe that the firearm . . . had an altered or

obliterated serial number.” Every circuit which has addressed the issue has held that

§ 2K2.1(b)(4) lawfully imposes upon a felon in possession of a firearm the burden of

inquiring into the condition of the weapon’s serial number. United States v. Abernathy,

83 F.3d 17, 19 (1st Cir. 1996); United States v. Williams 49 F.3d 92 (2d Cir. 1995);

United States v. Schnell, 982 F.2d 216, 219-22 (7th Cir. 1992). Accordingly, Defendant’s

claim that he had no knowledge that the firearm he possessed had an altered serial

number is of no consequence for purposes of applying the sentencing guidelines. The

district court properly applied the sentencing guidelines to Defendant.

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      Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. Defendant’s

motion for an initial en banc hearing is DENIED. Defendant may move for rehearing en

banc in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 35(c). The mandate shall issue forthwith.

                                               Entered for the Court,

                                               Bobby R. Baldock
                                               Circuit Judge

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