Court Opinion

ID: 154868
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 04:06:24+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:29:47.941722
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                        United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                Tenth Circuit
                                        PUBLISH
                                                                               MAY 30 1997
                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                           PATRICK FISHER
                                                                                    Clerk
                                     TENTH CIRCUIT

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

               Plaintiff-Appellee,

        v.                                                   No. 96-2082

 LELAND REED,

               Defendant-Appellant.

             APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                    FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO
                          (D.C. No. CR-95-45-LH)

Barbara A. Mandel, Assistant Federal Public Defender (William D. Fry, Assistant Federal
Public Defender, on the briefs), Las Cruces, New Mexico, for Defendant-Appellant.

Judith A. Patton, Assistant U.S. Attorney (John J. Kelly, United States Attorney, with her
on the brief), Las Cruces, New Mexico, for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Before PORFILIO, LOGAN and EBEL, Circuit Judges.

LOGAN, Circuit Judge.

       Defendant Leland Reed appeals his conviction by a jury for being a felon who

knowingly possessed a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). In
his opening statement defense counsel argued that defendant did not “knowingly” possess

a firearm because he thought he was not prohibited from possessing an inoperable

shotgun. Defendant asserts the district court denied him a fair trial by rejecting this

defense theory and excluding supporting evidence after defendant committed to this

defense strategy during trial. Because the statutory crime does not require proof

defendant knew he was violating the law, a mistaken belief that a broken shotgun is not a

statutory firearm is not a viable defense, and we affirm. We also reject defendant’s

assertion that the court erred in refusing to give him a two-level downward departure for

acceptance of responsibility.

                                              I

       Before trial defendant proposed a jury instruction that his good faith belief that he

was not prohibited from possessing a broken gun was a complete defense because it

negated the “knowingly possessed” element of §§ 922(g)(1) and 924 (a)(2). He also

argued that evidence about whether the gun was broken was relevant to whether

defendant knew that the object he possessed was a firearm. The district court made no

ruling on the government’s objection at that point, noting that “we’ll have to hear the

evidence before some of these things become important.” IV R. 18.

       In opening statements the jury heard defendant’s version of how he came into

possession of the shotgun and his theory of defense. Defendant’s attorney told the jury

they would hear evidence that defendant first saw the shotgun when he noticed that two

                                             -2-
boys fighting in the park across the street from his house had the gun, and he took it away

from them; defendant determined that the gun was broken: the sleeve of the pump

protruded, the chambering mechanism was damaged, and there was not a firing pin in the

breech; he decided that although the gun might have functioned as a firearm at one point,

it no longer worked as a firearm so he took it home and stored it in his garage.

       Defendant’s attorney then told the jury that Lonnie Smith, a welding instructor,

would testify that defendant discussed with him plans to make a lamp stand using the

shotgun, and that defendant agreed to sell the shotgun to Robert Sandoval, an undercover

agent, because the gun was worthless except as a part of defendant’s welding project.

The jury was told the defense would be that “he thought the shotgun was broken, he

thought that it did not function as a firearm. . . . [A]s a result, he did not knowingly

possess a firearm. And in that regard he’s not guilty.” Id. at 83-84. The government did

not object to this presentation of defendant’s theory in his opening statement.

       The government then called Sandoval as its first witness. Sandoval testified he

went to defendant’s home with an acquaintance to buy a firearm. There defendant pulled

the gun from under a bed and told him that it needed repair, but demonstrated to Sandoval

that even without repair the gun worked. After bargaining over the price they agreed

upon $30, which Sandoval paid.

                                             -3-
       The government then presented testimony by Glenn Alexander,1 the detective who

received the gun from Sandoval and logged it into the evidence room. He stated the

shotgun needed repair at that time and that he had adjusted the slide bar. Although the

breech bolt was off the rail, he was able to chamber it a couple of times and the action

worked and the firing pin fell. On cross-examination, however, Alexander admitted that

at a state preliminary hearing he had tried the action of the shotgun and it did not work.

The district court then sustained the government’s objection to defense counsel’s further

questioning about whether the gun worked. Defense counsel argued that if he was not

allowed to ask about the functioning of the shotgun he would not be able to present his

defense. He asserted that knowing possession of a firearm required proof the defendant

knew the instrument was a firearm, not simply proof that it was a firearm, and that

evidence defendant believed the gun was broken and nonfunctioning “junk” would

demonstrate he did not knowingly possess a firearm. After a lengthy discussion of case

law and evidence the district court ruled that defendant’s belief that the gun could not

operate was not a defense.

       The government then called Manuel Olmos, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and

Firearms agent, who testified that he test fired the shotgun by reinserting a prong and

       1
        In its brief the government explained that although the record indicates “Lynn”
Alexander, the detective’s name is Glenn and he speaks with an accent. See Brief of
Appellee at 4.

                                            -4-
adjusting the slide before charging it. When he was on the stand, however, Olmos could

not demonstrate how the firearm would work.

       At the close of the government’s case in chief, the defense moved for a mistrial,

asserting defendant was irretrievably prejudiced by the court’s refusal to allow evidence

of defendant’s knowledge about whether the gun worked. Defense counsel asserted he

had committed in his opening statement to a theory that defendant lacked the necessary

mens rea, and had then cross-examined agent Sandoval on this theory. Counsel

contended that he had no realistic alternative strategy and the court’s ruling was therefore

prejudicial. The district court denied the motion for a mistrial.

       Defendant then presented the testimony of defendant’s counsel in a related state

court case, who testified that the firearm was inoperable at the state preliminary hearing.

Defendant also called Willie Gene Wrighter, who testified that someone other than

defendant sold the gun to Sandoval.

       Defendant took the stand and testified he concluded that the gun was not a firearm

because it was broken, and he stored it as junk. After he repeated that he did not view it

as a firearm, the district court sustained the government’s objection. Defendant then

explained that he had planned to incorporate the broken shotgun into a lamp table.2 On

cross-examination, defendant admitted that from the “get-go” he “knew it was a shotgun.”

       2
        The district court did not allow defense counsel to introduce defendant’s
drawings concerning the design of the table with the shotgun.

                                            -5-
V R. 253. On redirect defendant testified that he did not believe it was a firearm because

he thought a firearm had “to be able to do bodily harm to a person.” Id. at 259-60.

       Defendant then proffered testimony by the two witnesses he had mentioned in his

opening. Lonnie Smith testified that defendant had planned to use the old gun as a lamp

stand. Tim Kling, the defense investigator, testified that he had examined the gun and

found it was workable only after about fifteen to twenty minutes of manipulating it.

       Defense counsel requested that the court instruct the jury on why he did not follow

through on the defense theory presented in his opening statement; the district court

refused but allowed defense counsel to address this in closing argument. The district

court denied defendant’s “good faith” instruction and theory of the case instruction as

well as his renewed motion for a mistrial.

                                              II

       18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) states: “It shall be unlawful for any person-- (1) who has

been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding

one year; . . . to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or

affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition

which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.” Although

§ 922(g)(1) does not contain a knowledge requirement, the relevant penalty provision, 18

U.S.C. § 924(a)(2), provides that “[w]hoever knowingly violates subsection . . . (g) . . . of

section 922 shall be fined as provided in this title, imprisoned not more than ten years, or

                                             -6-
both.” The knowledge element of § 922(g) and § 924 requires proof that a defendant

“knew the particular characteristics that made his [gun] a statutory firearm.” United

States v. Mains, 33 F.3d 1222, 1229 (10th Cir. 1994); cf. Staples v. United States, 511

U.S. 600, 618-19 (1994) (although statute did not explicitly include “knowingly” element,

conviction for possession of an unregistered firearm under 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d), based on

defendant’s possession of a machine gun, required that government prove defendant

knew of the features of his gun that brought it within the scope of that act).3 18 U.S.C.

§ 921(3) defines “firearm” for purposes of § 922(g): “The term ‘firearm’ means (A) any

weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted

to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the frame or receiver of any such

weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any destructive device.”

       At trial defendant argued that he was entitled to present a “good faith” defense that

he did not know the statute prohibited him from possessing an inoperable shotgun. But

we have interpreted § 922(g)(1) to require only that defendant knew of the characteristics

that made the gun a statutory firearm; the government does not have to prove defendant

knew he was violating the law. See Mains, 33 F.3d at 1229 (§ 922(g)(1) is not a specific

intent crime). Defendant’s proposed jury instructions state an “ignorance of the law”

defense, a defense which is “easily rejected.” United States v. Capps, 77 F.3d 350, 353

       3
         In Staples the Court determined that this knowledge requirement meant that the
government had to prove that the defendant knew his weapon could shoot or be readily
restored to shooting automatically. See Staples, 114 S. Ct. at 1804; 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b).

                                            -7-
(10th Cir.) (defendant’s good faith belief that felonies were not predicate convictions for

§ 922(g)(1) not a viable defense), cert. denied, 116 S. Ct. 2568 (1996). The district court

properly excluded the “good faith” jury instruction suggesting that ignorance of the law

was a defense, and the corresponding evidence.

       On appeal, defendant has changed his approach. He argues first that he did not

have knowledge of facts which would bring his gun within the definition of a statutory

firearm. Defendant asserts the court erroneously excluded evidence that he did not think

the gun could expel a projectile or readily be converted to do so. Our review of the

record, however, reveals that the district court allowed testimony about whether the gun

could expel a projectile and whether it could be repaired.4 Defendant next argues that he

thought the gun was so altered that it was no longer designed as a weapon. Cf. United

States v. Yannott, 42 F.3d 999, 1006 (6th Cir. 1994) (gun inoperable due to broken firing

pin still designed or readily converted to expel projectile so still firearm under § 922),

cert. denied, 115 S. Ct. 1172 (1995); United States v. Ruiz, 986 F.2d 905, 910 (5th Cir.),

cert. denied, 510 U.S. 848 (1993). Yet his proposed instructions did not raise the lack of

knowledge defense on the “is designed to” or “may readily be converted” statutory

       4
         Defendant and others testified that the gun would not expel a projectile.
Additional evidence on this point would be properly excluded as cumulative. Also, when
the government produced evidence that the gun could be repaired (e.g., “easily
converted”) to expel a projectile, see IV R. 91-93 (Sandoval); V R. 143-48 (Alexander),
defendant was allowed to cross-examine Sandoval before the government’s objection to
his question to Alexander on the issue was sustained. Further, even the proffered
testimony of the defense’s investigator indicated he was able to make the gun work.

                                             -8-
alternatives, see Defendant’s Requested Jury Instructions, I R. tab 68 at “L,” tab 77 at

“Q.”

       The indictment charged defendant with violating § 922(g)--the felon in possession

statute--and the jury instructions included each of the alternative definitions of “firearm”

in § 921(3). Thus, the government needed to prove only that defendant knew the shotgun

he admittedly possessed met at least one of these definitions, and that is what government

counsel argued to the jury. VI R. 314-15. The record includes defendant’s testimony that

he knew the gun was a shotgun. The jury could certainly infer that defendant knew the

gun was “designed to” expel a projectile, or that it was the “frame” of such a weapon.

Defendant proffered no evidence that he lacked knowledge that the item he possessed

consisted of, at the very least, a shotgun frame, which is a statutory firearm. We discern

no error in the district court’s evidentiary ruling.

       Finally, although there was a short colloquy raising the viability of a good faith

defense just before the trial commenced, the court postponed a decision on the issue.

Defendant never pressed for or received a pretrial ruling on whether he would be allowed

to present the good faith defense; thus, he cannot complain he suffered prejudice when

the court decided during trial that he could not offer evidence to support that theory.

                                               III

       Defendant argues that he should have been given a two-level downward departure

for acceptance of responsibility under USSG § 3E1.1. A defendant has the burden to

                                              -9-
establish an entitlement to this reduction, and we will not disturb a district court’s

determination not to award it absent clear error. See United States v. Gassaway, 81 F.3d

920, 922 (10th Cir. 1996).

       A defendant who requires the government to make its proof by going to trial

generally will not be allowed a two-level departure for acceptance of responsibility.

United States v. Portillo-Valenzuela, 20 F.3d 393, 394 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 115 S. Ct.

227 ( 1994). As defendant points out, however, “a defendant may clearly demonstrate an

acceptance of responsibility for his criminal conduct even though he exercises his

constitutional right to a trial. This may occur, for example, where a defendant goes to

trial to assert and preserve issues that do not relate to factual guilt (e.g. to make a

constitutional challenge to a statute or a challenge to the applicability of a statute to his

conduct).” USSG § 3E1.1 comment. (n.2). Defendant did not challenge the

constitutionality of the statute. His good faith defense demonstrated that he did not

accept responsibility for his conduct. We find no reversible error in the district court’s

refusal to give defendant a two-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility.

       AFFIRMED.

                                             - 10 -
United States v. Reed, No. 96-2082

EBEL, Circuit Judge, dissenting.

       I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion in this case because I believe the

district court erred in refusing to allow defendant adequately to argue or prove lack of

knowledge that the gun possessed the physical characteristics which constitute a statutory

“firearm.” Although the majority opinion characterizes defendant’s attempted defense as

a “good faith” defense, I believe the defendant was also trying to establish his lack of

knowledge that the firearm possessed the required characteristics to constitute a statutory

firearm. I do not quarrel with the conclusion that it is not an adequate defense that the

defendant is unaware of the law, but I do believe the government must establish, under

Staples v. United States, 511 U.S. 600 (1994), that the defendant had knowledge of the

physical characteristics of the gun that the law uses to define what constitutes a statutory

firearm. Thus, if the defendant knew that the gun was capable of firing projectiles, he

would have adequate mens rea to be convicted even if he did not know that the law

defined a statutory firearm as one capable of firing projectiles and even though he

believed in good faith that he was not violating the law. However, he could not be

convicted if he did not know that his gun either “will or is designed to or may readily be

converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.” I do not read the majority

opinion as disagreeing with this standard. Thus, my difference with the majority is really

in the application of that standard to the facts of this case.
       Here I believe the district court ruled that defendant’s lack of knowledge of the

characteristics of the gun was not material, and I think the court excluded important

evidence that tended to establish the defendant’s lack of such knowledge. For example,

defendant sought to elaborate upon his view that the gun could not function as a weapon

and could not readily be made to function as a weapon, and that it was useful only as a

lamp. Defendant further sought to have Lonnie Smith, his welding instructor at the local

community college, corroborate this testimony. Additionally, defendant proffered

testimony from Tim Kling, a former police officer familiar with firearms, regarding the

state of defendant’s gun. Kling would have testified that a working gun such as that

possessed by defendant would sell for between $150 and $250, whereas defendant sold

the gun to Sandoval for $22. This evidence would have provided important support for

defendant’s contention that he did not know he possessed a “firearm” as defined under

the statute. Yet, the district court excluded this evidence.

       I do not believe this excluded evidence can properly be characterized as

“cumulative.” Although admittedly defendant did put on some evidence of his lack of

knowledge, the proffered testimony of Smith and Kling was the only independent

evidence that could have corroborated defendant’s contention that he did not know the

gun possessed the physical characteristics of the statutory “firearm.”

       I admit to some uncertainty about whether defendant’s conviction could be upheld

under the “design” prong of the statutory definition of a firearm in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3),

                                             --2--
                                               2
which defines a firearm as “any weapon . . . which will or is designed to or may readily be

converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.” (Emphasis added.) There

is no doubt that the evidence in this case was sufficient to establish that the weapon

possessed by defendant was “designed to . . . expel a projectile by the action of an

explosive.” Further, defendant did not proffer any evidence to dispute the fact that the

weapon was so designed. He did argue that he planned, at some future date, to “redesign”

the weapon by converting it into a lamp, at which time it would no longer be designed to

expel a projectile. However, that redesign never occurred.

         However, just like defendant did not focus upon the “design” definition of a

firearm, neither did the government. Although the indictment included the “design”

prong in the definition of firearm submitted to the jury, the government’s case was based

largely on the other two prongs of the statutory definition. See IV R.O.A. at 77 (opening

statement); Id. at 93 (testimony of Robert Sandoval); VI R.O.A. at 311, 315 (closing

argument). Because this case was essentially tried on a statutory definition that the

weapon was either capable of expelling a projectile or capable of readily being converted

to expel a projectile, and because defendant was deprived of a fair opportunity to argue

and prove his lack of knowledge of those particular characteristics of the weapon he

possessed, I believe his conviction must be REVERSED and REMANDED for a new

trial.

                                             --3--
                                               3