Court Opinion

ID: 9494799
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 15:47:27.282656+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:56:38.237740
License: Public Domain

SILER, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in all aspects of the majority opinion except for the reversal of the firearm enhancement under Part II. D.
As the majority correctly states, in order to enhance a sentence for the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense under USSG § 2Dl.l(b)(l), the prosecution must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant actually or constructively possessed the weapon during the commission of the offense. See United States v. Bender, 265 F.3d 464, 474 (6th Cir.2001). I think that there is ample evidence from which the court could infer that defendant Lucas possessed the handgun found in the glove compartment of the car during the commission of the drug offense. Lucas does not contest the fact that the firearm was in the car during the time that the drug sale was effected. He only contests the fact that there was any proof that he possessed the firearm found in the glove compartment.
As the majority again correctly states from United States v. Hayes, Nos. 88-5735 to 88-5738, 88-5891 to 88-5894, 1989 WL 105937, at *3 (6th Cir. Sept.14, 1989) (unpublished table decision), this court has found that a defendant could be convicted for possession of a firearm when he was the driver and only occupant of the vehicle and the prosecution had not presented evidence that the defendant either owned the gun or the car. In the case before us, Lucas and codefendant David Baker were in the vehicle together. Possession not only may be constructive, but a defendant need not have exclusive possession of property to be found in possession of it. Joint possession will suffice. See United States v. Craven, 478 F.2d 1329, 1333 (6th Cir.1973).
In United States v. Critton, 43 F.3d 1089, 1096-97 (6th Cir.1995), this court upheld a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) for using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. One defendant, Willie Critton, asserted that his conviction under § 924(c) should be reversed for insufficiency of evidence. Although Critton was the driver of the van in which he and two others were driving, it was not registered to him. Moreover, he was charged with the use and carrying of a .22 caliber handgun found in a suitcase *426located in the passenger compartment of the van, although no evidence directly-linked the handgun to him. Our court affirmed the conviction under the “fortress” theory from United States v. Henry, 878 F.2d 937, 944 (6th Cir.1989). Thus, this court primarily discussed the possession of the firearm “during and in relation to” drug trafficking crimes, as required under the statute. It had no problem finding that Critton jointly possessed the .22 caliber handgun with Leslie Livingston, who owned the .22 caliber handgun. See also United States v. Travis, 993 F.2d 1316, 1321 (8th Cir.1993) (conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924 upheld for firearms found in a locked glove compartment without proof that the defendant had keys to the glove compartment or owned the vehicle or the firearms).
Therefore, I would affirm the decision of the district court entirely.