Court Opinion

ID: 4385790
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-10 19:00:19.971615+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:22:56.677476
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                      No. 18-4576

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                    Plaintiff - Appellee,

             v.

BRADLEY PAUL SOUTHER, a/k/a Bradley P. Souther,

                    Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina,
at Statesville. Richard L. Voorhees, Senior District Judge. (5:17-cr-00022-RLV-DSC-1)

Submitted: March 29, 2019                                         Decided: April 10, 2019

Before GREGORY, Chief Judge, and AGEE and DIAZ, Circuit Judges.

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Daniel P. Roberts, GOODMAN, CARR, LAUGHRUN, LEVINE & GREENE, Charlotte,
North Carolina, for Appellant. William T. Stetzer, First Assistant United States Attorney,
Dallas J. Kaplan, Assistant United States Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
ATTORNEY, Charlotte, North Carolina, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:

       Bradley Paul Souther appeals from the 70-month sentence imposed after he

pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§ 922(g)(1) (2012).    Souther disputes the district court’s application of a four-level

sentencing enhancement for possessing a firearm in connection with another felony

offense—specifically, possession of a controlled substance. Finding no error, we affirm.

       We review the district court’s factual determinations in applying the Sentencing

Guidelines for clear error. United States v. Strieper, 666 F.3d 288, 292 (4th Cir. 2012).

Where a defendant “[u]sed or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with

another felony offense,” a four-level enhancement shall apply.              U.S. Sentencing

Guidelines Manual § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) (2016).          The “in connection with” element is

satisfied “if the firearm facilitated, or had the potential of facilitating” the other offense,

or if it “was present for protection or to embolden the actor.” United States v. Jenkins,

566 F.3d 160, 162 (4th Cir. 2009); see USSG § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(A).

       Souther argues that his sentence is procedurally unreasonable because the district

court clearly erred in applying USSG § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B).           We review a sentence for

reasonableness, applying an abuse of discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S.
38, 46 (2007).      Procedural error includes improperly calculating the Sentencing

Guidelines range. Id. Souther contends that there was insufficient evidence that the

firearm was used in connection with the possession of the controlled substances found

within his control. Based on the record before us, however, we conclude that the district

court reasonably inferred that Souther possessed the firearm in connection with his

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possession of the controlled substances. The parties do not dispute that, because of

Souther’s criminal history, simple possession would have been treated as a felony.

Although the record on the court’s ruling is brief, it may be inferred, based on the court’s

adoption of the uncontested facts and assumed reading of Souther’s reply to the

Government’s objection, that the court determined that the firearm facilitated the offense

of drug possession, particularly in a public area, or was used for protection. Therefore,

the district court’s decision to apply the § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) enhancement was not

erroneous.

       We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are

adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the

decisional process.

                                                                               AFFIRMED

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