Court Opinion

ID: 9896586
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-13 19:00:36.56697+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:08.461221
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-50168        Document: 00516964556             Page: 1      Date Filed: 11/13/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit
                                     ____________
                                                                               United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Fifth Circuit
                                      No. 23-50168
                                    Summary Calendar                                  FILED
                                    ____________                              November 13, 2023
                                                                                 Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                          Clerk

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Jevon Bell,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Western District of Texas
                              USDC No. 7:22-CR-215-1
                     ______________________________

   Before King, Haynes, and Graves, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Jevon Bell appeals the sentence imposed for his guilty plea conviction
   for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
   §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2). The district court applied a cross-reference, under
   U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(c), to the guideline for attempted first degree murder

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-50168       Document: 00516964556         Page: 2       Date Filed: 11/13/2023

                                    No. 23-50168

   under U.S.S.G. § 2A2.1(a)(1), and assessed a base offense level of 33. Bell
   was sentenced to a statutory maximum term of 120 months of imprisonment.
          Bell argues that the district court erred by applying the cross-reference
   because the Government failed to make the requisite showing that he had the
   specific intent to kill. He does not dispute that, after getting in a physical
   altercation with his ex-girlfriend and beginning to drive away, he returned to
   the residence and began shooting a handgun in her general direction. Several
   shots hit the vehicle Bell’s ex-girlfriend was hiding behind.
          “This court reviews a district court’s factual findings during
   sentencing for clear error and its interpretation of the Sentencing Guidelines,
   including its application of the cross-reference provisions of § 2K2.1(c), de
   novo.” United States v. Hicks, 389 F.3d 514, 529 (5th Cir. 2004). “[F]acts
   relevant to sentencing must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.”
   United States v. Alfaro, 30 F.4th 514, 518 (5th Cir. 2022).
          Having reviewed the record, the parties’ arguments, and the
   applicable law, we conclude that Bell has shown no error. See, e.g. United
   States v. Shaw, 701 F.2d 367, 392 n.20 (5th Cir. 1983) (abrogation on other
   grounds by recognized by United States v. Burden, 964 F.3d 339, 345 (5th Cir.
   2020); see also United States v. Lemus-Gonzalez, 563 F.3d 88, 92 (5th Cir.
   2009) (discussing the three distinct mental states encompassed by “malice
   aforethought.”)
          The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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