Court Opinion

ID: 154248
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 03:53:39+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:02:16.504593
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Filed 12/17/96
                                     TENTH CIRCUIT

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

           Plaintiff-Appellee,
 vs.                                                         No. 96-6137
                                                       (D.C. No. CR-95-166-L)
 TONYA LEE WELLMAKER,                                        (W.D. Okla.)

           Defendant-Appellant.

                                  ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before SEYMOUR, Chief Judge, KELLY, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.**

       Defendant-appellant Tonya Lee Wellmaker pleaded guilty to being a felon in

possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and was sentenced to 92 months

imprisonment and three years supervised release. In determining the sentence, the district

court enhanced her base offense level by two levels pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(4)

because the firearm was stolen. In the district court, Ms. Wellmaker unsuccessfully

       *
         This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. This 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 the appellate record, this three-judge panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material assistance in the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The cause is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
argued that the firearm was not stolen because it was concealed in a black bag (that she

intentionally removed from the vehicle of a former boyfriend so as to deprive him of it).

Our jurisdiction to reconsider this point on appeal arises under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18

U.S.C. § 3742(a). We review the district court’s factual finding of a stolen firearm for

clear error; any disputed legal issues are reviewed de novo. United States v. Rowlett, 23

F.3d 300, 303 (10th Cir. 1994).

       The record contains ample evidence that Ms. Wellmaker intended to steal the bag

and its contents, including the firearm. The “firearm was stolen--” that she may have

been unaware of the firearm’s presence in the bag initially or that she later sought to

return it to its owner are legally insignificant facts. U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(4) lacks a

scienter requirement, it is in effect a strict liability sentencing enhancement. U.S.S.G.

§ 2K2.1(b)(4), comment. n.19; United States v. Murphy, 96 F.3d 846, 848-49 (6th Cir.

1996); United States v. Sanders, 990 F.2d 582, 584 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 878

(1993).

       AFFIRMED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

                                           Entered for the Court

                                           Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
                                           Circuit Judge

                                            -2-