Court Opinion

ID: 9840525
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-19 00:00:21.710646+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:33.891647
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-50839        Document: 00516899064             Page: 1      Date Filed: 09/18/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit
                                     ____________                                United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                          Fifth Circuit

                                                                                        FILED
                                      No. 22-50839                              September 18, 2023
                                    Summary Calendar
                                                                                     Lyle W. Cayce
                                    ____________
                                                                                          Clerk
   United States of America,

                                                                     Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Dustin Michael Pertile,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Western District of Texas
                               USDC No. 7:22-CR-91-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Stewart, Southwick, and Engelhardt, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Dustin Michael Pertile pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.
   The district court sentenced him to 96 months in prison. He now appeals his
   sentence.
         Pertile argues that the district court erred by applying an enhancement
   under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) for possession of a firearm in connection

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-50839       Document: 00516899064         Page: 2   Date Filed: 09/18/2023

                                    No. 22-50839

   with another felony offense.       Because Pertile did not object to this
   enhancement in the district court, our review is for plain error. See United
   States v. Buendia, 73 F.4th 336, 339 (5th Cir. 2023). To demonstrate plain
   error, Pertile must show a forfeited error that is clear or obvious and that
   affects his substantial rights. See Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135
   (2009). If he makes such a showing, this court has the discretion to correct
   the error only if it “seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public
   reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. (quotation marks, brackets, and
   citation omitted).
            The record as a whole supports a conclusion that Pertile possessed a
   firearm in close proximity to drug paraphernalia and that he was engaged in
   the felony offense of drug distribution. Thus, the court did not commit clear
   or obvious error by applying the enhancement. See § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B),
   comment (n.14(B)); see also United States v. Bass, 996 F.3d 729, 742 (5th Cir.
   2021).
            AFFIRMED.

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