Court Opinion

ID: 3040758
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 23:03:51.618823+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:21:58.396040
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                     ___________

                                     No. 05-3361
                                     ___________

United States of America,                 *
                                          *
                    Appellee,             * Appeal from the United States
                                          * District Court for the Western
      v.                                  * District of Missouri.
                                          *
Tracy Eugene Russell,                     *      [UNPUBLISHED]
                                          *
                    Appellant.            *
                                     ___________

                                Submitted: June 2, 2006
                                   Filed: June 6, 2006
                                    ___________

Before MELLOY, FAGG, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
                           ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Tracy Eugene Russell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm,
in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). At sentencing, Russell
contended he had possessed the firearm solely for sporting purposes and thus he was
entitled to a base offense level of 6 under the “sporting purposes” section of the felon-
in-possession Guideline, U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(2). The district court* rejected Russell’s
argument and assigned him a base offense level of 14 under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(2),

      *
      The Honorable Dean Whipple, Chief Judge, United States District Court for
the Western District of Missouri.
which applies to those who possess a firearm as a “prohibited person.” Russell argues
the district court improperly relied on subjective conclusions and speculation.

       We review de novo the district court’s application of section 2K2.1 and for
clear error the court’s factual findings. See United States v. Mathijssen, 406 F.3d 496,
498 (8th Cir. 2005). Undisputed testimony offered at sentencing showed the firearm
was found immediately next to Russell inside an automobile at almost 3:00 in the
morning, with a loaded clip nearby and 380 grams of marijuana in the back seat. The
occupants of the car had just left a home at which an altercation had occurred. Based
on this testimony we agree with the district court Russell failed to discharge his
burden of showing he possessed the firearm for lawful sporting purposes or collection
within the meaning of section 2K2.1(b)(2). See United States v. Lussier, 423 F.3d
838, 842-43 (8th Cir. 2005) (affirming denial of base offense level of 6 under
§ 2K2.1(b)(2) where defendant failed to carry his burden of proving how rifle’s
positioning next to him within automobile related solely to sporting purpose), cert.
denied, 126 S. Ct. 1120 (2006).

      Accordingly, we affirm.
                     ______________________________

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