Court Opinion

ID: 173716
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-19 18:39:04+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:04:30.594444
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                        ________________________                 FILED
                                                        U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              No. 08-11065                ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                             AUGUST 19, 2010
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                                                               JOHN LEY
                        ________________________
                                                                CLERK

                    D. C. Docket No. 07-00148-CR-JFN-4

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

DEAUNBREY ANTONIO GARDNER,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Southern District of Georgia
                      _________________________

                              (August 19, 2010)

Before CARNES, BARKETT and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Deaunbrey Antonio Gardner appeals his conviction and sentence following a
bench trial for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also argues that

insufficient evidence supports his conviction because the government failed to

show he actually or constructively possessed any firearms. He argues that the

district court imposed a procedurally unreasonable sentence because it failed to

consider the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors when imposing his 120-month custodial

sentence.1     We “review challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence de novo,

viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government.” United States

v. Futrell, 209 F.3d 1286, 1288 (11th Cir. 2000). While ordinarily a party must

move for a judgment of acquittal at trial in order to preserve a sufficiency of the

evidence argument on appeal, it is not necessary to do so in a bench trial. United

States v. Hurn, 368 F.3d 1359, 1368 n.5 (11th Cir. 2004).

       “To establish a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), the government must

prove three elements: (1) that the defendant was a convicted felon, (2) that the

defendant was in knowing possession of a firearm, and (3) that the firearm was in

or affecting interstate commerce.” United States v. Beckles, 565 F.3d 832, 841

(11th Cir.) cert. denied, 130 S. Ct. 272 (2009) (quotation omitted); 18 U.S.C.

§ 922(g). Gardner stipulated that he was a felon and that the firearms had been

       1
          To the extent he raises a challenge to the sentencing proceedings because he suffered
“manifest injustice” due to the government referencing the fact that he faced state murder charges
based on one of the guns for which he was convicted, we do not consider it because he raises it for
the first time in his reply brief. United States v. Whitesell, 314 F.3d 1251, 1256 (11th Cir. 2002).

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shipped and transported in interstate commerce. Accordingly, possession was the

only element at issue in Gardner’s trial.

        “Possession of a firearm may be either actual or constructive,” and “[t]he

Government can establish constructive possession of a firearm by proving

ownership, dominion, or control over the firearm.” United States v. Brown, 587
F.3d 1082, 1091 (11th Cir. 2009) (citation and quotations omitted).

        Based on this record, we affirm. The government presented evidence that

established that guns were found by the couch where Gardner slept, a witness saw

him holding what appeared to be some of the seized guns, and he made statements

indicating both knowledge of the guns’ presence and a desire to keep law

enforcement from knowing about them. Under the circumstances, a reasonable

finder of fact could find that Gardner had actual or constructive possession of the

guns.

        Upon review of the parties’ briefs and the record, we also affirm Gardner’s

sentence. During the sentencing hearing, the district court discussed Gardner’s

family, educational, and employment history, his criminal past, the nature of the

offense and Gardner’s underlying prior felony conviction, and the applicable

Guideline and statutory provisions. It gave particular attention to Gardner’s

criminal history, noting that he had “a terrible record” and that it found he had no

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redeeming qualities. Thus, although the § 3553(a) factors were not specifically

mentioned, their content was considered.

      AFFIRMED.

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