Court Opinion

ID: 3037472
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:56:30.822943+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:48:46.395954
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                           FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                  ___________

                                  No. 04-2156
                                  ___________

United States of America               *
                                       *
            Appellee,                  * Appeal from the United States
                                       * District Court for the Eastern
      v.                               * District of Missouri.
                                       *
Ronald Gene Brown                      *
                                       *
            Appellant.                 *
                                  ___________

                            Submitted: February 14, 2005
                               Filed: May 9, 2005
                                ___________

Before WOLLMAN, McMILLIAN, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
                         ___________

BENTON, Circuit Judge.

      In August 2002, while executing a consent search, the Cape Girardeau sheriff
uncovered 91 rounds of ammunition at the residence of Ronald Gene Brown. A jury
convicted Brown of being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The district court1sentenced him to 188 months imprisonment as
an armed career criminal.

      1
        The Honorable Henry E. Autrey, United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Missouri.
      Brown appeals, arguing that the state restored his rights so that he has not been
"convicted" of a prior felony, and that the sentence was improper as his prior
convictions were not "serious drug offenses." This court reviews these issues de
novo. See United States v. Woodall, 120 F.3d 880, 881 (8th Cir. 1997); United
States v. Collins, 321 F.3d 691, 696 (8th Cir. 2003). Having jurisdiction under 28
U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms.

                                           I.

        A person convicted in any court of a crime punishable by more than one year
may not possess ammunition. 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The predicate conviction
cannot have been expunged or set aside, nor can the person have been pardoned for
it, or had civil rights restored. 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20); DeRoo v. United States, 223
F.3d 919, 925 (8th Cir. 2000). The status of a conviction is determined by the law
of the jurisdiction where the proceedings were held – in this case, Missouri. See 18
U.S.C. § 921(a)(20); Caron v. United States, 524 U.S. 308, 313 (1998).

       Brown asserts that Missouri has restored his civil rights, eliminating his four
state felonies as predicates for section 922(g)(1). Missouri automatically restores
some civil rights, such as voting (upon release from confinement) and holding office
(upon completion of sentence). See Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 561.016, 561.026(1),
561.021.2.2 However, felons may not serve as jurors, sheriffs, highway patrol
officers, state fire investigators or employees, state lottery licensees or employees, or
manage, conduct or operate bingo games. See Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 494.425(4),
540.045.1, 561.026(3), 57.010.1, 43.060.1, 320.210, 313.245, 313.255.6(2),
313.035.1(1); Mo. Const. Art. III, sec. 39(a)(3)(e). Moreover, felons face statutory
hurdles to being licensed in many occupations and professions. See Appendix A to
this opinion.

      2
      All citations to Missouri Revised Statutes are to the 2000 revision, unless
otherwise indicated.

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       Because Missouri withholds substantial civil rights, Brown has not been
restored to sufficient civil rights in order to invoke section 921(a)(20). See Presley
v. United States, 851 F.2d 1052, 1053 (8th Cir. 1988); United States v. Williams, 128
F.3d 1128, 1134 (7th Cir. 1997) (applying Missouri law); United States v. Meeks,
987 F.2d 575, 577-78 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 919 (1993) (applying Missouri
law).

        Finally, Brown argues that Article I, Section 23, of the Missouri Constitution
guarantees all citizens the right to bear arms. Even this civil right is qualified, as
Article I, Section 23, leaves the regulation of concealed weapons to the General
Assembly. Brooks v. State, 128 S.W.3d 844, 848-49 (Mo. 2004). The Assembly has
specifically prohibited felons from possessing concealed weapons. See Mo. Rev.
Stat. § § 571.101.2(2); 571.030.1(2), .4 (Supp. 2003). As the legislature has chosen
not to restore substantially a felon's right to bear arms, Brown's state convictions were
proper predicates for section 922(g)(1). See United States v. Ellis, 949 F.2d 952, 953
(8th Cir. 1991) (applying Minnesota law); United States v. Traxel, 914 F.2d 119, 123
(8th Cir. 1990) (applying Minnesota law).

                                           II.

       In April 1991, Brown pleaded guilty to three Missouri felonies: delivery of
methamphetamine, delivery of more than five grams of marijuana, and delivery of
hydromorphone. See Mo. Rev. Stat. § 195.211. Each conviction carried a five- to
fifteen-year sentence.

      The district court ruled that these three convictions were serious drug offenses.
Brown thus faced a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence for his conviction under
section 922(g)(1). See 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1); United States v. Long, 320 F.3d 795,
801-02 (8th Cir. 2003). A serious drug offense includes "an offense under State law,

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involving manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture or
distribute, a controlled substance. . . ." 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(A)(ii).

       Because this statutory definition omits "delivering," Brown argues that his state
convictions are not serious drug offenses. He claims delivery is similar to simple
possession, which is not a serious drug offense. See United States v. Whitfield, 907
F.2d 798, 800 (8th Cir. 1990) (possession conviction is not a serious drug offense
where it is unclear whether the conviction is for mere possession, or possession with
intent to distribute or manufacture).

        To determine whether state convictions involve distributing or manufacturing
controlled substances, a court begins with the statutory definition of the state offense.
Taylor v. United States, 495 U.S. 575, 602 (1990). Here, the Missouri statute
prohibiting delivery of controlled substances states:

      it is unlawful for any person to distribute, deliver, manufacture, produce or
      attempt to distribute, deliver, manufacture or produce a controlled substance
      or to possess with intent to distribute, deliver, manufacture, or produce a
      controlled substance.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 195.211. Brown argues that Missouri distinguishes "deliver" – of
which he was convicted – from "distribute" – which is required for a serious drug
offense. To the contrary, Missouri defines "distribute" as "to deliver other than by
administering or dispensing a controlled substance." Mo. Rev. Stat. § 195.010(12)
(emphasis added). See State v. Carouthers, 714 S.W.2d 867, 870 (Mo. App. 1986)
(many terms in chapter 195 – including distribute and deliver – are redundant).
Brown's state convictions involve distributing controlled substances. See Long, 320
F.3d at 802.

      The judgment is affirmed.
                          ________________________

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                                       Appendix A

1. A person who has been convicted of any listed felony shall not be employed as a:

      school bus driver                   § 302.272.5(3) (Supp. 2004)
      mental-health direct-care           § 630.170.2 (Supp. 2003)
          employee
      direct retail seller of liquor      11 Mo. Code Regs. 70-2.140(11)(A) (2004)
             •bar manager                     implementing Mo. Rev. Stat.
             •bartender                       § 311.060, in response to
             •waiter                          Levinson v. State,
             •waitress                        104 S.W.3d 409, 413 (Mo. 2003).
             •cashier
             •sales clerk

2. Felony conviction per se disqualifies a person from applying to be a lawyer, until
five years after completing sentence. Then a felony conviction becomes part of
"character and fitness" determination required before licensing. Mo. Supreme Court
Rule 8.04(a) (2003) (see also accompanying regulation of Board of Law Examiners).
For a licensed attorney, any felony conviction and many misdemeanor convictions
cause an immediate suspension, and eventually, some form of discipline. Mo.
Supreme Court Rule 5.21 (1996).

3. Statutes providing that a license may be refused to any person "convicted of a felony":

      teaching certificate                              § 168.071.1(1)
      insurance adjuster                                § 325.030.3
      insurance agent                                   § 375.141.1(6)
      securities broker-dealer                          § 409.4-412(d)(3)

                                          -5-
4. Statutes providing that a license may be refused (or revoked) if the applicant "has
been finally adjudicated and found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere, in a criminal prosecution under the laws of any state or of the United
States, for any offense reasonably related to the qualifications, functions or duties of
any profession licensed or regulated under this chapter, for any offense an essential
element of which is fraud, dishonesty or an act of violence, or for any offense
involving moral turpitude, whether or not sentence is imposed":

      ambulance services and                            § 190.165.2(2)
          emergency medical personnel
      ambulatory surgical center                         § 197.220.1
      interpreters for deaf                              § 209.334.2(2)
      cemetery operator                                  § 214.276.2(2)
      pesticide applicator, dealer                       § 281.060.1
      motor vehicle, boat                                § 301.562.2(3) (Supp. 2004)
          dealer or manufacturer
      boxer, wrestler, or promoter                      § 317.015.2(2)(b)
      occupational therapist                            § 324.086.2(2) (Supp. 2004)
      licensed dietitian                                § 324.217.2(5) (Supp. 2004)
      massage therapist                                 § 324.262.2(2)
      certified interior designer                       § 324.436.2(1)
      acupuncturist                                     § 324.496.2(1)
      private fire investigator                         § 324.609.4(2) (Supp. 2004)
      certified public accountant                       § 326.310.2(2) (Supp. 2004)
      architect, professional engineer,                 § 327.441.2(2)
          professional land surveyor
      landscape architect                               § 327.631.2(1)
      barber                                            § 328.150.2(2)
      cosmetologist, hairdresser, manicurist            § 329.140.2(2)
      podiatrist                                        § 330.160.2(2)

                                          -6-
      chiropractor                                  § 331.060.2(2)
      dentist                                       § 332.321.2(2) (Supp. 2004)
      embalmer                                      § 333.121.2(2)
      physician, surgeon                            § 334.100.2(2) (Supp. 2004)
      anesthesiologist assistant                    § 334.414.5(2) (Supp. 2004)
      athletic trainer                              § 334.715.1 (Supp. 2004)
      respiratory therapist                         § 334.920.2(2)
      nurse                                         § 335.066.2(2)
      optometrist                                   § 336.110.2(2)
      psychologist                                  § 337.035.2(2)
      professional counselor                        § 337.525.2(2)
      clinical social worker                        § 337.630.2(2)
      marital and family therapist                  § 337.730.2(2)
      pharmacist                                    § 338.055.2(2) (Supp. 2004)
      pharmacy technician                           § 338.013.2 (Supp. 2004)
      real estate agent                             § 339.100.2(18) (Supp. 2004)
      real estate appraiser                         § 339.532.2(4)
      veterinarian                                  § 340.264.2(2)
      nursing home administrator                    § 344.050.2(2)
      speech pathologist or audiologist             § 345.065.2(2)
      hearing aid fitter or dealer                  § 346.105.2(2)
      bail bond agent (conviction within            § 374.755.2(2) (Supp. 2004)
          15 years before license issuance)
      surety recovery agent                          § 374.789.1(2)
      athlete agent                                  § 436.233.2(1)

5. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, no license for any occupation
or profession shall be denied solely on the grounds that an applicant has been
previously convicted of a felony. § 620.135. See also § 314.200 ("good moral
character" determination may not be primarily based on felony conviction).

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