Court Opinion

ID: 3020329
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:22:38.161248+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:50.430798
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                             FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                    No. 97-3748
                                    ___________

United States of America,                *
                                         *
             Appellee,                   *
                                         * Appeal from the United States
      v.                                 * District Court for the
                                         * Eastern District of Arkansas.
Richard Charles Berry,                   *
                                         *          [PUBLISHED]
             Appellant.                  *
                                    ___________

                            Submitted: March 6, 1998
                                Filed: March 11, 1998
                                    ___________

Before BOWMAN, WOLLMAN, and MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit
      Judges.
                       ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Richard Charles Berry appeals the 37-month sentence imposed by the District
Court1 after he pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 44 kilograms of
marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 (1994). For reversal, Berry argues that the
District Court erred in enhancing his base offense level for possessing firearms during
a drug offense because the firearms were found in a bedroom of his residence and the

      1
       The Honorable William R. Wilson, Jr., United States District Judge for the
Eastern District of Arkansas.
marijuana was found in his truck parked outside of the residence. We disagree, and
affirm.

       A sentencing court must add two levels to a defendant&s base offense level if a
dangerous weapon, including a firearm, was possessed during a drug offense; the
enhancement is appropriate where a firearm is present “unless it is clearly improbable
that the weapon was connected with the offense.” U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual
§ 2D1.1(b)(1) & cmt. 3 (1997). Berry admitted that he possessed two firearms; that
the two firearms were loaded; that cash and scales used for weighing marijuana were
found in the bedroom with the firearms; and that he placed the 44 kilograms of
marijuana in his truck and parked the vehicle at his home, intending to deliver the
marijuana at a later date. Based on those facts, we conclude the District Court did not
clearly err in assessing the enhancement. See United States v. Vaughn, 111 F.3d 610,
616 (8th Cir. 1997) (standard of review); United States v. Betz, 82 F.3d 205, 210-11
(8th Cir. 1996) (holding that application of § 2D1.1(b)(1) enhancement was not clear
error where firearms and drugs were found in different places on defendant&s property);
United States v. Hiveley, 61 F.3d 1358, 1362-63 (8th Cir. 1995) (per curiam) (holding
that application of § 2D1.1(b)(1) enhancement was not clearly erroneous where
firearms were found in one trailer on defendant&s property and drugs were found in
different trailer, despite defendant&s argument that there was no evidence he had ever
used firearms during drug transaction).

      Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.

      A true copy.

             Attest:

                     CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

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