United States v. Pleasant ( 2021 )


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  • Case: 20-50649      Document: 00516014571         Page: 1     Date Filed: 09/15/2021
    United States Court of Appeals
    for the Fifth Circuit                                United States Court of Appeals
    Fifth Circuit
    FILED
    September 15, 2021
    No. 20-50649
    Summary Calendar                          Lyle W. Cayce
    Clerk
    United States of America,
    Plaintiff—Appellee,
    versus
    Aaron Christopher Pleasant,
    Defendant—Appellant.
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Western District of Texas
    USDC No. 7:19-CR-264-1
    Before Higginbotham, Duncan, and Engelhardt, Circuit Judges.
    Per Curiam:*
    Aaron Christopher Pleasant pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm
    after a felony conviction. Relying on the analysis set forth in United States v.
    Lopez, 
    514 U.S. 549
     (1995), Pleasant argues that 
    18 U.S.C. § 922
    (g)(1), the
    statute of conviction, exceeds the scope of Congress’s power under the
    *
    Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this
    opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited
    circumstances set forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4.
    Case: 20-50649       Document: 00516014571         Page: 2    Date Filed: 09/15/2021
    No. 20-50649
    Commerce Clause and is thus unconstitutional. He concedes that his claim
    is foreclosed by circuit precedent, and he raises the issue to preserve it for
    further review.    The Government has filed an unopposed motion for
    summary affirmance and an alternative request for an extension of time to file
    its brief.
    The court pretermits the question of the timeliness of the notice of
    appeal. See United States v. Martinez, 
    496 F.3d 387
    , 388-89 (5th Cir. 2007).
    Summary affirmance is proper if “the position of one of the parties is
    clearly right as a matter of law so that there can be no substantial question as
    to the outcome of the case.” Groendyke Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 
    406 F.2d 1158
    ,
    1162 (5th Cir. 1969). Pleasant’s instant challenge to the constitutionality of
    § 922(g)(1) is foreclosed. See United States v. Alcantar, 
    733 F.3d 143
    , 145-46
    (5th Cir. 2013); United States v. Daugherty, 
    264 F.3d 513
    , 518 (5th Cir. 2001);
    United States v. De Leon, 
    170 F.3d 494
    , 499 (5th Cir. 1999).
    Thus, the Government’s unopposed motion for summary affirmance
    is GRANTED. The Government’s alternative motion for an extension of
    time to file an appellate brief is DENIED. The district court’s judgment is
    AFFIRMED.
    2