United States v. Virgil Left Hand, Sr. ( 2019 )


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  •                   United States Court of Appeals
    For the Eighth Circuit
    ___________________________
    No. 19-1119
    ___________________________
    United States of America
    lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellee
    v.
    Virgil Left Hand, Sr.
    lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellant
    ____________
    Appeal from United States District Court
    for the District of South Dakota - Rapid City
    ____________
    Submitted: December 3, 2019
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    [Unpublished]
    ____________
    Before SHEPHERD, KELLY, and ERICKSON, Circuit Judges.
    ____________
    PER CURIAM.
    Virgil Left Hand, Sr. appeals the district court’s1 judgment entered upon a jury
    verdict finding him guilty of federal assault offenses. His counsel has moved for
    1
    The Honorable Jeffrey L. Viken, Chief Judge, United States District Court for
    the District of South Dakota.
    leave to withdraw, and has filed a brief under Anders v. California, 
    386 U.S. 738
    (1967), challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, and suggesting the district court
    erred in denying Left Hand a Guidelines reduction for acceptance of responsibility.
    We first conclude that the evidence at trial was sufficient to support Left
    Hand’s convictions. See United States v. Birdine, 
    515 F.3d 842
    , 844 (8th Cir. 2008)
    (sufficiency of evidence to support conviction is reviewed de novo, viewing evidence
    in light most favorable to jury verdict, and giving verdict benefit of all reasonable
    inferences; this court will not second-guess jury’s credibility determinations, and will
    reverse only if no reasonable jury could have found defendant guilty beyond
    reasonable doubt). We further conclude that the district court did not clearly err in
    denying Left Hand’s request for an acceptance-of-responsibility reduction. Although
    Left Hand conceded he struck the victim, he still challenged an essential element of
    one of his offenses by introducing evidence at trial that another person may have
    caused his victim’s injuries through other actions. See USSG § 3E1.1, cmt. (n.2)
    (reduction for acceptance of responsibility is not intended to apply to defendant who
    puts government to proof at trial by denying essential factual elements of guilt, is
    convicted, and only then admits guilt and expresses remorse); United States v.
    Ervasti, 
    201 F.3d 1029
    , 1043 (8th Cir. 2000) (standard of review).
    Finally, we have reviewed the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 
    488 U.S. 75
    (1988), and have found no non-frivolous issues. Accordingly, we grant counsel’s
    motion, and affirm.
    ______________________________
    -2-
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 19-1119

Filed Date: 12/6/2019

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 12/6/2019