United States v. Scott Blacketter ( 2000 )

United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
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No. 99-4188
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United States of America, *
*
Appellee, *
* Appeal from the United States
v. * District Court for the
* District of Minnesota
Scott Alexander Blacketter, *
* [UNPUBLISHED]
Appellant. *
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Submitted: September 7, 2000
Filed: October 12, 2000
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Before McMILLIAN, HEANEY, AND FAGG, Circuit Judges.
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PER CURIAM.
Scott Alexander Blacketter appeals from the final judgment entered in the
District Court1 for the District of Minnesota upon remand for resentencing on his
convictions for conspiracy to commit credit union robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 371, and armed credit union robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a). See United
States v. Villiard, 186 F.3d 893 (8th Cir. 1999). For reversal, appellant argues the
district court erred in applying a firearm enhancement, see U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(2)(C)
1
The Honorable Richard H. Kyle, United States District Judge for the District
of Minnesota.
(if firearm was brandished, displayed, or possessed, increase by 5 levels), because the
only evidence that he possessed a firearm during the robbery came from uncorroborated
testimony of an accomplice. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm the judgment
of the district court.
The district court did not clearly err in applying the enhancement because the
accomplice’s testimony--that during the robbery appellant wore a fanny pack
containing a firearm--proved possession of a firearm by a preponderance of the
evidence. See United States v. Villiard, 186 F.3d at 896 (citing United States v.
Tucker, 169 F.3d 1115, 1119 (8th Cir. 1999) (unless it is incredible or insubstantial on
its face, accomplice testimony is sufficient to support conviction, and trial court is not
obliged to instruct jury to consider uncorroborated accomplice testimony with
caution)); United States v. Sumner, 171 F.3d 636, 638 (8th Cir. 1999) (per curiam)
(standard of review); United States v. England, 966 F.2d 403, 409-10 (8th Cir.) (to
obtain conviction, government must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt; however,
under Guidelines, government need only prove possession of weapon by preponderance
of evidence), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1025 (1992).
Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court.
A true copy.
Attest:
CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.
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