United States v. Owens

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
OCT 3 2001
TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v. No. 00-6274
(D. Ct. No. 00-CR-24-L)
DAVID OWENS, JR., (W.D. Okla.)
Defendant - Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before TACHA, Chief Judge, BALDOCK, and HENRY, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge panel
has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material
assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th
Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Petitioner-appellant David Owens, Jr., appeals his convictions for
attempted carjacking, 18 U.S.C. § 2119, using and carrying a firearm during and
in relation to the commission of a crime of violence, id. § 924(c)(1)(A), and
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. This court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, id. § 922(g)(1). Owens
challenges his conviction on three grounds: that there was insufficient evidence to
sustain the carjacking conviction; that he was entitled to a three-level sentence
reduction because the carjacking was not completed; and that the federal statute
prohibiting a convicted felon from possessing a firearm exceeds Congress’s
authority under the Commerce Clause. We exercise jurisdiction pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.
I. Facts
On January 9, 2000, at approximately 10 a.m., Everett and Mary Baxter
were stopped at a stoplight at the intersection of S.W. 4th and Classen in
Oklahoma City. As they prepared to make a right turn north onto Classen, they
noticed a man standing on the northeast corner of the intersection preparing to
cross Classen. Mr. Baxter (“Baxter”) waved the man across the intersection so
that Baxter would not turn into him. In response, the man waved at Baxter and
told him to go on. The man then abruptly crossed in front of the Baxters’ car,
pulled a small gun from his pocket, and repeatedly commanded that Baxter “Get
out!” When the man reached the driver’s side, he pointed the gun at Baxter and
attempted to open the locked door. Baxter sped away, and the Baxters reported
the incident to police.
A police officer later spotted David Owens, Jr., walking down the street
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and noted that he fit the description provided by the Baxters. A second police
officer stopped his patrol car to speak with Owens, who ran behind a building.
Police then apprehended Owens coming around the other side of the building.
Police found a loaded revolver under a car 30 feet away from where they arrested
Owens.
Owens later admitted possessing the gun, and he stipulated at trial that he
had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term
exceeding one year. Accordingly, a jury convicted Owens of illegally possessing
a firearm. 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The jury also found Owens guilty of attempted
carjacking, id. § 2119, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to
the commission of a crime of violence, id. § 924(c)(1)(A).
Mr. Owens now challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the
attempted carjacking conviction, the district court’s refusal to grant a three-level
reduction in offense for an attempt, and the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. §
922(g)(1). We address each of these issues in turn.
II. Discussion
A. Sufficiency of the evidence
We review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence de novo, while
viewing any evidence and inferences in the light most favorable to the
government. United States v. Wilson, 244 F.3d 1208, 1219 (10th Cir. 2001). Our
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inquiry is limited to determining whether any rational trier of fact could have
found the elements of the crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979).
The federal carjacking statute provides, in pertinent part:
Whoever, with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm takes
a motor vehicle that has been transported, shipped, or received in
interstate or foreign commerce from the person or presence of
another by force and violence or by intimidation, or attempts to do
so, shall (1) be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 15
years, or both . . . .
18 U.S.C. § 2119. The evidence at trial shows that the motor vehicle has been
shipped in interstate commerce. The pointing of a gun at Baxter’s face certainly
satisfies the element of force or intimidation. The evidence also sufficiently
supports the remaining elements — intent to take the car and intent to cause death
or serious bodily harm.
While it is true that Owens never explicitly announced his intent to take the
Baxters’ car, the law does not require such an affirmation to support intent.
Rather, “[t]he natural, probable consequences of an act can satisfactorily evidence
the state of mind accompanying it.” United States v. Youts, 229 F.3d 1312, 1317
(10th Cir. 2000). Here, Owens’s own brief states that “[a]t its best, the evidence
showed Mr. Owen’s [sic] pointed a firearm, yelled ‘Get out!’ and grabbed the
door handle.” We hold that even Owens’s characterization of the events would
provide a sufficient basis for a rational jury to infer that Owens possessed an
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intent to take the Baxters’ car. See United States v. Moore, 198 F.3d 793, 797
(10th Cir. 1999) (upholding an attempted carjacking conviction where the
defendant pointed a gun at a driver but was shot before he had an opportunity to
take control of the vehicle).
Ample evidence supports a jury finding that Owens intended to cause death
or serious bodily injury. To prove intent to kill or injure, the government need
only prove “that the defendant would have at least attempted to seriously harm or
kill the driver if that action had been necessary to complete the taking of the car.”
Holloway v. United States, 526 U.S. 1, 12 (1999); see also United States v.
Malone, 222 F.3d 1286, 1291 (10th Cir. 2000) (evaluating the sufficiency of the
evidence of intent in light of the totality of the circumstances). Here, the
evidence showed that Owens pointed a loaded firearm at Baxter and told him to
“get out of the car.” This evidence demonstrates a willingness to seriously harm
or kill the driver. We therefore find no error by the trial court.
B. Three-Level Reduction Pursuant to the Sentencing Guideline
Governing Attempts
We review the district court’s interpretation of the Sentencing Guidelines
de novo and its factual findings for clear error. United States v. Davis, 182 F.3d
1201, 1202 (10th Cir. 1999).
The Sentencing Guidelines provide that if a defendant is found guilty of
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attempt, the base offense level for the completed crime is adjusted down three
levels. U.S.S.G. § 2X1.1(b)(1). This adjustment is not available, however, if
“the circumstances demonstrate that the defendant was about to complete all such
acts but for apprehension or interruption by some similar event beyond the
defendant’s control.” Id.
The district court refused to grant the three-level reduction in sentencing,
finding that “the act evidently was not completed because of the victim’s own
actions in speeding away.” We find no clear error in this factual analysis and
agree with the district court’s application of the Guidelines. Had Baxter complied
with Owens’s demand and surrendered the vehicle instead of suddenly speeding
off, the carjacking almost certainly would have been completed. The completion
of the offense was thus avoided only by an event beyond Owens’s control.
C. Commerce Clause
Finally, Owens contends that Congress lacked authority under the
Commerce Clause to enact 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) in light of the Supreme Court
decisions Jones v. United States, 529 U.S. 848 (2000), United States v. Morrison,
529 U.S. 598 (2000), and United States v. Lopez, 514 U.S. 549 (1995). Owens
concedes, however, that this argument is foreclosed in this court by our contrary
ruling in United States v. Dorris, 236 F.3d 582 (10th Cir. 2000). He raises the
issue only to preserve further review. We decline to revisit our Dorris decision,
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and affirm the district court’s ruling on this issue.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT,
Deanell Reece Tacha
Chief Circuit Judge
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