United States v. Whitaker

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
APR 12 2001
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee, No. 00-1231
v. (D. Colorado)
TERRY WHITAKER, (D.C. No. 99-CR-356-D)
Defendant - Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before BRISCOE, ANDERSON, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.
Defendant Terry Whitaker was convicted following a jury trial on one count
of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 922(g)(1). On appeal he argues that: (1) the district court erred in denying his
motion to suppress the firearm at issue for the reason that he did not have
standing to contest the search of the vehicle in which the firearm was found; (2)
the evidence introduced at trial was insufficient to establish the possession
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The 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.
element of § 922(g)(1); and (3) the district court erred by allowing Aaron Lewis
to testify that he had seen Defendant with the firearm several months prior to the
date charged in the indictment. We exercise jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1291, and affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
On August 28, 1999, while Kenneth Hicks, a seasonal ranger at Chatfield
State Park, was writing Defendant a $50 mail-in citation for operating his jet ski
above wakeless speed in a no-wake zone, Defendant left the area. When Hicks
realized that Defendant was gone, he called other officers in the area for help in
locating him. Senior Ranger Kristi McDonald-Quintana was among those
responding. Upon hearing Defendant’s name and date of birth from Hicks, she
remembered having arrested Defendant in 1990 for the theft of a vehicle, boat and
trailer which Defendant had attempted to conceal by altering vehicle
identification numbers (“VINs”) and serial numbers. R. Vol. II at 5, 25-26. The
officers at the scene ran a check on Defendant through county dispatch and
learned that there was a felony warrant for auto theft currently outstanding for his
arrest. Id. at 17.
When Quintana arrived at the parking lot where Defendant was last seen,
she observed a truck with a camper on it and a trailer with a motorcycle in front
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of the truck. Parked next to the truck was a Ford Bronco with a camping trailer
behind it. Three people, later identified as Defendant’s friends, Scott and Tamara
Winstead and Defendant’s girlfriend, Serina Toomey, were standing by the truck
and Bronco. The Winsteads were able to provide proof that they owned the
Bronco. Toomey claimed that she owned the truck and camper, but was unable to
provide any proof. When the officers on the scene ran a query on the truck using
its license plate and dashboard VIN, they found that it was registered to
Defendant. R. Vol. IV at 28.
After confirming the identities of the Winsteads and Toomey, they were
allowed to leave in the Winsteads’ Bronco. Quintana then visually inspected the
truck, camper, trailer and jet ski. She immediately noticed several things
indicative of theft: there were wires dangling from the steering column of the
truck, R. Vol. II at 18-19; the truck’s dashboard VIN had been tampered with, id.
at 23-24; the camper’s serial numbers had been removed, id. at 19; the
professionally manufactured trailer bore a state-issued number corresponding to a
home-made trailer, id. at 19; and the jet ski’s hull identification number (“HIN”)
had invalid characters. Id. Based on the numerous indicia of theft she observed,
Defendant’s absence, the fact that overnight parking was not allowed in the
parking area where the truck was located and her inability to release the truck to
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the Winsteads or Toomey without the owners’ permission, Quintana impounded
the truck, camper, trailer, motorcycle and jet ski.
On August 30, 1999, Quintana met Trooper McGuire at the towing
company’s lot. McGuire found the truck’s true VIN under the hood. It did not
match the dashboard VIN. McGuire checked the real VIN through his office and
discovered that the truck had been stolen in Denver in June of 1998. Id. at 20. It
was later determined that the truck and camper were stolen from Thomas and
Dorothy Jackson. On September 3, 1999, the Jacksons came to the towing
company’s lot and confirmed that the truck and camper were theirs. Id. at 28.
They produced keys which fit the truck and camper and removed some of their
personal property that was still in the camper. Id. at 29.
After confirming that the vehicle was stolen, Quintana searched the truck
and camper. Id. at 20. Quintana found two pieces of mail addressed to Defendant
in the cab of the truck and a video camera in the camper. The video camera
contained a videotape on which footage of Defendant with the truck and camper
was recorded. R. Vol. IV at 47-51. She noticed that the bed in the cab-over
portion of the camper had a fitted sheet and other bedding on it and that it looked
rumpled as if someone had recently slept there. Id. at 47. In addition, there was a
small television with a built-in VCR and a cellular phone at the side of the bed.
Quintana also found a current phone bill addressed to Defendant on or near the
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bed in the cab-over sleeping area of the camper. Id. at 40-42. The Norinco
assault rifle with a short stock and a laser scope Defendant is charged with
possessing was discovered underneath the mattress of the bed. One round of
ammunition of the same caliber as the rifle was found in a different area of the
camper.
Defendant was eventually arrested on September 24, 1999. He was driving
Scott Winstead’s Bronco and was arrested shortly after he drove into the trailer
park where the Winsteads reside. Id. at 95-99. After the district court denied
Defendant’s motion to suppress the firearm, the case proceeded to trial. At trial,
Aaron Lewis, Defendant’s landlord, testified that he had seen the Norinco assault
rifle at the garage he rented to Defendant. Lewis was able to identify the gun
because of its laser scope and unusual stock and also because he owned a less
fancy model of the same gun. Id. at 82-83, 85. When Lewis asked about the gun,
Defendant stated that the weapon belonged to him. Id. at 81. Lewis warned him
that he could not lawfully possess the rifle since he was a restricted person.
Defendant asked Lewis to keep it for him, which he did for several months.
Sometime in the Spring of 1999, Defendant returned and retrieved the gun despite
Lewis’ warnings that it was not legal for him to possess it. Id. at 84-85. Lewis
also identified the truck and camper where the gun was found as Defendant’s and
stated that when Defendant retrieved the gun, he put it in his truck. Id. at 85-86.
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Following a two-day jury trial, Defendant was convicted and sentenced to
120 months in prison. This appeal followed.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standing
Prior to trial, Defendant moved to suppress the gun he was charged with
possessing on the basis that it was found during an illegal search. The district
court denied the motion after determining that Defendant lacked standing to
challenge the search because the truck and camper in which the gun was found
were stolen. Defendant now argues that the district court erred in determining
that he lacked standing and in denying his motion for that reason. Whether
Defendant has standing to challenge a search is a legal question subject to de
novo review. United States v. Betancur, 24 F.3d 73, 76 (10th Cir. 1994).
As indicated above, Defendant abandoned the truck and camper in a day-
parking-only zone and left the scene. The officers observed that the VIN on the
truck had been tampered with, the serial numbers of the camper had been removed
and the HIN on the jet ski contained invalid characters. Moreover, the officers
saw wires hanging out of the steering column of the truck, one of the officers had
dealt with Defendant in another case where he had stolen cars and altered their
VINs and Defendant had an outstanding warrant for auto theft. After examining
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all of the circumstances, we conclude that Quintana lawfully impounded the truck
and camper, not only because Defendant had abandoned them as night fell in a
day-parking-only area, but also because Quintana had probable cause to believe
that the truck and camper had been stolen. Two days later, when her suspicion of
theft was confirmed, Quintana lawfully searched the truck and camper. In any
event, because they were stolen and Defendant has been unable to prove that he
ever had lawful possession or ownership of the truck or camper, he has no
standing to challenge that search. Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S. 128, 134 (1978) (a
person who is aggrieved by an illegal search and seizure only through the
introduction of damaging evidence secured by a search of a third person’s
premises or property has not had any of his Fourth Amendment rights infringed);
United States v. Miller, 84 F.3d 1244, 1250 (10th Cir. 1996) (defendant has no
reasonable expectation of privacy in a vehicle unless he proves he had lawful
ownership or possession of the vehicle at the time of the search) rev’d other
grounds, United States v. Holland, 116 F.3d 1353 (10th Cir. 1997); Bentancur, 24
F.3d at 77 (defendant had no standing to object to search of a vehicle where he
had failed to establish lawful ownership or possession of the vehicle); United
States v. Arango, 912, F.2d 441, 446 (10th Cir. 1990) (same); United States v.
Erwin, 875 F.2d 268, 271 (10th Cir. 1989) (same). Accordingly, we conclude that
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the district court did not err in determining that Defendant lacked standing to
challenge the search or in denying his motion to suppress for that reason.
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
In order to prove a § 922(g)(1) violation, the government must establish the
following elements beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) that the defendant was
previously convicted of a felony; (2) that the defendant thereafter knowingly
possessed a firearm; and (3) that the possession was in or affecting interstate
commerce. 1 United States v. Taylor, 113 F.3d 1136, 1144 (10th Cir. 1997).
Defendant stipulated to the first and third elements of the crime, arguing on
appeal only that the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that he possessed the gun found in the camper. We review de novo asking only
whether taking the evidence, together with any reasonable inferences to be drawn
therefrom, in the light most favorable to the government, a reasonable jury could
1
18 U.S.C. § 922 provides in pertinent part:
§ 922. Unlawful acts
(g) It shall be unlawful for any person–
(1) who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable
by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
....
to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in
or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any
firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate
or foreign commerce.
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find Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Hanzlicek, 187
F.3d 1228, 1239 (10th Cir. 1999).
For purposes of § 922(g)(1), “possession” includes both actual and
constructive possession. United States v. Mills, 29 F.3d 545, 549 (10th Cir.
1994). In order to establish constructive possession, the government must show
that Defendant “knowingly [had] ownership, dominion, or control over the [gun]
and the premises where it [was] found.” Taylor, 113 F.3d at 1144-45 (citing
Mills, 29 F.3d at 549). Where the defendant is the sole occupant of the place
where the firearm is discovered, constructive possession may be inferred from
that fact alone. United States v. Hishaw, 235 F.3d 565, 571 (10th Cir. 2000).
However, where, as here, there is evidence of joint occupancy of the place where
the firearm is found, “some connection or nexus between the defendant and the
firearm” must be shown in order to establish his ownership, dominion and control
over it. Mills, 29 F.3d at 549. This showing is made if the evidence “support[s]
at least a plausible inference that the defendant had knowledge of and access to
the weapon.” Id. at 550 (quotation omitted).
As Defendant points out, he had been driving the truck with the camper on
it for over a year, the truck was registered to him, and he had even pawned the
truck and camper and redeemed them from the pawn shop. Appellant’s Open. Br.
at 18. In addition, a total of three pieces of mail addressed to Defendant were
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found in the truck and camper, including a recent phone bill which was found in
the sleeping area where the firearm was found. The bed had a slept in look, and
we think it unlikely that one could sleep on the mattress without being aware of
the gun underneath. A video camera containing footage of Defendant with the
truck and camper was also found in the camper.
Lewis’ testimony at trial buttressed the evidence found in the truck and
camper. He identified the gun at trial and stated that he had seen Defendant with
the gun, that Defendant had claimed ownership and that he had stored it for him.
Defendant retrieved the gun from Lewis in the Spring of 1999 and put it in his
truck. Lewis identified the truck and camper involved as Defendant’s.
After carefully reviewing the record, we conclude that when the foregoing
evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the government, it supports “at
least a plausible inference that the defendant had knowledge of and access to the
weapon.” Mills, 29 F.3d at 550. Accordingly, we hold that the evidence in the
record provides an adequate basis from which a reasonable jury could find that
Defendant constructively possessed the assault rifle beyond a reasonable doubt.
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C. Admission of Evidence
Finally, Defendant argues that the district court’s admission of the
testimony of Aaron Lewis was error because that testimony was inadmissible
under Fed. R. Evid. 404(b). Since no objection to Lewis’ testimony was raised at
trial, we review for plain error. United States v. Deters, 184 F.3d 1253, 1258
(10th Cir. 1999). We will reverse under the plain error standard only if
“admitting [Lewis’ testimony] placed the underlying fairness of the entire trial in
doubt” or otherwise adversely affected Defendant’s “substantial rights.” United
States v. Rosario Fuentez, 231 F.3d 700, 708 (10th Cir. 2000) (quotation omitted).
Rule 404(b) states that “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not
admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in
conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes such as
proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or
absence of mistake.” Fed. R. Evid. 404(b). However, “[i]t is well settled that
Rule 404(b) does not apply to other act evidence that is intrinsic to the crime
charged.” United States v. O’Brien, 131 F.3d 1428, 1432 (10th Cir. 1997). In
other words, evidence that is directly probative of an element of the charged
crime is not covered by Rule 404(b). United States v. Green, 175 F.3d 822, 831
(10th Cir. 1999).
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As stated above, Lewis testified that he saw Defendant with the gun, kept it
for him for several months, and returned it to him in the Spring of 1999. Lewis
did not say that he saw Defendant with “a gun,” but that he saw him with the
actual weapon Defendant is charged with possessing. Lewis was able to
specifically identify the gun because of its laser scope and unusual stock. He
stated that he was familiar with that type of gun because he owned one, albeit a
less fancy version. After reviewing Lewis’ testimony, we conclude that it was
direct evidence of the possession element of the charged crime, and therefore, not
Rule 404(b) evidence. Because Defendant only challenges the admission of
Lewis’ testimony under that rule, his challenge must fail. Accordingly, we hold
that the district court did not plainly err by admitting Lewis’ testimony.
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant’s conviction is AFFIRMED.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Stephen H. Anderson
Circuit Judge
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