U.S. v. Guenther, 05-4196.

• Decision Date: 07 December 2006
• Docket Number: No. 05-4196.,05-4196.
• Citation: 470 F.3d 745
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Dean Wade GUENTHER, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

470 F.3d 745

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Dean Wade GUENTHER, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 05-4196.

United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.

Submitted: November 15, 2006.

Filed: December 7, 2006.

Jennifer Chaplinski, argued, St. Cloud, Minnesota, for appellant.

David M. Genrich, argued, Assit. U.S. Attorney, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for appellee.

Before LOKEN, Chief Judge, LAY and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.

LAY, Circuit Judge.

Dean Wade Guenther appeals his conviction following a jury trial in district court¹ on one count of being a felon in possession of firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Guenther contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the jury's finding that he actually or constructively possessed firearms stolen from a home. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

In June 2003 Karen Prescher discovered that her home had been burglarized while she was out of town. Several guns, rings, blank checks, and a safe containing documents were taken. The gun cabinet from which the guns were taken had on it a latent fingerprint that matched Guenther's print.

Shortly after the burglary, Guenther visited the home of a friend, Sheryl Hill Desjarlait. He brought with him Prescher's checkbook, ring, and documents apparently taken from her home. He told Desjarlait and Cassandra Kingbird, who lived with Desjarlait, that he had stolen the checks and gave them some of Prescher's blank checks for their use. Kingbird testified that Guenther told her that a car parked in Desjarlait's yard contained guns in its trunk, and that he planned to sell them.

Other items taken in the burglary were recovered in circumstances linking them to Guenther. For example, the stolen safe was found in a storage area next to a car containing documents bearing Guenther's name, including court documents and checks made out to him. A key ring holding Prescher's safe key was recovered from Desjarlait's home. The key ring also held the key to the trunk of the car parked in Desjarlait's yard.

On December 14, 2004, Guenther was charged by indictment with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The government alleged that Guenther burglarized² Prescher's residence, taking her guns and therefore possessing them. Guenther proceeded to trial on May 23, 2005, was found guilty by the jury, and sentenced to 327 months of imprisonment based on his extensive criminal history. This appeal followed.

ANALYSIS

Guenther challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to convict him of possessing the stolen firearms. "We review the sufficiency of the evidence de novo, viewing evidence in the light most favorable to the government, resolving conflicts in the government's favor, and accepting all reasonable inferences that support the verdict." United States v. Washington, 318 F.3d 845, 852 (8th Cir.2003). This is a strict standard of review. "We may reverse only if no reasonable jury could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Id.

Convicting Guenther of being a felon in possession of a firearm requires proof that (1) he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year; (2) he knowingly possessed a firearm; and (3) the firearm had been in or had affected interstate commerce. United States v. Brown, 422 F.3d 689, 691-92 (8th Cir. 2005). A firearm may be possessed actually or constructively and such possession may be sole or joint. United States v. Walker, 393 F.3d 842, 846-47 (8th Cir. 2005). Constructive possession of a firearm is established if Guenther had control over the place where the firearm was located, or control, ownership, or dominion over the firearm itself. Id. at 847.

Guenther concedes that he is a felon and that the stolen firearms moved in interstate commerce. He challenges only the...