Filed: Apr. 23, 2007
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT April 23, 2007 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 06-50457 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus MICHAEL EARL CLARK, Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 5:04-CR-87 - Before JONES, Chief Judge, and JOLLY and OWEN, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Michael Earl Clark appeals his convic
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT April 23, 2007 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 06-50457 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus MICHAEL EARL CLARK, Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 5:04-CR-87 - Before JONES, Chief Judge, and JOLLY and OWEN, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Michael Earl Clark appeals his convict..
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United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT April 23, 2007
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 06-50457
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
MICHAEL EARL CLARK,
Defendant-Appellant.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. 5:04-CR-87
--------------------
Before JONES, Chief Judge, and JOLLY and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Michael Earl Clark appeals his conviction for being a felon in
possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He
challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the district
court’s finding that he constructively possessed the weapon
discovered in a bag on the passenger floorboard of his vehicle.
Clark argues that the evidence connecting him to the gun is
equivocal, that an inference exists that the gun belonged to
another passenger in the vehicle because the gun was found in a bag
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
near her and containing her belongings, and that the gun was not in
plain view.
We have held that when there is joint occupancy or presence at
a location in which a weapon is found the court will apply a
“‘commonsense, fact-specific approach’” to determine if an
individual is in possession of the weapon. United States v.
Mergerson,
4 F.3d 337, 349 (5th Cir. 1993). Also, when there is
joint occupancy or joint presence of the location where the weapon
is found, we have held that evidence must establish a plausible
inference that the defendant had knowledge of, and access to, the
weapon.
Id.
The evidence presented at trial indicates that both officers
saw Clark reaching toward the passenger floorboard as they
approached the vehicle, and Officer Marco Garza saw him place in
the bag a shiny object that appeared to be a gun. Additionally,
the bag was open and leaning toward the driver side of the vehicle.
The officers testified that they did not see any other weapons or
shiny objects in the bag. Officer Garza also stated that he did
not see any other shiny objects in the front seat area or between
the driver and passenger seats. The district court found credible
the testimony of Officers Garza and Fuller that Clark placed a
shiny object in the bag, that the handgun was the only shiny object
they saw in the bag, and that the bag was open in Clark’s
direction. A review of the evidence indicates that it was
sufficient for the district court to infer that Clark exercised
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dominion and control over the gun, and therefore, that he had
constructive possession of the firearm. See
Mergerson, 4 F.3d at
349. Thus, there is sufficient evidence to support Clark’s
conviction.
Clark also argues that § 922(g)(1) violates the Commerce
Clause. He concedes that his contention is foreclosed by
controlling Fifth Circuit precedent, namely United States v. Rawls,
85 F.3d 240, 241-43 (5th Cir. 1996); however, he raises it to
preserve it for possible review by the Supreme Court. One panel of
this court may not overrule another panel. United States v.
Taylor,
933 F.2d 307, 313 (5th Cir. 1991). Clark’s argument is
foreclosed by circuit precedent, and the district court’s judgment
should be affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
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