United States v. Ronald Gene Brown

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

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No. 04-2156

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United States of America *

*

Appellee, * Appeal from the United States

* District Court for the Eastern

v. * District of Missouri.

*

Ronald Gene Brown *

*

Appellant. *

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Submitted: February 14, 2005

Filed: May 9, 2005

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Before WOLLMAN, McMILLIAN, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.

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BENTON, Circuit Judge.

In August 2002, while executing a consent search, the Cape Girardeau sheriff

uncovered 91 rounds of ammunition at the residence of Ronald Gene Brown. A jury

convicted Brown of being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18

U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The district court1sentenced him to 188 months imprisonment as

an armed career criminal.

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The Honorable Henry E. Autrey, United States District Judge for the Eastern

District of Missouri.

Brown appeals, arguing that the state restored his rights so that he has not been

"convicted" of a prior felony, and that the sentence was improper as his prior

convictions were not "serious drug offenses." This court reviews these issues de

novo. See United States v. Woodall, 120 F.3d 880, 881 (8th Cir. 1997); United

States v. Collins, 321 F.3d 691, 696 (8th Cir. 2003). Having jurisdiction under 28

U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms.

I.

A person convicted in any court of a crime punishable by more than one year

may not possess ammunition. 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The predicate conviction

cannot have been expunged or set aside, nor can the person have been pardoned for

it, or had civil rights restored. 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20); DeRoo v. United States, 223

F.3d 919, 925 (8th Cir. 2000). The status of a conviction is determined by the law

of the jurisdiction where the proceedings were held – in this case, Missouri. See 18

U.S.C. § 921(a)(20); Caron v. United States, 524 U.S. 308, 313 (1998).

Brown asserts that Missouri has restored his civil rights, eliminating his four

state felonies as predicates for section 922(g)(1). Missouri automatically restores

some civil rights, such as voting (upon release from confinement) and holding office

(upon completion of sentence). See Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 561.016, 561.026(1),

561.021.2.2 However, felons may not serve as jurors, sheriffs, highway patrol

officers, state fire investigators or employees, state lottery licensees or employees, or

manage, conduct or operate bingo games. See Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 494.425(4),

540.045.1, 561.026(3), 57.010.1, 43.060.1, 320.210, 313.245, 313.255.6(2),

313.035.1(1); Mo. Const. Art. III, sec. 39(a)(3)(e). Moreover, felons face statutory

hurdles to being licensed in many occupations and professions. See Appendix A to

this opinion.

2

All citations to Missouri Revised Statutes are to the 2000 revision, unless

otherwise indicated.

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Because Missouri withholds substantial civil rights, Brown has not been

restored to sufficient civil rights in order to invoke section 921(a)(20). See Presley

v. United States, 851 F.2d 1052, 1053 (8th Cir. 1988); United States v. Williams, 128

F.3d 1128, 1134 (7th Cir. 1997) (applying Missouri law); United States v. Meeks,

987 F.2d 575, 577-78 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 919 (1993) (applying Missouri

law).

Finally, Brown argues that Article I, Section 23, of the Missouri Constitution

guarantees all citizens the right to bear arms. Even this civil right is qualified, as

Article I, Section 23, leaves the regulation of concealed weapons to the General

Assembly. Brooks v. State, 128 S.W.3d 844, 848-49 (Mo. 2004). The Assembly has

specifically prohibited felons from possessing concealed weapons. See Mo. Rev.

Stat. § § 571.101.2(2); 571.030.1(2), .4 (Supp. 2003). As the legislature has chosen

not to restore substantially a felon's right to bear arms, Brown's state convictions were

proper predicates for section 922(g)(1). See United States v. Ellis, 949 F.2d 952, 953

(8th Cir. 1991) (applying Minnesota law); United States v. Traxel, 914 F.2d 119, 123

(8th Cir. 1990) (applying Minnesota law).

II.

In April 1991, Brown pleaded guilty to three Missouri felonies: delivery of

methamphetamine, delivery of more than five grams of marijuana, and delivery of

hydromorphone. See Mo. Rev. Stat. § 195.211. Each conviction carried a five- to

fifteen-year sentence.

The district court ruled that these three convictions were serious drug offenses.

Brown thus faced a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence for his conviction under

section 922(g)(1). See 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1); United States v. Long, 320 F.3d 795,

801-02 (8th Cir. 2003). A serious drug offense includes "an offense under State law,

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involving manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture or

distribute, a controlled substance. . . ." 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(A)(ii).

Because this statutory definition omits "delivering," Brown argues that his state

convictions are not serious drug offenses. He claims delivery is similar to simple

possession, which is not a serious drug offense. See United States v. Whitfield, 907

F.2d 798, 800 (8th Cir. 1990) (possession conviction is not a serious drug offense

where it is unclear whether the conviction is for mere possession, or possession with

intent to distribute or manufacture).

To determine whether state convictions involve distributing or manufacturing

controlled substances, a court begins with the statutory definition of the state offense.

Taylor v. United States, 495 U.S. 575, 602 (1990). Here, the Missouri statute

prohibiting delivery of controlled substances states:

it is unlawful for any person to distribute, deliver, manufacture, produce or

attempt to distribute, deliver, manufacture or produce a controlled substance

or to possess with intent to distribute, deliver, manufacture, or produce a

controlled substance.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 195.211. Brown argues that Missouri distinguishes "deliver" – of

which he was convicted – from "distribute" – which is required for a serious drug

offense. To the contrary, Missouri defines "distribute" as "to deliver other than by

administering or dispensing a controlled substance." Mo. Rev. Stat. § 195.010(12)

(emphasis added). See State v. Carouthers, 714 S.W.2d 867, 870 (Mo. App. 1986)

(many terms in chapter 195 – including distribute and deliver – are redundant).

Brown's state convictions involve distributing controlled substances. See Long, 320

F.3d at 802.

The judgment is affirmed.

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Appendix A

1. A person who has been convicted of any listed felony shall not be employed as a:

school bus driver § 302.272.5(3) (Supp. 2004)

mental-health direct-care § 630.170.2 (Supp. 2003)

employee

direct retail seller of liquor 11 Mo. Code Regs. 70-2.140(11)(A) (2004)

•bar manager implementing Mo. Rev. Stat.

•bartender § 311.060, in response to

•waiter Levinson v. State,

•waitress 104 S.W.3d 409, 413 (Mo. 2003).

•cashier

•sales clerk

2. Felony conviction per se disqualifies a person from applying to be a lawyer, until

five years after completing sentence. Then a felony conviction becomes part of

"character and fitness" determination required before licensing. Mo. Supreme Court

Rule 8.04(a) (2003) (see also accompanying regulation of Board of Law Examiners).

For a licensed attorney, any felony conviction and many misdemeanor convictions

cause an immediate suspension, and eventually, some form of discipline. Mo.

Supreme Court Rule 5.21 (1996).

3. Statutes providing that a license may be refused to any person "convicted of a felony":

teaching certificate § 168.071.1(1)

insurance adjuster § 325.030.3

insurance agent § 375.141.1(6)

securities broker-dealer § 409.4-412(d)(3)

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4. Statutes providing that a license may be refused (or revoked) if the applicant "has

been finally adjudicated and found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo

contendere, in a criminal prosecution under the laws of any state or of the United

States, for any offense reasonably related to the qualifications, functions or duties of

any profession licensed or regulated under this chapter, for any offense an essential

element of which is fraud, dishonesty or an act of violence, or for any offense

involving moral turpitude, whether or not sentence is imposed":

ambulance services and § 190.165.2(2)

emergency medical personnel

ambulatory surgical center § 197.220.1

interpreters for deaf § 209.334.2(2)

cemetery operator § 214.276.2(2)

pesticide applicator, dealer § 281.060.1

motor vehicle, boat § 301.562.2(3) (Supp. 2004)

dealer or manufacturer

boxer, wrestler, or promoter § 317.015.2(2)(b)

occupational therapist § 324.086.2(2) (Supp. 2004)

licensed dietitian § 324.217.2(5) (Supp. 2004)

massage therapist § 324.262.2(2)

certified interior designer § 324.436.2(1)

acupuncturist § 324.496.2(1)

private fire investigator § 324.609.4(2) (Supp. 2004)

certified public accountant § 326.310.2(2) (Supp. 2004)

architect, professional engineer, § 327.441.2(2)

professional land surveyor

landscape architect § 327.631.2(1)

barber § 328.150.2(2)

cosmetologist, hairdresser, manicurist § 329.140.2(2)

podiatrist § 330.160.2(2)

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chiropractor § 331.060.2(2)

dentist § 332.321.2(2) (Supp. 2004)

embalmer § 333.121.2(2)

physician, surgeon § 334.100.2(2) (Supp. 2004)

anesthesiologist assistant § 334.414.5(2) (Supp. 2004)

athletic trainer § 334.715.1 (Supp. 2004)

respiratory therapist § 334.920.2(2)

nurse § 335.066.2(2)

optometrist § 336.110.2(2)

psychologist § 337.035.2(2)

professional counselor § 337.525.2(2)

clinical social worker § 337.630.2(2)

marital and family therapist § 337.730.2(2)

pharmacist § 338.055.2(2) (Supp. 2004)

pharmacy technician § 338.013.2 (Supp. 2004)

real estate agent § 339.100.2(18) (Supp. 2004)

real estate appraiser § 339.532.2(4)

veterinarian § 340.264.2(2)

nursing home administrator § 344.050.2(2)

speech pathologist or audiologist § 345.065.2(2)

hearing aid fitter or dealer § 346.105.2(2)

bail bond agent (conviction within § 374.755.2(2) (Supp. 2004)

15 years before license issuance)

surety recovery agent § 374.789.1(2)

athlete agent § 436.233.2(1)

5. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, no license for any occupation

or profession shall be denied solely on the grounds that an applicant has been

previously convicted of a felony. § 620.135. See also § 314.200 ("good moral

character" determination may not be primarily based on felony conviction).

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