United States v. Feger
Opinion
SUMMARY ORDER
Defendant-Appellant John M. Feger appeals from a June 13, 2012, amended judgment entered by the United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Skretny, C.J.) following a jury trial. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, procedural history of the case, and issues on appeal.
Feger contends that the district court erred in denying his motion for a judgment of acquittal. He argues that the government failed to produce evidence from which a reasonable jury could find that he knowingly possessed a firearm or ammunition. We disagree.
At trial, Feger argued that the prohibited items might have been present in his home without him being aware of them. The jury was entitled to reject that theory. The firearm and the ammunition were found within the house in which Feger *49 lived alone. See United States v. Finley, 245 F.3d 199, 203 (2d Cir. 2001) (“Dominion, control, and knowledge may be inferred by a defendant’s exclusive possession of the premises.)” (quoting United States v. Wilson, 107 F.3d 774, 780 (10th Cir. 1997)). With respect to the ammunition, the parole officers found seventy-nine separate rounds, a quantity that makes it reasonable to believe that Feger must have seen at least some of the ammunition while living in the home. With respect to the firearm, the location of the gun behind the door leading to the basement was such that the jury could reasonably infer that Feger would have seen the gun while walking in between the storage room and the basement. “[Vjiewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and drawing all reasonable inferences in the government’s favor,” a “rational trier of fact could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Reyes, 302 F.3d 48, 52 (2d Cir. 2002).
We have considered Feger’s remaining arguments on appeal and find them to be without merit. Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. John M. FEGER, Defendant-Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished