United States v. Burney

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States v. Burney, 159 F. App'x 494 (4th Cir. 2005)

United States v. Burney

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Marcus Terrell Burney was found guilty by a jury of possessing with intent to distribute marijuana (Count 2) and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in -violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 924(c) (West Supp. 2005) (Count 3). On appeal, he raises one issue: whether the district court erred by failing to use his proposed jury instruction regarding the § 924(c) charge. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

We do not find that the district court abused its discretion by declining to use Burney’s proposed jury instruction. See United States v. Russell, 971 F.2d 1098, 1107 (4th Cir. 1992) (giving review standard). Burney has failed to show that the court committed reversible error by not giving the contested instruction. See United States v. Lewis, 53 F.3d 29, 32-33 (4th Cir. 1995) (stating standard). We have held that a “district court is not required to give defendant’s particular form of instruction, as long as the instruction the court gives fairly covers a theory that the defense offers.” United States v. Smith, 44 F.3d 1259, 1270-71 (4th Cir. 1995) (citation omitted).

Accordingly, we affirm. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Marcus Terrell BURNEY, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished