United States v. Frazier Derring
United States v. Frazier Derring
Opinion
Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
Michael Derring appeals his conviction and sentence, imposed following a jury trial, for being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2) (2006). On appeal, Derring’s sole contention is that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to convict him because the Government did not prove that the item he possessed met the statutory definition of a firearm, primarily that it was capable of expelling a projectile by the action of an explosive. See 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3)(A) (2006). Upon review of the record, we conclude that Derring is mistaken; the Government’s expert witness clearly testified that the device Derring possessed was a firearm:
A: A firearm is any weapon that is designed to, or can be readily assembled to fire a projectile by means of an explosion.
[■••]
Q: Does this firearm meet the definition of a firearm that you gave us earlier in the fact that it is a weapon that is designed to expel a projectile by the action of explosive? [sic]
A: It does.
Accordingly, we affirm. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the material before this court and argument will not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.