United States v. Bradley Petermann

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

United States v. Bradley Petermann

Opinion

United States Court of Appeals For the Eighth Circuit ___________________________

No. 18-3482 ___________________________

United States of America,

lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellee,

v.

Bradley Levi Petermann,

lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellant. ____________

Appeal from United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa - Council Bluffs ____________

Submitted: September 23, 2019 Filed: December 17, 2019 [Unpublished] ____________

Before LOKEN, COLLOTON, and KOBES, Circuit Judges. ____________

PER CURIAM.

Bradley Petermann pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm as a prohibited person, namely, a previously convicted felon and an unlawful user of a controlled substance. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 922(g)(3), 924(a)(2). The district court1 calculated an advisory guideline range of 70 to 87 months’ imprisonment, and ultimately imposed a term of 37 months’ imprisonment after a departure under the guidelines and a variance under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Petermann appeals his sentence, arguing that the district court committed procedural error in applying a four-level increase under the guidelines for possessing a firearm in connection with another felony offense. We conclude that there was no error and therefore affirm.

In calculating Petermann’s advisory guideline range, the district court applied a four-level increase under USSG § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) on the ground that Petermann “possessed any firearm . . . in connection with another felony offense.” The other felony offense was “carrying weapons” in violation of Iowa Code § 724.4. That provision proscribes going armed with a dangerous weapon concealed on or about the person, going armed with a pistol or revolver or any loaded firearm, whether concealed or not, within the limits of any city, and knowingly carrying or transporting a pistol or revolver in a vehicle. The offense is punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, see Iowa Code § 903.1(2), and thus qualifies as a felony within the meaning of the guideline. USSG § 2K2.1, comment. (n.1). Because police found a loaded nine-millimeter firearm on the driver’s side floorboard of a vehicle that Petermann was driving when stopped for speeding in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the court found that he had possessed the firearm in connection with a violation of Iowa Code § 724.4.

Petermann conceded in the district court and acknowledges on appeal that the four-level increase was proper under this court’s decision in United States v. Walker, 771 F.3d 449 (8th Cir. 2014), although he contends that Walker was wrongly decided. We agree with the district court that Walker is directly on point, and that

1 The Honorable Stephanie M. Rose, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa.

-2- § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) is therefore applicable. There was no error in calculating the advisory guideline range, and the judgment is affirmed. ______________________________

-3-

Reference

Status
Unpublished