United States v. Morse
United States v. Morse
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
In this appeal, Lucy Morse challenges the sentencing enhancement based on a prior conviction, the warrant to search her home, and her underlying jury conviction.
The district court could properly enhance Morse’s sentence as it did under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b). Her deferred sentence for fraudulently obtaining dangerous drugs did not affect the “conviction’s underlying lawfulness.”
Morse’s sentence did not violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment because her sentence enhancement was not “grossly disproportionate” to her crime.
The warrant to search Morse’s home was supported by probable cause. Under the totality of the circumstances, information from two controlled drug buys made by a reliable and accurate confidential informant, and claims from two individuals that Lucy sold them drugs, created a sufficient basis for probable cause.
Morse did not make a substantial preliminary showing that the affidavit supporting the warrant to search her car deliberately or recklessly included false statements or omitted material statements to entitle her to a Franks hearing.
Morse’s conviction for Count VI, which was based on an aiding and abetting theory, was supported by sufficient evidence. Mark Butler’s testimony provided enough information for a rational trier of fact to find the essential elements of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine beyond a reasonable doubt.
The variance between the date of the indictment and the date the crime occurred is “not of a character which could have misled the defendant at trial, and there is no danger of double jeopardy.”
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
. United States v. Norbury, 492 F.3d 1012, 1015 (9th Cir. 2007).
. Id.
. See Ewing v. California, 538 U.S. 11, 23, 123 S.Ct. 1179, 155 L.Ed.2d 108 (2003).
. See United States v. Harris, 592 F.2d 1058, 1061 (9th Cir. 1979).
. See United States v. Chavez-Miranda, 306 F.3d 973, 978 (9th Cir. 2002).
. See United States v. Meek, 366 F.3d 705, 716 (9th Cir. 2004).
. See United States v. Perlaza, 439 F.3d 1149, 1173 (9th Cir. 2006).
. United States v. Tsinhnahijinnie, 112 F.3d 988, 991 (9th Cir. 1997) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
. Id.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Lucille Mae MORSE
- Status
- Published