United States v. Mills

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 96-50158 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus WILLIAM EARL MILLS, Defendant-Appellant. - - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. W-94-CR-112 - - - - - - - - - - October 29, 1996 Before JONES, DeMOSS and PARKER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* William Earl Mills appeals his convictions for bank robbery, using and carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of an unregistered firearm, and escape from custody. He argues that the district court erred when it denied his motion to suppress evidence, that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for using and carrying a firearm during * Pursuant to Local Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in Local Rule 47.5.4. No. 96-50158 - 2 - the commission of a crime of violence, that the district court erred when it increased his criminal history level without discussing intermediate levels, and that the district court erred when it used the obstruction-of-justice enhancement twice when calculating the offense level on his multiple-count conviction. We have reviewed the record and the briefs of the parties and hold that the evidence Mills sought to suppress was not the product of an unlawful search because he voluntarily abandoned the duffle bag which contained the evidence. United States v. Quiroz-Hernandez, 48 F.3d 858, 864 (5th Cir. 1995). We further hold that the evidence was sufficient for a reasonable jury to find Mills guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. United States v. Bell, 678 F.2d 547, 549 (5th Cir. 1982) (en banc), aff'd, 462 U.S. 356 (1983). As to Mills’s contention that the district court failed to articulate its reasons for enhancing Mills’s criminal history, we find that the record provides a reasonable basis by which this court can conclude that the district court thoroughly considered the appropriate guidelines in arriving at its sentence. See United States v. McKenzie, 991 F.2d 203, 205 (5th Cir. 1993). Last, we find that the district court did not err when it overruled Mills’s objection to the enhancement of his base offense level for the obstruction of justice. AFFIRMED.