F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
MAR 26 1998
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v. No. 97-1228
(D.C. No. 93-CR-358-N)
WALTER KNIGHT, (D. Colo.)
Defendant-Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before ANDERSON, McKAY, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
Defendant-appellant Walter Knight, appearing pro se, appeals the district
court’s order dismissing his post-appeal motions to vacate his conviction for
violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Defendant alleges the federal court was without jurisdiction to prosecute him
because the State of Colorado, not the federal government, had jurisdiction over
the geographical location where the criminal activity occurred. Defendant further
alleges his attorney provided constitutionally ineffective assistance for failing to
raise this claim, and the federal prosecutor is liable for damages based on the
decision to file criminal charges against him absent federal jurisdiction.
This court has previously rejected the argument raised here by defendant
that the federal district court is without jurisdiction to prosecute crimes because
the States are sovereign. See United States v. Lampley, 127 F.3d 1231, 1245-46
(10th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 1098 (1998). “[S]o long as there is a
constitutionally authorized federal nexus, the federal government is free to act
anywhere within the United States.” Id. at 1246. “Section 922(g)’s requirement
that the firearm have been, at some time, in interstate commerce is sufficient to
establish its constitutionality under the Commerce Clause.” United States v.
Bolton, 68 F.3d 396, 400 (10th Cir. 1995) (quotation omitted).
Defendant relies on 40 U.S.C. § 255 for his argument that the government
was required to establish jurisdiction over the location of his criminal activity to
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establish its jurisdiction to prosecute him for violating a federal criminal statute.
Section 255, which pertains to purchase of land by the United States, does not
require that the government acquire title to the property on which a crime
occurred as a prerequisite to a criminal prosecution. Therefore, we hold that the
federal district court had jurisdiction to prosecute defendant for violating
§ 922(g)(1).
Because the federal court clearly had jurisdiction to prosecute defendant,
we reject his malicious prosecution claim based on his belief that the federal
prosecutor was without jurisdiction to file criminal charges. Similarly, we reject
defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Counsel’s failure to
challenge the federal court’s jurisdiction over defendant did not constitute
ineffective assistance because the issue is without merit. See United States v.
Cook, 45 F.3d 388, 392-93 (10th Cir. 1995) (counsel’s failure to raise a meritless
issue is not constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel).
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Defendant’s pending motions are denied. The judgment of the United
States District Court for the District of Colorado is AFFIRMED. The mandate
shall issue forthwith.
Entered for the Court
Carlos F. Lucero
Circuit Judge
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