United States v. McElrath-Bey

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT April 20, 2004 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 03-51041 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus DORIS DENISE MCELRATH-BEY, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. W-03-CR-114-2 -------------------- Before JOLLY, JONES, and SMITH, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Doris Denise McElrath-Bey appeals the sentence imposed following her guilty-plea conviction for one count of making a false statement during acquisition of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6) and § 924(a)(2). She asserts that the district court erred in determining that her base offense level was 20 on account of a prior state felony conviction for residential arson. She also asserts that the district court erred in failing to grant her a downward departure from the * Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 03-51041 -2- United States Sentencing Guidelines sentencing range because she purchased a firearm in order to protect herself from threatened harm. Inasmuch as McElrath-Bey concedes that her prior state felony conviction was for arson, an enumerated crime of violence under the relevant sentencing guideline, the district court did not err in determining that the base offense level was 20. See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(4)(A) and § 4B1.2(a)(2) and comment. (n.1). The district court determined that the facts of the case did not warrant a downward departure, and therefore this court does not have jurisdiction to review the refusal to depart. United States v. Palmer, 122 F.3d 215, 222 (5th Cir. 1997). AFFIRMED IN PART; DISMISSED IN PART FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION.