No. 23-5893

Tigran Zmrukhtyan v. United States

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2023-10-26
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedRelisted (2)IFP
Tags: circuit-split criminal-procedure firearm-possession law-enforcement law-enforcement-interaction physical-struggle reckless-conduct risk-enhancement sentencing-enhancement sentencing-guidelines
Key Terms:
SecondAmendment
Latest Conference: 2023-12-08 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does mere possession of a firearm, even during a brief physical struggle with law enforcement, support a § 3C1.2 enhancement?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED FOR REVIEW United States Sentencing Guidelines (“U.S.S.G.”) § 3C1.2 provides that the district court may apply a two-level enhancement “[i]f the defendant recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person in the course of fleeing from a law enforcement officer[.]” US.S.G. § 3C1.2. Tigran Zmrukhtyan received a § 3C1.2 enhancement, where he engaged in a brief physical struggle with law enforcement while they were trying to arrest him. Zmrukhtyan had a firearm in his waistband, but did not use, brandish, display, or reach for the firearm during his brief resistance of arrest. The officers did not know Zmrukhtyan had the firearm until after he was arrested and searched. The question presented is: Does mere possession of a firearm, even during a brief physical struggle with law enforcement, support a § 3C1.2 enhancement? Statement of

Docket Entries

2023-12-11
Petition DENIED.
2023-12-01
Rescheduled.
2023-12-01
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/8/2023.
2023-11-09
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/1/2023.
2023-10-30
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2023-10-24
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due November 27, 2023)

Attorneys

Tigran Zmrukhtyan
Michael GomezFederal Public Defender - Central District of CA, Petitioner
Michael GomezFederal Public Defender - Central District of CA, Petitioner
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent