United States v. Schweitzer

¶1MEMORANDUM …

¶2A jury convicted Defendant Brian Schweitzer of assaulting a federal employee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111. He raises two issues on appeal.

¶3A. Jury Instruction

¶4Because Defendant did not object to the instruction at trial, we review for plain error. United States v. Burt, 143 F.3d 1215, 1217-18 (9th Cir.1998). We find none.

¶5The district court properly instructed the jury that the government had to prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The second element was that Defendant assaulted a federal employee “while the federal ... employee was engaged in or on account of her offi*332cial duties.” That formulation correctly tracks the statute. Contrary to Defendant’s argument, the instruction was clear; a lay jury did not require additional guidance on the meaning of “engaged in ... official duties.” See United States v. Hicks, 217 F.3d 1038, 1045 (9th Cir.) (holding that a district court need not define common, readily understandable terms), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1037, 121 S.Ct. 627, 148 L.Ed.2d 536 (2000).

¶6B. Sufficiency of the Evidence

¶7Defendant also argues that insufficient evidence supported his conviction because the victim, a mail carrier, was not “engaged in” her official duties when Defendant assaulted her. We disagree.

¶8The victim was sitting in her postal truck and was in the middle of delivering mail when Defendant punched her in the face and shoulder, through the window of the truck. She did not seek out Defendant, but happened across him while making mail deliveries on her regular route. Even after seeing him assault a young woman just a few yards from the truck, the victim continued to deliver mail until the situation escalated. Then the victim told Defendant to stop punching the young woman, whereupon Defendant turned and punched her instead. In these circumstances, a rational jury could conclude that the victim was in the course of delivering the mail, and was not engaged in a personal frolic or detour, when Defendant assaulted her. See United States v. Hohman, 825 F.2d 1363, 1364 (9th Cir.1987) (holding that a National Park Service employee was engaged in official duties even after he had completed his shift and changed clothes); United States v. Spears, 631 F.2d 114, 117 (9th Cir.1980) (holding that a Forest Service employee was engaged in official duties even though he socialized with campers after telling them to move their campsite).

¶9AFFIRMED.