United States v. David Everist

MEMORANDUM

David Duane Everist appeals from the district court’s order affirming' the judgment imposed following Everist’s bench-trial convictions for occupying or using a residence in national forest lands without authorization, in violation of 36 C.F.R. § 261.10 (b); using or occupying national forest lands without an approved operating plan, in violation of 36 C.F.R. § 261.10 (p); and cutting timber without authorization, in violation of 36 C.F.R. § 261.6 . We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm but remand to correct the judgment.

Everist contends that his motion to dismiss the information should have been granted because his unpatented mining claim on national forest land is exempt from United States Forest Service regulation. We review de novo the district court’s construction of federal law and its application of the law to undisputed facts. See United States v. Backlund, 689 F.3d 986, 995 (9th Cir.2012). As Everist acknowledges, his argument is foreclosed by our holding in Backlund. See id. at 990 (“[T]he United States Forest Service may regulate residential occupancy of bona fide mining claims within the national forests[.]”). Contrary to Everist’s…