United States v. Willie Beasley

Willie Beasley appeals his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922 (g)(1). Beasley asserts error in the district court’s jury instructions regarding his defense of justification. This appeal requires us to decide which party has the burden of proof when a defendant raises a justification defense to the federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. We hold that the court properly instructed the jury that Beasley must prove justification by a preponderance of the evidence.

I. Facts and Procedural History

At least nine men were involved in a late night street fight in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. Beasley was one of the men involved in the fight, and, during the fight, he grabbed a handgun that one of his companions was waving around. Beasley stuck the gun in his pants pocket. Just as Beasley was walking away, a police car with two officers arrived on the scene. One officer got out of his car and told Beasley to stop, but Beasley started running. After running about a block, Beasley threw the gun on the ground between some parked cars. The second officer followed Beasley by car, and, within minutes arrested…