United States v. Newman, No. 13-3467 (7th Cir. 2014)
Annotate this CaseNewman and Misleveck escaped from a Wisconsin prison. Misleveck stole a shotgun and ammunition. They stole a car and kidnapped its driver. Newman kept control of her for five hours while Misleveck drove. They released her and stole a pickup truck. Pursued by police, they fled on foot and made it to Florida before being caught. Both were prosecuted in state court for escape, kidnapping, armed robbery, and other crimes. The sole federal charge was possessing the shotgun as felons, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). Both pleaded guilty. After changing lawyers, Newman moved to withdraw his plea, asserting that the record did not establish a factual basis for it. He claimed he did not touch the gun. The district court denied that motion and sentenced him to 120 months’ imprisonment. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, declining to decide Newman’s argument that in entering the plea he believed erroneously that simply being in the presence of a person with a gun was constructive possession of that gun. Newman and Misleveck undertook joint criminal activity: they engaged in a conspiracy. Every conspirator is liable for acts of other conspirators within the scope of the agreement. Misleveck used the shotgun to advance the joint venture of fleeing. Newman, well aware of this, remained his confederate.
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