United States v. Booth

Appellant appeals from his conviction as a felon in possession of a firearm. He now contends that the jury instructions defining constructive possession may have allowed the jury to convict him even if he did not know that a gun was present within an area over which he exercised dominion and control. The instructions in this case do not warrant reversal, but we write for the benefit of future cases to pinpoint a correctable ambiguity in previously approved language.

Appellant, a convicted felon, was apprehended while driving alone in a stolen car. A knapsack was on the front passenger seat,…