United States v. Theodore Albert Geyler

REINHARDT, Circuit Judge:

Theodore Albert Geyler appeals his conviction for possession of firearms by a convicted felon on the ground that the conviction which served as the predicate offense is not a “conviction” within the meaning of the federal firearms statute. We reverse.

I

In 1977, Geyler was convicted in federal district court of the offense of misprision of a felony, which carries an authorized punishment of imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. See 18 U.S.C. § 4. As a result, he lost his civil rights under Arizona law. See Ariz.Rev.Stat.Ann. § 13-904. Geyler received an absolute…