UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff - Appellee,

No. 03-4232
v.	(D. Utah)
RYAN EVANS,

Defendant - Appellant.	(D.C. No. 03-CR-283-DAK)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before TACHA, Chief Judge, ANDERSON and BALDOCK, Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Ryan Evans appeals the sentence imposed following his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). We vacate Evans' sentence and remand for resentencing.

BACKGROUND

During a field visit to Evans' home, state probation officers found a .22 caliber rifle in his bedroom. After initially denying ownership of the rifle, he later admitted that he had received it as payment for methamphetamine he had previously sold. Evans pled guilty.

At sentencing, relying upon Evans' statement about how he came into possession of the gun, the district court increased his base offense level in accordance with United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual ("USSG") §2K2.1(b)(5), which provides for a four-level increase "[i]f the defendant used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense."1 The court then sentenced Evans to thirty months imprisonment, to run concurrently with a state sentence, followed by thirty-six months of supervised release.

"We review a district court's interpretation of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo, and its factual findings for clear error, giving due deference to the district court's application of the guidelines to the facts." United States v. Brown, 314 F.3d 1216, 1222 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 1223 (2003). We have held that "if the weapon facilitated or had the potential to facilitate the underlying felony, then enhancement under § 2K2.1(b)(5) is appropriate." Id. (further quotation omitted). An enhancement is inappropriate if "possession of the weapon is coincidental or entirely unrelated to the offense." Id.

The government concedes that the drug distribution, which occurred on some prior unknown date, was completed by the time Evans received the gun as payment for the drugs. The government further concedes that "there is no evidence that Evans bargained for or agreed to sell his drugs in exchange for a firearm." Gov't's Br. at 7. Evans did not therefore use or possess the gun "in connection with" another felony offense.

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for resentencing.

ENTERED FOR THE COURT

Stephen H. Anderson

Circuit Judge