Case Explained: USA V. YATES

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Filed: 2026-07-29 Docket: 4:23-cr-00318- The ninth-circuit affirmed the sentence imposed on Darneko Yates following a stipulated-facts bench trial for possessing a firearm as a felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The court held that the government acted within its broad discretion under the PROTECT Act to decline to move for an additional one-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(b), as the government’s need to allocate resources to prepare for and conduct the trial constituted a rational basis for its decision that was neither arbitrary nor unconstitutional. The court further held that the district court properly exercised its discretion under United States v. Denton to apply a four-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(7)(B) for possessing the firearm in connection with another felony offense, specifically child endangerment under California Penal Code § 273a(a), by determining that the uncharged wobbler conduct was felonious based on the nature of the offense and other relevant factors. The judgment of the district court is affirmed. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.