The Superseding Indictment alleges that Baker, who has a prior federal conviction for possession of a stolen firearm, knowingly possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol and an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 pistol in December 2025.
Baker challenged the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) on both facial and as-applied grounds, arguing that his predicate offense did not place him in a historically disarmed class of dangerous persons.
The court held that Sixth Circuit precedent in United States v. Williams renders the statute constitutional on its face. The court further determined that Baker failed to meet his burden of proving he was not dangerous under an as-applied challenge.
Baker’s criminal record includes a prior conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine. The court noted that drug trafficking convictions create a rebuttable presumption of dangerousness under current Sixth Circuit law.
The court found that Baker did not rebut this presumption, noting his additional prior convictions for improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and having a weapon while under disability.
The motion to dismiss was denied, allowing the prosecution to proceed on the charges of felon-in-possession of a firearm.