Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a conviction and sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The court rejected arguments regarding insufficient factual basis for the plea and ineffective assistance of counsel.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the conviction of a defendant for assaulting another man on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. The court vacated the sentence because the district court imposed a time-served penalty that exceeded the statutory maximum for the offense.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a twenty-four-month prison sentence for a defendant convicted of sexual abuse. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing an upward variance based on the nature of the offense and the defendant's history.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of a former teacher convicted of child exploitation and cyberstalking. The court rejected arguments regarding competency, the voluntariness of a passcode entry, and the admissibility of victim impact testimony.
The Fifth Circuit vacated a sentence for a defendant convicted of conspiring to transport illegal aliens. The court held that the district court clearly erred in applying a sentencing enhancement for involuntary detention where the evidence did not show the aliens were held against their will.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to revoke supervised release and impose a twenty-four-month prison sentence. The appellate court held that the district court acted within its broad discretion in sentencing the defendant for repeated violations of his release conditions.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Nicholas Dewayne Rogers for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court held that Rogers waived his right to challenge the suppression of evidence because he entered an unconditional guilty plea.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by Timothy Fussell regarding a partial default judgment. The court held that the district court orders sought to be appealed were neither final nor appealable interlocutory orders.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's upward variance in sentencing for a felon in possession of a firearm. The court held that the lower court properly weighed the defendant's extensive criminal history despite his arguments regarding mitigating factors.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a self-styled presidential candidate before the district court issued a final order. The court held that it lacked jurisdiction because the appeal was premature and did not meet statutory requirements for reviewing non-final decisions.
