Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a sentence for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The court held that the district court did not commit plain error by allowing counsel to withdraw objections to the presentence report.
The Fifth Circuit dismissed an appeal challenging a conviction for assaulting federal officers. The court held that the defendant waived the challenge to his conviction by limiting his appeal to his sentence.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court order granting an unconditional writ of habeas corpus to David Smith. The court held that the state failed to comply with a prior conditional writ by utilizing the victim's identification of Smith during his retrial.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a criminal sentence for a defendant convicted of drug trafficking and making credible threats of violence. The court held that the district court properly applied a sentencing enhancement for threats and did not abuse its discretion in rejecting the defendant's arguments for a lower sentence.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to suppress evidence seized from a defendant's home. The court held that although the search warrant lacked probable cause, the officers acted in good faith and no systemic negligence was shown.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed a conviction for a felon possessing a firearm. The court held that the district court had an adequate factual basis to accept the defendant's guilty plea.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a twenty-one-year prison sentence for a defendant convicted of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing an upward variance based on the defendant's extensive criminal history and the seriousness of the offense.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to suppress evidence of child pornography found on electronic devices seized during a search of the defendant's residence. The court held that the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule applied regardless of any potential deficiencies in the search warrant.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a four-level sentencing enhancement for a felon in possession of a firearm who fled from police. The court held that the firearm facilitated the flight even though it was hidden in a passenger's purse and never displayed.
The Eighth Circuit vacated a sentence imposed on a defendant convicted of child exploitation charges. The court held that the district court committed procedural error by relying on unproven, disputed factual allegations in the presentence report.
