United States v. Wadena

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's decision to sentence defendant under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) after he pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court held that defendant's two prior third degree assault convictions in violation of Minn. Stat. 609.223, subdiv. 1, qualified as violent felonies under the ACCA. The court also held that defendant's prior conviction for a Minnesota controlled substances offense in violation of Minn. Stat. Sec. 154.024, subdiv. 2(2), was a serious drug offense under the Act. Therefore, defendant had three qualifying felony convictions and was properly sentenced as an armed career criminal. View "United States v. Wadena" on Justia Law