Appellant Samson Moses Billiot appeals from his conviction for arson of a
habitation and forty-year sentence. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 28.02(a)(2),
(d)(2) (West 2011). Billiot argues that the trial court erred by denying him the
right to represent himself and that the evidence was insufficient to show he
started the fire by igniting a flammable or combustible liquid. Becau... More...   $0 (05-15-2018 - TX)

Zukevich was charged with the second-degree felony offense of arson by starting a fire
with the intent to damage or destroy a building. At trial, the jury heard testimony from Deputy
Alex Monroe of the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Monroe testified he was dispatched one
evening to respond to an arson in progress. According to the dispatch, a local R.V. repair shop,
ow... More...   $0 (05-02-2018 - TX)

Following a fourteen-day jury
trial, Daniel E. Saad was convicted of arson, wire fraud, and the
use of fire in furtherance of a federal felony. Saad, who
testified, appeals from these convictions, which stem from a
November 30, 2014 fire that gutted Snow's Clam Box, a restaurant
he owned in Glocester, Rhode Island. He was sentenced to fifteen
years in prison.
Saad's pri... More...   $0 (05-02-2018 - RI)

Defendant Jack Sawyer appeals the trial court’s decision holding him without bail. Defendant is charged with four separate counts, each predicated on his alleged attempt to commit a crime, and three of which are punishable by life imprisonment. The sole question before this Court is whether the evidence of guilt is great that defendant attempted to commit any of the four charged crimes given the... More...   $0 (04-28-2018 - VT)

Milwaukee, WI - Husband and Wife Sentenced to Prison for Arson of Apartment Building

Two people were sentenced to prison for their involvement in the arson of an 8-unit apartment building in Milwaukee in December 2014. The fire resulted in injuries to multiple people, including tenants and three firefighters with the Milwaukee Fire Department. On April 12, 2018, United States District C... More...   $0 (04-27-2018 - WI)

On March 31, 2016, Walker pled guilty to one count of aggravated arson and one count of endangering a child. On May 13, 2016, the district court imposed a controlling sentence of 24 months' imprisonment and granted probation for 24 months to be supervised by community corrections.

At a hearing on January 26, 2017, Walker admitted to violating the conditions of her probation by failing ... More...   $0 (04-21-2018 - KS)

Redick was in a romantic relationship with Keithley. In the weeks leading up to her death, Redick told multiple people that he believed the spirit of his deceased mother was living in her.

On November 14, 2013, Keithley checked into the Country Club Motel in Topeka. Because Keithley and Redick stayed at the motel regularly, the motel's owner was familiar with both; and he saw Redick wa... More...   $0 (04-14-2018 - KS)

On November GYO GWYiO PR was sitting as a rear
passenger in a vehicle driven by her son, Patrick Watkins PR. A
third occupant, Penny Knight-Franklin P-R, was sitting in
the front passenger seat of the car. The trio had just left from celebrating
a casino and were traveling east on I-20 in Bossier
Parish, Louisiana. According to a witness, the vehicle driven by Watk... More...   $0 (04-13-2018 - )

Oates went to a gas station to sell marijuana to a prospective buyer, Darrah Lane,
who had arranged the meeting. Oates brought a gun with him. When Oates arrived, he
walked over to Lane’s vehicle. She was seated in the driver’s seat and accompanied by
Opinion issued February 13, 2018 Leon Davis, who sat in the passenger’s seat. With the driver’s side window down, Oates leaned in... More...   $0 (03-24-2018 - MO)

Following a jury trial, Glenn Rusch, Jr. was found guilty of aggravated arson resulting in a substantial risk of bodily harm, which made the offense a severity level 3 person felony. The district court granted a downward durational departure and imposed a prison sentence of 71 months. Rusch appeals his conviction. He argues the State failed to prove the element that elevates aggravated arson to a... More...   $0 (03-21-2018 - KS)

In the early hours of September 15, 2005, nine shots were fired through a
3 bedroom window of an apartment in Clovis, killing ten-year-old Carlos Perez. Carlos
4 had been sleeping in the bedroom he shared with his older brother, the intended
5 victim, seventeen-year-old Ruben Perez.
6 {4} That night there were two distinct groups of actors involved in the shooting:
7 one group... More...   $0 (03-17-2018 - NM)

This case returns us to the serial litigation over the
meaning of the terms “physical force” and “crime of violence.” Melvin Morris was convicted of
one count of distribution of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, and was sentenced as a
>
No. 16-1349 United States v. Morris Page 2
career offender under United States Sentencing Guideline (USSG) § 4B1.1. Morris challen... More...   $0 (03-16-2018 - MI)

This case, in which oral argument was heard in September 2016
but which was held in abeyance pending decision first in United States
v. Jones, No. 15‐1518, __ F.3d __, slip op. (2d Cir. Oct. 5, 2017), then in
United States v. Morales, No. 14‐3661 (2d Cir. Jan. 22, 2018), presents the
following questions: (1) whether the evidence at trial was sufficient to
prove poss... More...   $0 (03-13-2018 - NY)

Defendant Dameion Higley filed a motion for relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 in
the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. He argued that his
conviction for using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence should be vacated
because armed bank robbery is not a crime of violence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).
The district court denied the motion as untimely or alternati... More...   $0 (03-10-2018 - CO)

Van Buren, AR - Jury Convicts Defendant On Murder Charge

The State of Arkansas charged Jeremy Brake, age 38, with first-degree murder using a firearm in committing a felony, arson, being a felon in possession of a firearm, first-degree criminal mischief, tampering with physical evidence and endangering the welfare of a minor for killing Michael King on October 10, 2016.

The State... More...   $0 (03-09-2018 - AR)

Tineimalo Adkins appeals his conviction for a Violent
Crime in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) under 18 U.S.C.
§§ 1959(a)(3), (2). Adkins argues that the district court erred
in instructing the jury on the federal, rather than state,
definition of “knowingly.” Because any error was harmless,
we AFFIRM Adkins’s conviction.
Adkins also appeals his 210-month sentence, arguing that... More...   $0 (03-05-2018 - HI)

On February 16, 2016, Michael St. Hubert pled guilty to two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance Case: 16-10874 Date Filed: 02/28/2018 Page: 1 of 39
2
of a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). The district court sentenced St. Hubert to 84 months’ imprisonment for the first § 924(c) conviction and 300 consecutive m... More...   $0 (02-28-2018 - FL)

Edwin Deshazior appeals his 180 month sentence following his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He argues that he should not have received a fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act (“ACCA”), 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(e)(1) and 924(e)(2)(B), because he did not have three prior convictions for violent felonies under the act and because his prior felon... More...   $0 (02-21-2018 - FL)

Three decades ago, Congress set the courts upon a new course for the sentencing of federal defendants, moving away from a long-in-place system that gave wide discretion to federal judges to impose sentences from nigh no prison time to effective life sentences.
* Judges Willett and Ho joined the court after this case was submitted and did not participate in the decision.
United States Court... More...   $0 (02-20-2018 - TX)

Fort Lauderdale, FL - Nikolas Cruz Charged With 17 Counts of Capital Murder

Court Docket:

Broward County Case Number: 18001958CF10A
State Reporting Number: 062018CF001958A88810
Court Type: Capital Homicide
Case Type: Capital Homicide - Report Purposes
Filing Date: 02/15/2018
Case Status: Pending
Court Location: Central Courthouse
Judge ID / Name: Scher... More...   $0 (02-17-2018 - FL)

Greensburg, PA - Jury Finds Defendant Accused of Murder Not Guilty

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged Ray Shetler, Jr. with first-degree murder and third-degree murder for killing a polic officer who responded to a domestic violence call in Westmoreland County in 2015.

Shetler's girlfriend domestic violence 911 call.

Officer Lloyd Reed responded to the call and ord... More...   $0 (02-17-2018 - )

Arthur Smith was sentenced as a career offender based in part
on his prior North Carolina state conviction for common-law robbery. In this appeal, he
>
No. 16-6720 United States v. Smith Page 2
contends that North Carolina common-law robbery does not qualify as a “crime of violence”
within the meaning of § 4B1.1(a) of the United States Sentencing Guidelines. This is the second<... More...   $0 (02-16-2018 - TN)

Bismarck, ND - Fort Berthold Man Sentenced on Arson Charge

Chief United States District Judge Daniel L. Hovland sentenced Charles Valarian Smith, Sr., 24, of New Town, ND, on a charge of arson. Chief Judge Hovland sentenced Smith to serve three years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years supervised release.

During the early morning hours of June 25, 2017, Smit... More...   $0 (02-15-2018 - ND)

Las Vegas, NV - California Man Sentenced To 151 Months In Prison For Conspiracy To Commit Arson And Extortion

A California man who was convicted of conspiracy to burn down a local business and extortion was sentenced on February 9, 2018 to 151 months in prison.

Joel Kenneth Ausbie, 53, of Fontana, California, was previously found guilty by a jury of one-count of conspiracy to com... More...   $0 (02-12-2018 - NV)

Defendant Jeffrey L. Bruner appeals his convictions on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action, alleging the circuit court erred by refusing to submit a self-defense instruction. This Court recently reaffirmed in State v. Smith, 456 S.W.3d 849, 852 (Mo. banc 2015), that if substantial evidence is presented of the elements of self-defense, then the issue is injected and self-defens... More...   $0 (02-08-2018 - MO)