United States v. Walker

The Fourth Circuit affirmed defendant's drug and firearms convictions and his 120 month sentence. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in rejecting defendant's plea agreement with the United States after considering his extensive criminal history, the overly lenient advisory Guidelines range, defendant's potential for violence, and the nature of his offenses.The court also held that the district court did not clearly err in overruling defendant's Batson challenge where the prosecutor gave three reasons for its peremptory strike of Juror No. 22, who was an African American woman: whether she was married, had children, and her age. Finally, the court held that the district court did not err in calculating the advisory Guidelines range and by applying a two level sentencing enhancement for possession of a stolen firearm under USSG 2K2.1(b)(4)(A). View "United States v. Walker" on Justia Law