Verdict . News

•11th Circuit affirmed 240-month sentence for distributing child pornography

11th Circuit Upholds 20-Year Sentence for Child Pornography Distribution

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 240-month prison sentence for William Ervin Daniels, who was convicted of distributing child pornography. The court rejected his challenges to the district court's sentencing procedures and the maximum statutory penalty.

•Defendant challenged polygraph evidence and sentencing enhancements unsuccessfully

•Eddy Salinas received 240-month sentence for distributing 40+ grams of fentanyl and conspiracy charges

11th Circuit Upholds 20-Year Fentanyl Sentence for Career Offender

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 240-month prison sentence for Eddy Alexander Salinas, who was convicted of distributing large quantities of fentanyl in Southern Florida. The court rejected Salinas's challenge that his sentence was procedurally unreasonable.

•Appeals court rejected claim that sentence was procedurally unreasonable

•Eleventh Circuit ruled that mental incompetency claims during direct appeal cannot be procedurally defaulted

11th Circuit Remands Habeas Case on Mental Competency Claim

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has remanded a habeas corpus case filed by pro se prisoner Lonnie Dawson, ruling that his claim of mental incompetency during his direct appeal cannot be procedurally defaulted. The appeals court did not reach the merits but ordered the district court to address the substantive competency claim.

•District court must now address the substantive merits of Dawson's competency claim on remand

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms 36-Month Sentence for Sex Offender Registration Failure

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed a 36-month prison sentence for Terry Bonner, who pleaded guilty to failing to register as a sex offender under federal law. Bonner challenged his sentence as substantively unreasonable following his conviction for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

•Third Circuit affirmed 36-month federal sentence for failure to register as sex offender

•Defendant had 2016 Alabama sexual abuse conviction and multiple subsequent registration failures

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Police Training Death Lawsuit

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of constitutional claims brought by Brittney Kennedy against the City of Arlington, Texas and multiple officers following her husband's death during a police training exercise. Marquis Kennedy suffered cardiac arrest during a self-defense simulation for police-cadet training.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed dismissal of constitutional claims against City of Arlington and 15 officers

•Marquis Kennedy died of cardiac arrest during police training self-defense simulation in 2022

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Partially Revives Funko Securities Fraud Case Over Collectibles Loss

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has partially reversed a district court's dismissal of securities fraud claims against Funko Inc. and two officers. The case centers on allegations that the pop culture collectibles company misled investors before writing off millions of dollars in inventory, causing the stock to lose over half its value.

•Ninth Circuit partially reversed district court's dismissal of securities fraud claims under Securities Exchange Act sections 10(b) and 20(a)

•Funko's stock lost over 50% of its value following massive writedown of pop culture collectibles worth tens of millions of dollars

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Denies Stay for Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Simpson

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit denied a stay of execution for Kendrick Simpson, a death row inmate scheduled to be executed on February 12, 2026. The three-judge panel rejected Simpson's federal appeal challenging Oklahoma's execution methods just eight days before his scheduled execution.

•Tenth Circuit denied stay of execution for Kendrick Simpson, scheduled to die February 12, 2026

•Simpson challenged Oklahoma's method of execution in federal court after unsuccessful state court challenge

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Backs Buddhist Prisoner's Religious Diet Rights

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a lower court's decision and ruled that California state prisoner Maurice Lydell Harris, a Nichiren Buddhist, should be allowed a halal diet that aligns with his sincere religious beliefs. The court found the district court erroneously questioned the content and centrality of Harris's religious beliefs.

•Ninth Circuit vacated district court's denial of preliminary injunction for religious diet accommodation

•Harris, a Nichiren Buddhist, sought halal prison diet as closest option to his religious dietary requirements

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed $17,349.61 cost award to City of Riviera Beach against Fane Lozman

11th Circuit Affirms $17K Cost Award to Riviera Beach in Lozman Case

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's decision to award $17,349.61 in costs to the City of Riviera Beach, Florida, in its ongoing legal dispute with frequent litigant Fane Lozman. Lozman had challenged the award, arguing the city was not a prevailing party entitled to costs.

•Lozman argued city was not prevailing party because case was dismissed without prejudice for lack of ripeness