Verdict . News

•Lewis pled guilty to child pornography possession as a repeat offender under federal law

8th Circuit Vacates Lifetime Computer Ban for Child Porn Offender

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated a lifetime computer ban imposed on Johnnie Lewis, who pled guilty to possessing child pornography as a repeat offender. The appellate court found the special condition preventing Lewis from possessing or using computers was overly broad and remanded the case to the district court for reconsideration.

•District court imposed lifetime supervised release with complete computer ban

•Eighth Circuit vacated conviction for drug user firearm possession, citing recent precedents in Perez and Cooper cases

8th Circuit Vacates Drug User Gun Conviction, Orders New Review

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Alexander Wesley Ledvina's conviction for unlawful firearm possession as a drug user and remanded the case for further proceedings on his Second Amendment challenge. The court affirmed all other aspects of the district court's decision in the federal firearms case.

•Court remanded case for further Second Amendment as-applied challenge proceedings while affirming other rulings

•Marcus Venson received 15-year sentence for federal firearm possession charges with ACCA enhancement

8th Circuit Upholds 15-Year Sentence for Felon in Possession Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a 15-year federal prison sentence for Marcus Venson, who pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court rejected Venson's challenge to the Armed Career Criminal Act enhancement based on his prior Arkansas convictions.

•Eighth Circuit rejected challenge to prior Arkansas convictions counting as violent felonies

1w ago•2 min read

•Benjamin Higgerson challenges his sentence after third supervised release revocation as substantively unreasonable

8th Circuit Reviews Supervised Release Revocation Standards

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is examining whether a district court improperly weighted sentencing factors when revoking Benjamin Higgerson's supervised release for the third time. The case centers on standards for substantive reasonableness in supervised release revocation sentences.

•Appeal argues district court improperly considered "promoting respect for the law" factor excluded from revocation proceedings

•Non-Indian landowner David Vipond challenged tribal court jurisdiction over water permit requirements on his fee land within White Earth Nation reservation

8th Circuit Reviews Tribal Water Authority Over Non-Indian Fee Land

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a case where the White Earth Nation required a non-Indian landowner to obtain tribal permits for a high-capacity water pump on his fee land within the reservation, raising questions about tribal jurisdiction over non-member activities.

•White Earth Nation enacted ordinance in May 2023 requiring tribal permits for high-capacity water pumps within or near the reservation

•Storm damaged two barns in December 2021, but insurer covered only the 44' x 160' barn, not the 44' x 208' structure

8th Circuit Upholds Insurance Denial for Storm-Damaged Farm Barn

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that upheld Liberty Mutual's decision to cover only one of two storm-damaged barns on a Missouri farm. The February 2026 decision in *Matthew Achey v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.* highlights the critical importance of precise policy language in agricultural insurance disputes.

•Eighth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Liberty Mutual and Ohio Security Insurance Company

2w ago•5 min read

•Eighth Circuit affirmed denial of asylum for Guatemalan mother and children claiming indigenous Chuj persecution

8th Circuit Denies Asylum for Guatemalan Indigenous Family

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition for review from Guatemalan mother Petrona Sebastian Diego and her minor children, who sought asylum based on persecution of their indigenous Chuj tribal identity. The court affirmed lower immigration court rulings that rejected the family's claims for asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection.

•Immigration judge found family credible but failed to prove persecution was tied to their group membership

2w ago•4 min read

•Eighth Circuit affirmed Remy Wright's conviction for felon in possession of firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

8th Circuit Affirms Gun Conviction After Traffic Stop Search

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed Remy Wright's federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, rejecting his challenge to a vehicle search conducted during a traffic stop by Arkansas State Trooper Anthony Worn.

•Wright waived his suppression argument by stating 'no objection' to firearm evidence at trial

2w ago•4 min read

•Christopher King pled guilty to federal firearms violations under 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 922(g)(3), and 924(a)(8)

8th Circuit Upholds 63-Month Sentence for Prohibited Firearm Possession

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a 63-month federal prison sentence for Christopher King, who pled guilty to illegal firearm possession by a prohibited person. King unsuccessfully challenged the district court's sentencing guidelines calculations on appeal.

•The Eighth Circuit affirmed his 63-month sentence, rejecting challenges to sentencing guidelines calculations