Verdict . News

•Oregon Supreme Court ordered immediate release of Craig Robinson Jr. from prison, ruling his imprisonment illegal

6d ago•4 min read

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release in Habeas Corpus Case

The Oregon Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Craig Anthony Robinson, Jr. from Santiam Correctional Institution on February 12, 2026, ruling his imprisonment illegal in a habeas corpus petition that highlights ongoing issues with sentence credit calculations in Oregon's correctional system.

•Case represents another in a series of habeas corpus petitions stemming from problems with presentence credit calculations

North Dakota Supreme Court

6d ago•4 min read

North Dakota Supreme Court Reverses Sentence in Parental Rights Case

The North Dakota Supreme Court reversed and remanded a criminal judgment in State v. Maher, ruling that a district court improperly extended a no-contact order that conflicted with the defendant's constitutional parenting rights. The case establishes important precedent on balancing criminal justice objectives with fundamental parental rights.

•North Dakota Supreme Court reversed district court's criminal judgment and no-contact order extension

•Court ruled that constitutional parenting rights must be balanced against legitimate penological interests

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

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.

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

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

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds Enhanced Sentence for Felon in Possession Case

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected multiple challenges brought by Shaninth Michael Ray, who appealed his above-Guidelines sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court affirmed the district court's denial of Ray's motion to dismiss the indictment and upheld his enhanced sentence in an unpublished February 2026 decision.

•Ray pled guilty to felon in possession of firearm but received enhanced sentence above federal guidelines

•Multiple legal challenges failed including Commerce Clause constitutional challenge and motion to dismiss indictment

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms 20-Year Sentence in Child Abuse Material Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in part and dismissed in part the conviction and 240-month sentence of Beau Thomas Shores for receipt of child sexual abuse material. The court issued an unpublished per curiam opinion on February 6, 2026.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed 240-month sentence for receipt of child sexual abuse material

•Court issued mixed ruling, affirming in part and dismissing in part on appeal

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Sixth Circuit Affirms Kidnapping Conviction, Remands on Supervised Release

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed Cortez Blake's conviction for aiding and abetting kidnapping while remanding one issue regarding supervised release conditions. The published opinion, issued February 5, 2026, addressed five challenges to Blake's conviction and sentence from the Eastern District of Michigan.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed Cortez Blake's kidnapping conviction on four of five appeal grounds

•Court remanded case on supervised release conditions issue for further proceedings

•Oregon Supreme Court denied state's mandamus petition seeking to compel trial court action on sentencing credit issues

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Denies State's Mandamus Petition in Fletes Case

The Oregon Supreme Court denied the state's petition for writ of mandamus in State v. Fletes, a youth justice case involving sentencing credit disputes. Justice Bushong dissented, arguing the court should have heard full arguments on the merits.

•Case involves 56-month total prison sentence across multiple consecutive terms for defendant Fletes

North Dakota Supreme Court

North Dakota Supreme Court Upholds 40-Year Murder Sentence for Teen

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed a 40-year prison sentence for Cazmere Haskins, who was 17 when he fatally stabbed Anfernee Economy in a Grand Forks parking lot in March 2024. The court rejected Haskins' appeals challenging both his guilty plea and sentence.

•17-year-old Cazmere Haskins fatally stabbed Anfernee Economy in Grand Forks parking lot altercation in March 2024

•Haskins received 40-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to murder under plea agreement

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

2w ago•4 min read

11th Circuit Affirms 48-Month Sentence Despite Fair Sentencing Act Claims

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rejected John Alexander's appeal of his 48-month sentence following supervised release revocation. Alexander argued his sentence was illegal because the district court failed to consider that his underlying drug offense had been reclassified under the Fair Sentencing Act.

•11th Circuit affirmed 48-month supervised release revocation sentence for John Alexander

•Alexander argued Fair Sentencing Act reclassification of his drug offense should reduce sentence