United States v. James Heller

PECK, Circuit Judge.

Defendant-appellant was indicted on five counts of having willfully and knowingly transmitted in interstate commerce a communication that contained a demand and request for a ransom and reward for the release of a kidnapped person, conduct alleged to be in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(a). Appellant first entered a plea of not guilty to the charges and filed a motion to dismiss the indictment. The district court denied the motion to dismiss, and appellant changed his plea to nolo contendere. The district court accepted the plea and entered judgment against appellant on all…