United States v. Willie Colbert

RICHARD S. ARNOLD, Circuit Judge.

This is a prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 242, which imposes a criminal penalty on anyone who, under color of state law, willfully subjects any person to the deprivation of rights secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States. The appellant, Willie Colbert, formerly a police officer with the City of Pagedale, Missouri, was convicted under this section (as well as on a perjury count), and he appeals, arguing that the conduct in which he engaged does not meet the “color of law” requirement of the statute. Appellant also challenges some aspects of his…