United States v. Larry G. Wright

FAGG, Circuit Judge.

Michelle Lempka obtained a protection order from a Nebraska court against Larry G. Wright. On three occasions, Wright traveled from Omaha, Nebraska to Council Bluffs, Iowa and violated the order. Wright was indicted under a provision of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) that makes it a federal crime to cross a state line with the intent to violate a protection order and then to violate it. See 18 U.S.C. § 2262(a)(1) (1994). Wright moved to dismiss the indictment, contending the enactment of § 2262(a)(1) exceeded Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause. The…