United States v. Grant

ORDER

MOLLOY, Chief Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

On Nov. 5, 2003, Kevin Grant pled guilty without a plea agreement to eight counts of willfully setting fire to the public domain. He appeared for sentencing on Feb. 20, 2004. That morning, he filed a brief raising the question of whether the federal government has jurisdiction over these crimes, as they were all set on state lands.

Sentencing was continued until the court could determine whether it has jurisdiction to proceed. Oral argument was held on the Defendant’s motion to withdraw his plea or dismiss the indictment on April 29, 2004. Having heard…