United States v. Williams

JERRY E. SMITH, Circuit Judge:

John Williams, a deputy sheriff, shot an apprehended, unarmed suspect in the back. A jury convicted him of deprivation of the suspect’s rights under color of law, 18 U.S.C. § 242, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(l)(A)(iii). On appeal, Williams primarily argues that the firearm conviction cannot stand because the civil rights count is not a “crime of violence.” He also challenges the civil rights conviction on various evidentiary and procedural grounds. Finding no error, we affirm.

I

Williams was a deputy…