United States v. Lowery

OPINION AND ORDER

MYRON H. THOMPSON, District Judge.

The Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) requires courts to impose a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for any person possessing a firearm who has three previous convictions for a “violent felony” or “serious drug offense.” 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). Because of the many defendants sentenced under this lengthy, mandatory provision and because of the surprisingly broad reach given to the ACCA by some courts, significant scrutiny has been given recently to the interpretation of the term “violent felony.”

The Supreme Court has, in recent terms, decided…