United States v. Lester Jones

OPINION OF THE COURT

SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.

In this appeal by Lester Jones challenging the enhancement of his sentence pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Act (“ACCA”), 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), we consider a question of first impression for this court - whether a prior nonjury juvenile adjudication can count as a prior conviction for purposes of the exception to Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000).

I

BACKGROUND

Jones was indicted in the Western District of Pennsylvania with one count of being a previous felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18…