Sixth Circuit Shrugs, Upholds Illegal 17+ Year Sentence Based on Mistaken ACCA Plea
Most criminal defendants try to avoid being sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act, which sets a 15-year mandatory minimum for certain defendants if they have three previous convictions for certain qualifying offenses. Defendant: In the district court, I pleaded guilty and accidentally agreed that I had three qualifying offenses. But in reality, I had only two! So my 212-month sentence is a mistake. Sixth Circuit: Shrugs. You and your lawyer should've been more careful.