Enhanced Gun Crime Sentence Stays Intact Despite Change in Law

A potential backdoor for a defendant who lost his motion for habeas corpus relief after a change in the law was closed Friday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Larry Slusser pleaded guilty in 2011 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and received the mandatory 15 years in prison because he had three prior felony convictions. If he wasn’t considered a habitual felon, he would’ve received 10 years.

Slusser filed a petition for habeas relief under 28 U.S.C. §2255 in 2012—which provides relief to prisoners in custody claiming their sentences violated US law ...