CINCINNATI, OHIO — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has upheld the conviction and 88-month prison sentence of Darell William Craft Jr., a Michigan man who pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm following a traffic stop in Benton Harbor.
Craft, who was on probation at the time, was arrested on July 1, 2023, after officers found a loaded handgun under the front passenger seat of his vehicle. The firearm had been reported stolen and was linked to three earlier shootings. Craft admitted to officers that the gun was in the car.
He was charged under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), which prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms. Craft moved to dismiss the indictment, arguing the law violated his Second Amendment rights. The district court denied the motion, and Craft pleaded guilty. He was later sentenced to 88 months in prison, which was 10 months above the top of the federal sentencing guidelines range.
On appeal, Craft argued that the felon-in-possession statute was unconstitutional both on its face and as applied to him, citing a prior injury that left him partially paralyzed. The court rejected both arguments. Citing United States v. Williams, the panel reaffirmed that while felons may have Second Amendment rights, the government can restrict firearm possession by individuals deemed dangerous. The court concluded that Craft’s extensive criminal history, which includes home invasion, aggravated assault, and resisting police officers, even after his paralysis, demonstrated that he posed a danger.
The court also upheld the district court’s sentencing decision, finding no procedural or substantive error. It ruled that the judge properly considered Craft’s criminal record and the need for deterrence when imposing the above-guidelines sentence. Although the district court mistakenly referred to Craft’s probation as related to a felony, when it was actually for misdemeanors, the panel found the error did not affect the sentence’s validity.
Craft’s conviction and sentence remain intact following the ruling.
