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Weapon Possession in Federal Prison Always Considered a "Violent Offense"
Loaded on June 15, 1999
published in Prison Legal News
June, 1999, page 23
The court of appeals for the Seventh circuit held that possession of any weapons in prison constitute a "violent offense" for federal sentencing guidelines purposes. Grant Vahovick, a federal prisoner, stabbed prisoner Jeremy Darin in the head and neck with five sharpened pencils bound together with tape. Vahovick was indicted …
Filed under:
Crime/Demographics,
Criminal Prosecution,
U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Location:
Wisconsin.
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More from this issue:
- Federal Judge Rules Texas Prisons Still Unconstitutional, PLRA Unconstitutional
- Washington Parole Officer Blown Up
- Prison Madness, by Terry Kupers, MD (Book Review), by Dan Pens
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Indictment: The News Media and the Criminal Justice System (Book Review), by Alex Friedmann
- Notes from the Unrepenitentiary, by Laura Whitehorn
- Private Prison Escape Explained
- Corcoran Prisoner Left Hanging
- Pro Se Tips and Tactics (Discovery), by John Midgley
- Washington Prisoners Damage Colorado Private Prison
- Washington Prisoners Brutalized in Colorado Private Prison, by Waldo Waldron-Ramsey
- CCA - Prison Realty Merger Approved, by Alex Friedmann
- They Killed a Man, Not a Number, by David Hill
- Violence Takes a Toll at New Mexico Wackenhut Prison, by Ronald Young
- CMS Settles Wrongful Death Suit for $75,000
- Court Screening Applies to Paid Suits Too
- Failing to Provide Disabled Prisoner Showers for Two Months Cruel and Unusual
- Judge Throws Out Corcoran Sanctions, by Willie Wisely
- Juveniles Held Hostage for Profit by CSC in Florida, by Alex Friedmann
- Florida Porn Ban Challenged
- Mitigation Instruction and Excluding Indemnification Evidence Reversible Error
- Parole Officials Liable for False Information in Parole Violation Arrest Warrant
- Pardon Satisfies Heck
- Federal Prisoners Must Exhaust Administrative Remedies Before Suing
- Fifth Circuit Upholds PLRA Exhaustion Requirement, by Ronald Young
- Imminent Danger Overrides Three Strikes
- Exhaustion Not Required for Bivens Claim
- Pennsylvania Brutality Suit Settled for $5,000
- The Lucasville Trials, by Staughton Lynd
- Warden's Smoking Ban Violates BOP Rules
- Weapon Possession in Federal Prison Always Considered a "Violent Offense"
- Interstate Compact Violations Not Cognizable Under § 1983
- News in Brief
- Felon Possession of Firearm Nonviolent Offense
- Prisoner May Not File Unsigned Complaint for Another Prisoner
- Error to Dismiss Rule 41(C) Motion Without Allowing Conversion to Bivens Action
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- Relevant Conduct: How Federal Sentencing Law Punishes More Than the Crime of Conviction, Aug. 1, 2026. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Prior Conviction/Sentence/Incarceration, Plain Error, Acquitted Conduct/Uncharged Crimes/Dismissed Counts, Relevant Conduct.
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- Tenth Circuit Holds Prior California Child Pornography Conviction Does Not Trigger Federal Mandatory Minimum Because State Statute Encompasses Conduct Beyond Federal Definition Under Categorical Approach, April 1, 2026. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Qualifying Offenses, Mandatory Minimum Sentence, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Child Pornography.
- U.S. Sentencing Commission Report Breaks Down Federal Contraband Sentences, March 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Mechanical Searches/Scanners, Statistics/Trends, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Bribery/Extortion/Theft.
- Acquitted Conduct Sentencing: Not Guilty – But Punished Anyway, March 1, 2026. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Federal Legislation, Fifth Amendment, Sixth Amendment, Acquitted Conduct/Uncharged Crimes/Dismissed Counts.
- First Circuit Clarifies Mitigating Role Analysis – Sentencing Courts Must Consider All Identifiable Participants in Drug Shipment, Not Just Crew Members, and Use § 3B1.2 Factors to Assess Relative Culpability, Not Guilt, Dec. 15, 2025. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Mitigating Role/Circumstances/Evidence, Miscalculation of the Guidelines Sentencing Range.

