Opinion ID: 197072
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Trial and First Appeal

Text: 5 Hardy was charged with being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), as well as unlawful possession of ammunition, id., and with possession of an unregistered firearm, 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d). As Hardy's extensive criminal record included three violent felonies and one serious drug offense since 1985, the government gave notice that it intended to seek the mandatory minimum fifteen-year prison sentence authorized under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. § 924(e); see also U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4. Following trial, Hardy was convicted and sentenced to 262 months in prison. 6 While Hardy's first appeal was pending, this court held that a criminal defendant exposed to an ACCA sentencing enhancement may challenge any predicate state court conviction during his federal sentencing proceeding even though his state court remedies have never been exhausted. United States v. Paleo, 967 F.2d 7, 11-12 (1st Cir.1992). We accordingly remanded Hardy's case to the district court for reconsideration in light of Paleo.