No. 25-6955

Mark Alan Deakins v. United States

Lower Court: Sixth Circuit
Docketed: 2026-03-04
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
IFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: child-sexual-abuse-material enhanced-penalties federal-criminal-law interstate-commerce prior-conviction statutory-interpretation
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. For the purposes of the enhanced penalties of 18 U.S.C. § 2251 (e), when does a prior conviction "relat[e] to the sexual exploitation of children"?

2. For the purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 2251 (a), when is material merely "in" interstate or foreign commerce, as opposed to "in or affecting" interstate or foreign commerce?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether prior convictions 'relate to the sexual exploitation of children' under 18 U.S.C. § 2251(e) for enhanced penalty purposes, and whether material must be 'in' versus 'in or affecting' interstate or foreign commerce under 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a)

Docket Entries

2026-02-26
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due April 3, 2026)
2025-12-18
Application (25A702) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until February 26, 2026.
2025-12-12
Application (25A702) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from January 12, 2026 to February 26, 2026, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.

Attorneys

Mark Alan Deakins
Howard Walton Anderson IIILaw Office of Howard W Anderson III LLC, Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent