USA v. Kentrell Flowers — D.C. Cir. (Sep 30, 2026)

No. 25-3060 Argued September 30, 2026 Published October 3, 2026

We hear Kentrell Flowers's sentencing appeal in the D.C. Circuit. In July twenty twenty-four, Flowers pointed a handgun at a deputy United States marshal during an attempted carjacking. Two marshals fired at him, injuring him. He later pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge. A judge sentenced him to ten years in prison. The guideline recommendation was seven years, the statutory minimum, not a maximum. Judges must give specific reasons for a sentence above the guidelines. Plain-error review concerns legal errors not timely raised in the trial court. The appellant must establish an error, that it was clear or obvious, and that it affected substantial rights, usually meaning it affected the outcome. Even then, the appellate court has discretion to correct the error only if it seriously harms the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.

USA v. Kentrell Flowers (No. 25-3060) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argued September 30, 2026.

Sources

Argument audio — D.C. Circuit official recording:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/docs/2026/09/25-3060.mp3

Argument date, case and advocates — D.C. Circuit official recording list:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/bydate/2026/9

Case background, guilty plea and sentence — U.S. Attorney's Office, May 22, 2025:https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/man-who-attempted-carjack-deputy-us-marshal-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison

Original incident account — Metropolitan Police Department, July 5, 2024:https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/mpd-investigating-us-marshals-involved-shooting

Appeal identity — Justia public docket index, metadata only:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cadc/25-3060

Firearm statutory minimum — 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), 2024 Code edition:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title18/pdf/USCODE-2024-title18-partI-chap44-sec924.pdf

Guideline recommendation — 2024 Guidelines Manual, § 2K2.4:https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/guidelines-manual/2024/CHAPTER_2.pdf

Sentencing reasons — 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c), 2024 Code edition:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title18/pdf/USCODE-2024-title18-partII-chap227-subchapA-sec3553.pdf

D.C. Circuit sentencing law — United States v. Brown, May 23, 2017:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2017/05/16-3076-1676302.pdf

Plain-error rule — Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b):https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf

Plain-error standard — United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725 (1993):https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-507/pdf/USREPORTS-507-725.pdf

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