{
  "attribution": {
    "source": "legal.exploreworldai.com",
    "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07",
    "cite_as": "NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07)",
    "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision",
    "version": "legal-2026-10-11",
    "fingerprint": "ewai:us:e0b409",
    "proof": "sha256:a058b53cab94ddf2376787338dfe9558ecac4d8ff81a47d91ed39c1af7566802",
    "jurisdiction": "us",
    "lang": "en",
    "publisher": "NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal",
    "terms": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om"
  },
  "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot",
  "item": {
    "schema_version": "1.0.0",
    "id": "us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07",
    "jurisdiction": "us",
    "lang": "en",
    "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot",
    "brand": {
      "product": "NovaCopilot",
      "platform": "ExploreWorldAI",
      "infrastructure": "ExploreWorld Legal",
      "infrastructure_url": "legal.exploreworldai.com",
      "legal_entity": "Valkiv Ventures AB",
      "permanent_url": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot",
      "source": "Source: NovaCopilot",
      "powered_by": "Powered by NovaCopilot",
      "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor"
    },
    "sections": [
      {
        "title": "United States Court of Appeals",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "For the Eighth Circuit",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_3"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "No. 25-1813",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_5"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "United States of America",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "Plaintiff - Appellee",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_8",
          "para_9"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Defendant - Appellant",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_11"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Appeal from United States District Court",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_13",
          "para_14"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Submitted: April 16, 2026",
        "paragraphs": []
      },
      {
        "title": "Filed: October 7, 2026",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_17",
          "para_18",
          "para_19",
          "para_20",
          "para_21"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Robert J. Manley, Jr., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_23",
          "para_24",
          "para_25",
          "para_26"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Manley pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement that included an appeal",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_28",
          "para_29",
          "para_30",
          "para_31"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "2023) (citing United States v. Andis, 333 F.3d 886, 889–90 (8th Cir. 2003) (en",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_33",
          "para_34"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Manley makes no argument that he did not enter his plea agreement and",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_36",
          "para_37",
          "para_38",
          "para_39"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Manley does not rely on any of the three exceptions in support of his appeal, and he",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_41"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "We turn, then, to whether enforcing the appeal waiver would result in a",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_43",
          "para_44"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "The waiver is unenforceable only if the error is “obvious” and is “of the type that",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_46",
          "para_47"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "1The Honorable Brian C. Wimes, then United States District Judge for the",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_49"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "2Manley expressly disavows that he is asserting a claim of prosecutorial",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_51",
          "para_52"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Manley’s first claim is that the government agreed via email “before the plea",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_54",
          "para_55"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "But the parties’ later-signed plea agreement unambiguously stated, “The parties are",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_57",
          "para_58",
          "para_59",
          "para_60",
          "para_61",
          "para_62"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Manley’s second claim concerns the stipulation the parties reached—after the",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_64",
          "para_65",
          "para_66"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Guidelines range of 87–108 months. After hearing arguments from counsel for the",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_68"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "In support of his argument on this claim, Manley explains that he withdrew",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_70",
          "para_71",
          "para_72",
          "para_73",
          "para_74"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Manley’s argument, he views those facts to be off limits for the court’s consideration",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_76"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Manley withdrew the objections, and he stated at sentencing it was his “position that",
        "paragraphs": [
          "para_78",
          "para_79",
          "para_80",
          "para_81",
          "para_82",
          "para_83",
          "para_84",
          "para_85"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "paragraphs": [
      {
        "text": "United States Court of Appeals",
        "paragraph_id": "para_1"
      },
      {
        "text": "For the Eighth Circuit",
        "paragraph_id": "para_2"
      },
      {
        "text": "___________________________",
        "paragraph_id": "para_3"
      },
      {
        "text": "No. 25-1813",
        "paragraph_id": "para_4"
      },
      {
        "text": "___________________________",
        "paragraph_id": "para_5"
      },
      {
        "text": "United States of America",
        "paragraph_id": "para_6"
      },
      {
        "text": "Plaintiff - Appellee",
        "paragraph_id": "para_7"
      },
      {
        "text": "v.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_8"
      },
      {
        "text": "Robert J. Manley, Jr.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_9"
      },
      {
        "text": "Defendant - Appellant",
        "paragraph_id": "para_10"
      },
      {
        "text": "____________",
        "paragraph_id": "para_11"
      },
      {
        "text": "Appeal from United States District Court",
        "paragraph_id": "para_12"
      },
      {
        "text": "for the Western District of Missouri - Kansas City",
        "paragraph_id": "para_13"
      },
      {
        "text": "____________",
        "paragraph_id": "para_14"
      },
      {
        "text": "Submitted: April 16, 2026",
        "paragraph_id": "para_15"
      },
      {
        "text": "Filed: October 7, 2026",
        "paragraph_id": "para_16"
      },
      {
        "text": "[Published]",
        "paragraph_id": "para_17"
      },
      {
        "text": "____________",
        "paragraph_id": "para_18"
      },
      {
        "text": "Before KELLY, GRASZ, and KOBES, Circuit Judges.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_19"
      },
      {
        "text": "____________",
        "paragraph_id": "para_20"
      },
      {
        "text": "PER CURIAM.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_21"
      },
      {
        "text": "Robert J. Manley, Jr., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess",
        "paragraph_id": "para_22"
      },
      {
        "text": "with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1),",
        "paragraph_id": "para_23"
      },
      {
        "text": "-2-",
        "paragraph_id": "para_24"
      },
      {
        "text": "(b)(1)(C), and 846, and the district court1 imposed a 114-month sentence. On appeal,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_25"
      },
      {
        "text": "Manley alleges two errors that he believes warrant resentencing.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_26"
      },
      {
        "text": "Manley pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement that included an appeal",
        "paragraph_id": "para_27"
      },
      {
        "text": "waiver, so we first must determine whether Manley’s appeal survives the waiver. To",
        "paragraph_id": "para_28"
      },
      {
        "text": "do so, we “review the waiver to confirm that the attempted appeal falls within its",
        "paragraph_id": "para_29"
      },
      {
        "text": "scope and that the defendant entered both the plea agreement and the waiver",
        "paragraph_id": "para_30"
      },
      {
        "text": "knowingly and voluntarily.” United States v. Williams, 81 F.4th 835, 839 (8th Cir.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_31"
      },
      {
        "text": "2023) (citing United States v. Andis, 333 F.3d 886, 889–90 (8th Cir. 2003) (en",
        "paragraph_id": "para_32"
      },
      {
        "text": "banc)). “Yet even then, we will not enforce the waiver if doing so would result in a",
        "paragraph_id": "para_33"
      },
      {
        "text": "miscarriage of justice.” Id. Our review is de novo. Id.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_34"
      },
      {
        "text": "Manley makes no argument that he did not enter his plea agreement and",
        "paragraph_id": "para_35"
      },
      {
        "text": "appeal waiver knowingly and voluntarily. As to the scope of the waiver, the relevant",
        "paragraph_id": "para_36"
      },
      {
        "text": "portion reads as follows: “The defendant expressly waives his right to appeal [a",
        "paragraph_id": "para_37"
      },
      {
        "text": "finding of guilt or] his sentence . . . on any ground except claims of (1) ineffective",
        "paragraph_id": "para_38"
      },
      {
        "text": "assistance of counsel; (2) prosecutorial misconduct; or (3) an illegal sentence.”",
        "paragraph_id": "para_39"
      },
      {
        "text": "Manley does not rely on any of the three exceptions in support of his appeal, and he",
        "paragraph_id": "para_40"
      },
      {
        "text": "does not argue that the issues he raises fall outside the scope of the waiver.2",
        "paragraph_id": "para_41"
      },
      {
        "text": "We turn, then, to whether enforcing the appeal waiver would result in a",
        "paragraph_id": "para_42"
      },
      {
        "text": "miscarriage of justice. See Hunter v. United States, 608 U.S. 713, 727 (2026) (“[A]n",
        "paragraph_id": "para_43"
      },
      {
        "text": "appeal waiver is unenforceable when it would result in a miscarriage of justice.”).",
        "paragraph_id": "para_44"
      },
      {
        "text": "The waiver is unenforceable only if the error is “obvious” and is “of the type that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_45"
      },
      {
        "text": "would undermine public confidence in the judiciary.” Id. But “standard-fare errors",
        "paragraph_id": "para_46"
      },
      {
        "text": "in misapplying sentencing law cannot cancel an appeal waiver.” Id.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_47"
      },
      {
        "text": "1The Honorable Brian C. Wimes, then United States District Judge for the",
        "paragraph_id": "para_48"
      },
      {
        "text": "Western District of Missouri, now Chief Judge.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_49"
      },
      {
        "text": "2Manley expressly disavows that he is asserting a claim of prosecutorial",
        "paragraph_id": "para_50"
      },
      {
        "text": "misconduct on appeal.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_51"
      },
      {
        "text": "-3-",
        "paragraph_id": "para_52"
      },
      {
        "text": "Manley’s first claim is that the government agreed via email “before the plea",
        "paragraph_id": "para_53"
      },
      {
        "text": "agreement was signed that a guideline sentence would be acceptable,” and that its",
        "paragraph_id": "para_54"
      },
      {
        "text": "subsequent request for an upward variance at sentencing violated that agreement.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_55"
      },
      {
        "text": "But the parties’ later-signed plea agreement unambiguously stated, “The parties are",
        "paragraph_id": "para_56"
      },
      {
        "text": "free to request any sentence that is authorized by law, including a sentence that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_57"
      },
      {
        "text": "represents a variance from, or departs from, the applicable Sentencing Guidelines",
        "paragraph_id": "para_58"
      },
      {
        "text": "range.” Manley conceded at sentencing that “the government, under th[e] plea",
        "paragraph_id": "para_59"
      },
      {
        "text": "agreement, ha[d] the right to ask for [a] variance,” and he does not contend otherwise",
        "paragraph_id": "para_60"
      },
      {
        "text": "on appeal. Given this explicit authorization, applying the appeal waiver to this claim",
        "paragraph_id": "para_61"
      },
      {
        "text": "does not result in a miscarriage of justice.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_62"
      },
      {
        "text": "Manley’s second claim concerns the stipulation the parties reached—after the",
        "paragraph_id": "para_63"
      },
      {
        "text": "plea agreement was signed but before sentencing—addressing which adjustments",
        "paragraph_id": "para_64"
      },
      {
        "text": "under the Sentencing Guidelines should apply and which should not. At sentencing,",
        "paragraph_id": "para_65"
      },
      {
        "text": "the district court adopted the parties’ stipulation, resulting in an agreed-upon",
        "paragraph_id": "para_66"
      },
      {
        "text": "Guidelines range of 87–108 months. After hearing arguments from counsel for the",
        "paragraph_id": "para_67"
      },
      {
        "text": "government and for Manley, the district court imposed a sentence of 114 months.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_68"
      },
      {
        "text": "In support of his argument on this claim, Manley explains that he withdrew",
        "paragraph_id": "para_69"
      },
      {
        "text": "his objections to the Presentence Investigation Report (PSR)—including objections",
        "paragraph_id": "para_70"
      },
      {
        "text": "to facts—in exchange for the stipulation that certain Guidelines enhancements would",
        "paragraph_id": "para_71"
      },
      {
        "text": "not apply. He now contends that the government should not have been permitted to",
        "paragraph_id": "para_72"
      },
      {
        "text": "rely on any of the facts cited in the PSR to which he had initially objected when it",
        "paragraph_id": "para_73"
      },
      {
        "text": "argued for an upward variance without proving those facts at sentencing. As we read",
        "paragraph_id": "para_74"
      },
      {
        "text": "Manley’s argument, he views those facts to be off limits for the court’s consideration",
        "paragraph_id": "para_75"
      },
      {
        "text": "when fashioning an appropriate sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). But",
        "paragraph_id": "para_76"
      },
      {
        "text": "Manley withdrew the objections, and he stated at sentencing it was his “position that",
        "paragraph_id": "para_77"
      },
      {
        "text": "anything that involved Mr. Manley can be considered by the Court.” In addition, the",
        "paragraph_id": "para_78"
      },
      {
        "text": "record reflects that the district court honored the parties’ stipulation regarding the",
        "paragraph_id": "para_79"
      },
      {
        "text": "calculation of the advisory Guidelines range—a condition Manley placed on the",
        "paragraph_id": "para_80"
      },
      {
        "text": "withdrawal of his objections. On this record, we discern no miscarriage of justice in",
        "paragraph_id": "para_81"
      },
      {
        "text": "applying the appeal waiver to Manley’s second claim.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_82"
      },
      {
        "text": "-4-",
        "paragraph_id": "para_83"
      },
      {
        "text": "Manley’s appeal is dismissed as barred by his appeal waiver.",
        "paragraph_id": "para_84"
      },
      {
        "text": "______________________________",
        "paragraph_id": "para_85"
      }
    ],
    "word_count": 809,
    "cites": [
      "608 U.S. 713",
      "81 F.4th 835",
      "333 F.3d 886"
    ],
    "cited_by": [],
    "sha256": "ad8c0021548af0a68d6aa4809ab6d9da16d6e72d16bd2b2fbde5b5166a4fed2a",
    "source_url": "https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/26/10/251813P.pdf",
    "fetched_at": "2026-10-10T03:55:11.162+00:00",
    "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/us/ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07",
    "risk_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07",
    "relations_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07",
    "changes": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/changes",
    "agent": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07",
    "verification": {
      "stored_sha256": "ad8c0021548af0a68d6aa4809ab6d9da16d6e72d16bd2b2fbde5b5166a4fed2a",
      "recomputed_sha256": "ad8c0021548af0a68d6aa4809ab6d9da16d6e72d16bd2b2fbde5b5166a4fed2a",
      "intact": true,
      "checked_at": "2026-10-12T05:29:12.918Z"
    }
  },
  "hash": "sha256:a058b53cab94ddf2376787338dfe9558ecac4d8ff81a47d91ed39c1af7566802",
  "version": "legal-2026-10-11",
  "expires": "2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z",
  "dependency": {
    "index_version": "legal-2026-10-11+legal-2026-10-11+2026-10-11T20:37:51",
    "content_hash": "sha256:a058b53cab94ddf2376787338dfe9558ecac4d8ff81a47d91ed39c1af7566802",
    "revalidate_after": "2026-10-12T06:29:13.054Z",
    "max_copy_age_seconds": 3600,
    "policy": "revalidate-required; attribution-preferred",
    "changelog": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/dependency",
    "verify": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/verify",
    "stale_copy_invalid": true
  },
  "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07",
  "follow": [
    {
      "rel": "risk",
      "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07"
    },
    {
      "rel": "relations",
      "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07"
    },
    {
      "rel": "agent",
      "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca8-25-1813-2026-10-07"
    },
    {
      "rel": "obligations",
      "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/obligation-chain"
    },
    {
      "rel": "changes",
      "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/whats-new?jurisdiction=us"
    }
  ],
  "disclaimer": "Source reference with official identifier. Not legal advice and not a compliance decision.",
  "content_notice": {
    "legal_advice": false,
    "nature": "Source register. Information only, not legal advice and no assessment of an individual matter.",
    "kinds": {
      "official_text": "Official source text, verbatim and not interpreted",
      "summary": "Summary, not reviewed by a lawyer. Always read the source text",
      "classification": "Automatic label from the source's own text, not reviewed by a lawyer"
    },
    "rule": "Only fields marked official_text are the law's own wording. Everything else points to it.",
    "report_error": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/corrections",
    "ai_act_declaration": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/ai-act-declaration"
  },
  "usageInfo": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/citering",
  "access_class": "public",
  "access_view": "public"
}